Resident Evil Requiem producers speaks out on potential Leon Kennedy return

Resident Evil Requiem producer Masato Kumazawa dismissed circulating AI-generated “leaks” of Leon Kennedy as fake but avoided confirming the character’s absence, leaving speculation about his potential return very much alive.

Resident Evil Requiem producer Masato Kumazawa has addressed rumours surrounding Leon S. Kennedy’s return, saying that recent “leaks” featuring the character are “fake news”.

Fans have speculated that the beloved protagonist would appear in the upcoming horror sequel, but Kumazawa has warned players not to trust AI-generated images or unofficial sources – stressing that only Capcom-released information is accurate.

However, he notably avoided ruling out Leon’s involvement, instead encouraging players to “believe what they want to believe”.

Speaking with stevivor, Kumazawa said: “Apart from any official information that Capcom has released, the rest is more detective work [on the part of players].

“So I would suggest to please not take everything at face value. Considering that now is the time when AI [can be used to make] videos and photos, we don’t know what’s right or what’s wrong.

“It’s just that players are free to believe what they would like to believe; what I’d like to tell is that, please, unless it’s officially released from Capcom, we can’t give you any confirmation.

“There has been a photo lately of Leon with an eye patch, and just basically saying there’s a DLC or a new costume for Leon — but just to make sure, these are all fake news.”

The ambiguity has only intensified speculation.

For months, Leon has overshadowed discussion around Requiem, which takes players back to Raccoon City in the series’ ninth mainline entry.

Fans believe the character’s long-running significance makes at least a cameo plausible, especially given Capcom’s fondness for dramatic reveals.

Capcom infamously misdirected viewers at Summer Game Fest 2025 before unveiling Requiem in a surprise final tease, fuelling the belief that it could be hiding major story beats.