It’s time for a reality check about Leon Kennedy coming to Resident Evil Requiem

Resident Evil Requiem will be taking fans back to the iconic Raccoon City, pitting them against all manner of mutated beasts. Much to the annoyance of a certain portion of the fanbase, the protagonist of RE9 is Grace Ashcroft – not Leon Kennedy. However, some “leaks” and fan theories suggest that he may still play a pivotal role in the story.

As a massive Resident Evil nerd, I’m excited to play through Requiem through the eyes of a new protagonist and let Leon take a back seat. Here’s why Leon Kennedy doesn’t need to be the main playable character of Resident Evil Requiem, despite the game focusing on Raccoon City.

The Escapist recaps

• Resident Evil Requiem is set to come out on February 27, 2026, introducing a new protagonist to the universe – Grace Ashcroft.
• Despite Grace seeming like an interesting character, there’s been some pushback from certain fans who want to see Leon in the driver’s seat once again. 
• The debate around Leon potentially showing up in Requiem has only intensified since the game’s announcement, both due to Leon’s iconic status in the franchise and the fact that Requiem will be focusing on Raccoon City.
• While Leon is a legendary character, he doesn’t need to be in a Resident Evil game for it to be good – Resident Evil 7 is one of the best in the series, and he’s not in that. 
• If Leon is in Requiem, which seems likely based on “leaks” and fan theories, he will likely be a mentor figure of some kind for Grace or a source of important information to help with the story. 

We love Leon, but it’s not all about him

Ever since Resident Evil Requiem’s announcement, there’s been a lot of debate around one character in particular – and it’s not the confirmed main character, Grace Ashcroft.

Leon Kennedy is a beloved figure in the Resident Evil community; for many, he’s likely the first character they think of when someone mentions the franchise. He’s portrayed as cool and heroic with a sprinkle of the B-movie action goofiness that the series is known for.

Leon potentially being in Resident Evil 9 has been a hot topic in the lead-up to the game’s release. Some “leaks” and teaser details have fans convinced that an older, more grizzled version of Leon is in the game, while others can’t fathom visiting Raccoon City again without him. 

While I’ll always think Leon is brilliant as a Resident Evil fan, I’m hoping he plays a supporting role in Requiem so that Grace can retain the spotlight. However, that doesn’t mean I’m not happy to see him; after all, Leon is iconic.

But based on what’s been shown about Grace Ashcroft so far, she looks like a fascinating character. The combination of her family ties and her role as an FBI analyst means there’ll be layers to unpick as the story unfolds. She’s not a hardened fighter by any stretch of the imagination, but she seems resilient and multifaceted.

This is ideal for the game’s more survival horror focus, and it’s what made Ethan Winters so compelling – these characters are lambs to the slaughter. Just like Leon and Claire were in Resident Evil 2. Sure, all of these characters became badasses, but it’s the trial by fire (and zombies) that bonds us with them as players.

Bringing back an older character every time to take on the brunt of the fighting and carnage, which is what I believe some fans are hoping for, would lessen the chances for Grace to settle into the role of protagonist. It dilutes the horror and prevents the series from moving forward.

New blood

It would make sense for Leon to appear as a mentor figure of sorts for Grace in Requiem’s story, however. And this seems likely based on the “leaks” circulating in the community at the moment. He knows how to fight the undead, after all, and he’s no stranger to Raccoon City, meaning there’s some valuable information to be gleaned from speaking to him. 

He’s not the only character that has ties to Raccoon City, though. If we’re looking at the location as an indicator of which characters may make a reappearance with RE9, wouldn’t Jill be the more logical option? Heck, what about Chris Redfield, a guy who worked for the RPD for more than just a day, and another RE protagonist who’s arguably been overused.

It’s also worth remembering that in the timeline, Leon would be a lot older in Requiem. That doesn’t mean he wouldn’t be able to fight – far from it, some of the most interesting and deadly characters in horror are older – but he wouldn’t be the Leon that people envision from the remakes, meaning he’d be perfect for a new role in the game. 

Some fans still have Leon from the RE2 and RE4 remakes in their heads, but those games were set in 1998 and 2004. Requiem is set in 2028 – that’s thirty years after Leon’s first adventure in Raccoon City and means he’ll be 51. Now, I’m down for silver fox Leon, I think many of us are; it’ll be a cool new angle for the character, but it also means fans need to prepare themselves for an inevitable passing of the guard moment.

That’s exactly what’s likely to happen in Requiem. The fans calling to boycott the game unless they play as Leon and only Leon are being entitled and unrealistic.

It also stinks of a more toxic sentiment among some gamers who refuse to play as a female protagonist. And this is despite some of Resident Evil’s best characters being women historically. Claire and Jill are just as important as Leon and Chris when it comes to Resident Evil mythology. Also, where was all this vitriol when Ethan Winters held the spotlight for two mainline games?

Capcom has already told you that Grace is a main playable character, so make your peace with it. They’re not going to remove her from the game to please a vocal but angry part of the fanbase. In fact, who decided that Leon needs to be in every Resident Evil game? He wasn’t in 1, 3, 5, 7, or Village. If you refuse to play Requiem just because Leon’s isn’t the only playable character, you’re only locking yourself out of a good time.

When it comes to Resident Evil, Capcom can’t keep serving us Leon, Clair, Chris, and Jill forever. The series needs to move on eventually, and as these characters start getting older, it makes sense for them to pass the torch to the next generation. Requiem offers them an opportunity to do this, and when producer Masato Kumazawa urged fans to temper their expectations, they should listen.

If the “leaks” are to be believed, and even if they’re not, it absolutely makes sense for Leon Kennedy to be in Resident Evil Requiem, and I’ll be happy to see him. He’s one of my favorites, too, but I’m even more excited to see how Evil evolves and what this changing landscape looks like after the next chapter.

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