With the official launch of the latest installment in the Resident Evil series, "Resident Evil Requiem," Leon S. Kennedy is once again dominating online conversations. Players are absolutely buzzing about the iconic character's more mature, slightly weathered look, leading to a flood of fan-edited videos and "thirst trap" content across social media platforms.
But here's a surprise: Nick Apostolides, the voice actor behind Leon, has actually seen all these videos and has a hilarious take on the fans' passionate reactions.
In a recent interview with PC Gamer, Nick Apostolides chatted about fan culture, playfully admitting he's no stranger to the myriad Leon memes and "thirst trap" videos circulating online. "I think it's hilarious, I've seen all the thirst traps," Apostolides shared. He added, "I've been seeing them since 2019, so it's been like seven years for me. It's nothing new, it just keeps evolving."
Apostolides also joked that with Leon's more mature portrayal in the new game, fan reactions have become even more intense.
"Because now it's the 'Daddy Leon' version," Apostolides quipped.
When Leon's new look for "Resident Evil Requiem" was first revealed, many players noticed he'd shed his fresh-faced cop image for a more "sexy older man" vibe, complete with battle scars. Capcom previously hinted that the character's updated design was actually influenced by the female members of the development team. Apostolides commented, "They made him look so good in this one."
Apostolides maintains a pretty humorous attitude about voicing such a popular character. He laughed, "I just think it's hilarious that somehow my life has become playing an avatar that is infinitely hotter than me and is considered a sex symbol." He continued, "Leon has always been a looker. He probably has the best hair in all of video games, that '90s boy band hair is probably never going away."
Beyond his updated appearance, Leon's character in "Resident Evil Requiem" is also more mature. Apostolides revealed that when portraying the role, he had to consider that Leon is now over 50, no longer the rookie who would rush headfirst into danger without hesitation.
"Now Leon is probably 51, he's very experienced with monsters, but at the same time, he knows every fight could be his last," Apostolides explained.