If you’re a Resident Evil fan, the recent reveal of Resident Evil: Requiem likely caught your attention — especially with its focus on a new protagonist, Grace Ashcroft. However, that hasn't stopped fans from speculating whether another iconic figure might also be making an appearance: none other than Leon S. Kennedy.
This theory has been circulating for some time, thanks in part to long-time Resident Evil leaker Dusk Golem, who has shared multiple hints pointing toward Leon’s involvement. But before diving into those rumors, let’s take a closer look at what the first official trailer actually shows.
The gameplay and cinematic footage opens with an extended sequence featuring Grace Ashcroft, who appears to be the daughter of Alyssa Ashcroft from Resident Evil Outbreak. From there, we're taken back to Raccoon City — now a ruined, post-apocalyptic shell of itself following the missile strike seen at the end of Resident Evil 3.
Raccoon City has appeared in several Resident Evil titles, but it's perhaps most famously associated with Resident Evil 2, which starred Leon S. Kennedy as a rookie cop navigating the zombie outbreak. In the Requiem trailer, we see the remnants of the Raccoon City Police Department (R.P.D.), once Leon’s workplace. Despite being heavily damaged, the building is still recognizable — and some fans even believe his iconic Jeep can be spotted parked outside.
Is that Leon's Jeep in front of the R.P.D.?
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Given this setting and Grace’s apparent role as a government agent, many are drawing connections to Leon’s later career path. After surviving Raccoon City, he became a special agent working directly under the U.S. president in Resident Evil 4 and 6. This raises the possibility that Leon and Grace already have a professional relationship or will soon cross paths during the events of Requiem.
I might be delusional but I'm rewatching the trailer and the 3rd photo in the frame looks like RE6 Leon lol.
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Even more intriguing is the belief among some fans that Leon already makes a brief appearance in the trailer. At around the 2:45 mark, a voice line says: “Investigating all these strange deaths, huh?” Some speculate that this line is delivered by Nick Apostolides — the actor who has voiced Leon in recent projects such as the Resident Evil 2 Remake, Infinite Darkness, and Resident Evil 4 Remake.
Further fueling the speculation, Apostolides' online résumé currently lists an unnamed "AAA Video Game" under NDA, with his role described as voice and performance capture — matching the style of his previous Resident Evil contributions.
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Back to the leaks: Dusk Golem, known for accurately predicting Resident Evil developments in the past, has long suggested that Leon will play a major role in Requiem. According to the leaker, Leon isn’t just appearing — he’s the main playable character.
"Leon is the main character of RE9 Requiem," Dusk Golem stated prior to the trailer’s release. "You won't fully see him for a bit (though he is in the trailer), but in the final game you play far more as Leon than Grace. [This will] become more obvious as marketing continues, into the final game."
Additionally, the leaker claims that Requiem is intended to serve as the final chapter in Leon’s personal trilogy within the series, concluding his transformation from a rookie cop to a seasoned government operative and now mentor to a younger generation — potentially represented by Grace.
If true, this could provide a satisfying conclusion to one of the franchise’s most beloved characters after decades of survival horror and high-stakes missions.
Resident Evil: Requiem was officially announced at Summer Game Fest 2025 and is set for release on February 27, 2026, across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.
