Leon Kennedy's New Look for Resident Evil Requiem Makes Him a 'Hot Uncle' Heartthrob Among Japanese Fans

The Resident Evil Requiem from The Game Awards yet confirmed that Leon S. Kennedy volition instrumentality arsenic the game’s 2nd playable protagonist. Although helium has aged a spot since we past saw him, Japanese fans person been taking to societal media to praise Leon’s suave, older look.

Slated for a multiplatform merchandise connected February 27, 2026, Resident Evil Requiem is the ninth mainline rubric successful Capcom’s endurance fearfulness series. It volition present caller main quality Grace Ashcroft, an FBI expert who is investigating a bid of mysterious deaths that look to beryllium linked to Victor Gideon, a erstwhile Umbrella Corp. researcher. While it seems that Grace’s parts of the crippled volition play much similar emblematic endurance horror, the caller trailer, below, gave fans a peek astatine Leon’s much action-orientated zombie-battling gameplay, implicit with chainsaw. “Grace’s gameplay benignant is based connected Resident Evil 2, whereas Leon’s is based connected Resident Evil 4,” manager Akifumi Nakanishi revealed successful a caller interrogation with Denfaminicogamer.

Although Leon has ever had his fans, the D.S.O agent’s middle-aged incarnation is getting overmuch praise from Japanese speaking users connected X. He’s already being affectionately called ikeoji (literally, “hot uncle” — a chill and charismatic older guy). “Leon’s gradually becoming a blistery uncle” 1 idiosyncratic mused. Sharing immoderate screenshots, different idiosyncratic chimed successful with “Leon’s aging successful a chill way.” Another idiosyncratic summed up: “Resident Evil 9’s Leon is excessively hot. He’s 49 successful this (as of 2026)? He’s truthful suave."

Fans are besides getting inspired to gully Leon’s caller look. “Leon successful Resi 9’s caller trailer is excessively damn fine,” said 1 user, posting the pursuing instrumentality art. “He’s aging successful specified a fantastic way, portion retaining his coolness. I’m truly looking guardant to gathering this Leon,” enthused different user. “He’s turning into a blistery older guy, similar Keanu Reeves!” said 1 commenter.

RE9新トレーラーのレオンが良すぎて。 pic.twitter.com/PIkrWuylo1

Other eagle-eyed trailer viewers person noticed that Leon seems to person immoderate benignant of rash connected his neck, prompting concerns that helium has been infected. While galore look to beryllium enjoying middle-aged Leon’s looks, others are disquieted arsenic to whether helium should inactive beryllium warring disconnected mutants astatine his age, with 1 idiosyncratic saying: “I emotion Leon, but they should fto him rest.” In the antecedently mentioned Denfaminicogamer interview, Resident Evil Requiem’s manager revealed that Leon has a “major secret” that volition person important implications (but he’s keeping quiescent connected what precisely that is).

コメントで教えてもらったけど
レオン..感染してるのかい？...#バイオハザードレクイエム pic.twitter.com/6GY05WqofY

Legendary Japanese crippled developer Hideki Kamiya besides weighed successful connected Leon’s caller quality and however immoderate of Capcom’s beloved characters are getting agelong successful the tooth. “Uncle Leon, astatine the precise least, I would similar for you to unrecorded happily successful your aged age,” Kamiya commented, sharing a timelapse of Leon’s aging face. In response, different idiosyncratic wrote that, though they were good with crippled characters getting older, they hoped that Resident Evil and Devil May Cry characters could person the blessed ending they deserve. Replying to this, Kamiya mused: “Even if Dante became happy, won’t helium ever beryllium poor?”

レオンおじさん…せめて老後は幸せに暮らして欲しい… https://t.co/EzsvnVHp54

Resident Evil Requiem’s devs person already revealed that switching betwixt playing arsenic Grace and Leon volition beryllium similar “jumping into a acold bath aft a blistery sauna,” specified is the opposition betwixt the tense endurance fearfulness sneaking and Leon’s no-holds-barred action. According to manager Akifumi Nakanishi, determination volition beryllium an astir adjacent divided betwixt newcomer Grace and instrumentality favourite Leon. "Although he’s a quality who carries a batch connected his shoulders, we took a batch of attraction successful refining him into an 'ikeoji',” Nakanishi concluded. "The reactions to the trailer connected that beforehand person made america blessed (laughs).”

Verity Townsend is simply a Japan-based freelance writer who antecedently served arsenic editor, contributor and translator for the crippled quality tract Automaton West. She has besides written astir Japanese civilization and movies for assorted publications.