Resident Evil 9 Director Says Leon Kennedy Is “Too Cool” for Horror

Leon S. Kennedy has survived zombies, parasites, and the worst fashion trends of the early 2000s. But according to the director of Resident Evil 9, the fan-favourite agent might not be cut out for survival horror anymore—and fans aren’t taking it lightly.

Leon Kennedy: Horror Hero or Too Much of a Badass?

In a recent interview with Eurogamer, Yasuhiro Seto, director of the upcoming Resident Evil: Requiem (Resident Evil 9), dropped a spicy take that’s igniting fan debates everywhere: Leon Kennedy might actually be “a bad match for horror.” Wait, what? You’re telling us the guy whose first day on the job was the entire Raccoon City outbreak is too action-hero for RE now?

According to Seto, it’s not about capability—Leon’s obviously been through hell and back—but vibe. The horror genre craves tension, dread, and vulnerability. And well, Leon just strolls into hell with a smirk, a leather jacket, and a perfectly groomed fringe. He’s evolved from scared newbie cop in Resident Evil 2 to horror’s version of James Bond in Resident Evil 4 Remake, which, let’s be real, was more action than atmosphere.

Why Leon No Longer Feels “Scary Enough” for Resident Evil 9

Seto explained that part of the challenge in developing Resident Evil 9 was establishing a tone that would return the series to its “core horror roots.” And Leon doesn’t exactly scream vulnerable anymore. “It’s difficult to build fear when the character is so confident,” he said. “Leon doesn’t flinch. He makes quips during monster encounters. It’s badass—but it’s not horror.” Resident Evil 9 horror focus is set to be grittier, darker, and slower-paced. Think more isolated dread, less spin-kicks and rocket launcher finales. That makes Leon—a character whose modern portrayal leans closer to John Wick than a panicked rookie—tough to use without shifting the tone back to action-horror territory.

Leon’s Evolution from Rookie Cop to Walking Action Movie

Let’s roll the clock back. In Resident Evil 2, Leon was green, terrified, and totally out of his element. That made the horror hit harder. Players felt the fear. But by Resident Evil 4, he’d somehow graduated straight from rookie to world-class secret agent armed with sarcastic one-liners and suplexes. And don’t even get us started on the motorcycle stunts in RE6.

This isn’t to say Leon isn’t beloved—he is, maybe too loved. But this persona might be clashing hard with Capcom’s apparent goals for Requiem. According to Seto, “Leon’s too in control. He’s cool under pressure. That’s not scary.” A horror protagonist isn’t supposed to be in control—they’re supposed to be holding it together by a thread. That’s what gets our hearts thumping.

So, What Does This Mean for Resident Evil: Requiem?

Here’s the twist—it looks like Leon Kennedy might not even be in RE9 at all. Seto dodged specifics about the playable characters but made clear that Requiem is charting a new tonal direction. One built on uncertainty, dread, and characters who are genuinely afraid of what’s around the corner. Sounds like Ethan or Claire might be more fitting picks—or even someone new entirely.

There’s also rumour-mill buzz that Requiem might feature a brand-new protagonist, much like Ethan in Resident Evil 7. That decision helped reset the tone back then, and it sounds like we’re getting a similar shakeup now. From a storytelling perspective, keeping iconic characters like Leon sidelined might allow Capcom to focus on building fear instead of fan service.

Fans Are Not Having It… But Maybe They Should

If you peek at X, or hop into Reddit threads, the backlash is loud. “No Leon, no buy,” some shout. Others argue Leon can do horror, pointing at his RE2 days. But here’s the tea: Leon hasn’t been a true horror protagonist in over a decade.

Think about it—when was the last time you felt genuinely scared while playing as Leon? Not “pumped”, not “edge-of-your-seat adrenaline”, but stomach-knotting fear? His swagger works great for delivering cool cutscenes and viral memes (“Where’s everyone going? Bingo?”), but it might undermine the creeping tension Capcom wants for Requiem.

Capcom’s been here before. When the series leaned too heavy into action, fans cried foul. Resident Evil 6 is still the franchise’s most divisive entry. Then 7 brought the dread back—with an unknown lead, minimal combat skills, and a swamp mansion filled with terror. That gamble paid off, reviving the franchise’s scary roots. Requiem could be pulling the same move.

But Don’t Count Leon Out Forever

Even if Leon skips Requiem, that doesn’t mean he’s done. Seto hinted that Capcom still has plans for fan-favorite characters in other stories. Don’t be surprised if Leon pops up in a side campaign or future spin-off with his signature roundhouse kicks and infinite calm. For now, though, Resident Evil 9’s horror direction might require the iconic agent to take a backseat—for the first time in a long time.