In an exclusive interview, Nick Apostolides, the voice and motion-capture actor for Leon S. Kennedy, discusses returning to the iconic role for "Resident Evil Requiem," the ninth mainline game in the series. This marks the first time Apostolides portrays Leon in a completely original story, not a remake.
Apostolides describes feeling a "different kind of pressure" stepping into this uncharted narrative territory. The game is set decades after the destruction of Raccoon City and follows dual protagonists: FBI analyst Grace Ashcroft and a veteran, world-weary Leon. The actor felt the gravity of Leon's return to the series' iconic doomed city, calling it "huge for the franchise."
To prepare for this older, more haggard version of Leon, Apostolides created a detailed mood board with words like "Reaper" and "violent ember," and a central image of an injured lion he sketched himself—dubbing it "Lion S. Kennedy." He defined Leon's essence in this chapter as "brutal out of necessity."
The actor's journey with the character is deeply personal, inspired by playing the original games with his brother. He now incorporates his own personality and mannerisms into Leon, contributing to lines and motion-capture performances. "Resident Evil Requiem" is available now on major consoles and PC.