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Hideki Kamiya has confirmed that Resident Evil character Leon S. Kennedy was named after the protagonist of Luc Besson's 1994 film Léon: The Professional. The film, which introduced Natalie Portman in her feature debut and starred Jean Reno as a solitary, milk‑drinking hitman, has long been cited by fans as an influence on the game's creators.
The confirmation was reported by Eurogamer after Kamiya made the remark publicly on social media. Kamiya was among the development team at Capcom during the production of the original Resident Evil 2, released in 1998, and later went on to direct titles including Devil May Cry and Viewtiful Joe.
Leon S. Kennedy debuted in Resident Evil 2 as a rookie police officer thrown into a catastrophic outbreak, subsequently becoming one of the franchise's most recognisable faces. The revelation about his name adds a clear cinematic link to a long‑speculated source of inspiration.
Eurogamer's coverage of the confirmation can be read in full at Eurogamer.