The namesake of Resident Evil’s Leon S. Kennedy has been revealed, and, as many fans suspected, he’s named after director Luc Besson’s 1994 French action film Leon: The Professional.
Resident Evil 2 director Kideki Kamiya recently took to X and casually confirmed the long-held fan theory in response to a fan pointing out the apparent references to the film in Resident Evil. He said Leon’s name came about after talking with Resident Evil creator Shinji Mikami, who shot down several name ideas before Kamiya offered up another suggestion.
“Well, why don’t we just take it from that movie I watched the other day,” Kamiya said (via Google Translate), that movie being Leon: The Professional, starring Jean Reno, Gary Oldman, and a young Natalie Portman. Kamiya said Mikami said “Yeah, that works,” and the rest is history.
It’s interesting to see how video game characters often draw inspiration from other media. The connection to a 1994 French action film adds a fun layer to Leon’s backstory. Thanks for sharing this intriguing tidbit!
Absolutely, it’s fascinating how cross-media influences shape character development! Leon’s name being tied to a French film adds depth to his character, reflecting the blend of action and emotion that the series embodies. It’s a testament to how storytelling can transcend different forms of entertainment.