‘Resident Evil Requiem’s Voice of Leon Kennedy Says This Game Is an Instant Cult Classic for Hardcore Fans [Exclusive]

Leon S. Kennedy has endured some of the most traumatic events in the Resident Evil timeline, but according to actor Nick Apostolides, Resident Evil Requiem pushes the character into especially personal territory, which promises to make this game an instant classic for fans of the franchise. As the franchise moves beyond remake territory and into new narrative ground, Apostolides says Leon’s defining trait in the upcoming installment comes from how he carries the weight of his past, particularly his connection to Raccoon City.

Speaking with Collider’s Hannah Hunt, Apostolides explained that revisiting the infamous location in Requiem introduced a deeper emotional layer to his performance and shaped how he approached nearly every moment of the game. He told Collider:

“I don’t think it surprised me… when I realized that we were going to be revisiting Raccoon City in this project, I all of a sudden had this new layer to play with which is the weight of what that means for a guy like Leon. It means everything to him. It’s a source of all of his PTSD in his 30-year career and I got to kind of just play this guy through that filter, that heaviness about what this all means. And I just had to be really aware of that with every single scene, every single line, every scenario, so on so forth.”

Leon’s Strength Has Always Been His Ability to Keep Moving Forward

While Resident Evil Requiem explores heavier emotional territory, Apostolides says Leon’s core identity remains rooted in resilience, something fans have connected with throughout the character’s evolution across the series. Reflecting on meaningful feedback he has received from players, Apostolides pointed to Leon’s habit of motivating himself even in the face of overwhelming odds, a trait that continues to define the character decades after his debut.

“Yeah, and I won’t take full credit for this because this comes from the developers, the writers and the whole team, not just myself. I think I deliver it with sincerity, but the fact that Leon… he’s self-motivating. In Resident Evil 2, he’s always picking himself up off the ground. He’s getting the crap kicked out of him, and especially towards the end when the going is getting tough, he’s saying things like, ‘Gotta keep going. You got this,’ and he’s talking to himself. And I think people… We have to do that a bit more sometimes. Like life is beating you down and, of course, we need those helping hands sometimes, but also you got to lift yourself up. You got to know that you’re worth it enough to pick yourself up off the ground. And so I think that is super important in today’s world, especially.”

According to Apostolides, that mindset evolves as Leon grows older, shifting from personal survival to helping others endure alongside him. “In RE4, he continues that. And that was helping others, saying, ‘We got to move forward. We got to keep moving forward no matter what.’ That’s the message behind this guy. So I’m so fortunate to play a character with these redeeming qualities, and I hope that we continue this and that they get maybe new evolved messages with Requiem.”

What Apostolides Hopes Players Take Away From Leon in ‘Requiem’

Beyond action and survival horror, Apostolides believes Resident Evil Requiem reinforces a broader message about identity, one he hopes players carry with them after finishing the game.

“No matter what you’re going through, no matter what is happening to you in life, it’s important to stay true to yourself and never lose that sense of self-identity and kind of let that be your guide through life, no matter what kind of obstacles are coming your way. Because I think your sense of individuality can be a great source of pride. Whatever makes you you, wear that on your sleeve and show the whole world who you are. I think that’s the best thing that you can do.”

As Resident Evil Requiem is freshly introducing a new chapter for Leon Kennedy, Apostolides’ perspective suggests the character’s evolution is not about changing who he is but about understanding how everything he has survived continues to shape the hero fans know today. Resident Evil Requiem is available to play now on all major platforms.