Capcom's "Resident Evil Requiem" was close to having Leon Kennedy as its lead character, according to the latest revelations of its developers, but they have ultimately decided to go on a different route.
From the game's recent reveal, the ninth mainline installment of the franchise is appointing a new character to lead the series, with players playing the role of Grace Ashcroft.
The name "Ashcroft" is not entirely a new one in the franchise as Grace is a descendant of the previous playable character in "Resident Evil," Alyssa Ashcroft, a journalist covering the incidents in "Outbreak."
'Resident Evil Requiem' Devs Reveal Decision on Leon Kennedy
There is no denying that one of the most popular characters in the "Resident Evil" franchise is Leon Scott Kennedy, the iconic Raccoon City rookie cop who starred as the co-lead in 1998's "Resident Evil 2."
According to a new video uploaded by Capcom in their June 2025 spotlight for the new game, the developers once planned and considered making Kennedy the lead of its next installment.
Since Kennedy is already one of the iconic faces leading the "Resident Evil" franchise, his return could have made a significant impact on "Requiem" as Capcom continues its iconic storyline. It is also important to note that the last time Capcom featured Leon Kennedy was in "Resident Evil 6," released in 2012, joining the likes of fellow franchise star, Chris Redfield.
In this game, Kennedy was already serving an important position as an agent of the Division of Security Operations (DSO) under the direct command of the President thanks to his accolades in previous games.
Kennedy's consideration to be the lead for "Resident Evil: Requiem" also stems from the iconic character's returning presence in past games, with "Resident Evil: Village" featuring a part where gamers could play as Chris Redfield.
Here's Why Leon Kennedy's Lead Was Scrapped
ComicBook Gaming noted that the developers wanted to focus on the franchise's continuation of a "horror" experience for gamers, and they feel like if they put Kennedy as its lead, it would not capture this feeling. "Resident Evil Requiem" director Koshi Nakanishi said that making a horror game around Kennedy is "difficult."
Nakanishi went on to say that Kennedy is a character that would not be easily spooked by the environment around him as it is not in his character to be "scared by every little thing." The director noted that Kennedy would be a "bad match for horror," particularly as they wanted to develop a horror game in this upcoming installment of the franchise.
This also sums up the reason behind appointing a newcomer in the form of Grace Ashcroft as the game's next lead as she is relatively young and not well-versed in exploring the mysteries left in Raccoon City, unlike Leon who has seen his fair share of combat in different games.
While Kennedy's experiences and character development over the past years ultimately led to him being scrapped, rumors and speculations claim that he may be joining "Requiem" and have players step into his shoes again.
