Interview: Nick Apostolides describes working on 'cinematic' Resident Evil Requiem

The Leon S. Kennedy actor talks about his first time portraying the character in a main installment of the series.

Horror videogames have been enjoying a resurgence. Some recent testaments include Five Nights at Freddy's 2, Return to Silent Hill, and Zach Cregger's upcoming Resident Evil adaptation, slated for release on September 18, 2026. But before we head to the theaters to see Cregger's original cinematic take on the game, it's rather fitting we can play the "cinematic" ninth installment of the original game series.

Resident Evil Requiem was released on February 27th, and features FBI analyst Grace Ashcroft, daughter of Resident Evil Outbreak's Alyssa Ashcroft, on a mission that brings her, and series veteran Leon S. Kennedy, to the ruins of Racoon City.

We recently had a chance to speak Nick Apostolides, the voice and motion capture actor for Leon, whose work on the Resident Evil 4 remake earned him the 2023 IGN Horror Fest Award for Best Performance of the Year.

This interview was edited slightly for clarity.

The Horror Lounge: This is your fourth time playing Leon, but the first time playing him in a mainline Resident Evil game. How did it feel when you found out you would be playing him in a main installment and not a remake? Were you personally approached to reprise your role for Requiem?

Nick: I was directly approached to reprise my role of Leon in Requiem. Every time I am asked

back, it’s an absolute honor. Though this time was a bit different because it was a new

story. We were creating new RE lore, new history for the series. The pressure was undeniable, and I simply had to trust Capcom and my instincts one more time…trust that

we knew the direction to take this legacy character and I’m quite happy with the results.

The Horror Lounge: Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness was released on Netflix in 2021. How was your experience playing him in a miniseries rather than a videogame? Was it different or similar?

Nick: We filmed Infinite Darkness in Japan in 2019 and that was a FUN experience. The

general process of recording full-performance capture was identical to the games, but

there were some clear-cut differences. The games typically spend about 18 months in

production, broken up into many sessions. This project was filmed in 10 days. With our

tight schedule and it being a mini-series, we actually had access to the full script upon

shooting (something not all too common in video games).

Leon S. Kennedy - Courtesy of CAPCOM

The Horror Lounge: Leon is not only considerably older in Requiem—he looks considerably older. I know Resident Evil 2—the first game to feature Leon—was the first RE game you played. What was it like playing an aged version of one of the first characters you played? How would you connect it to the legacy of the games themselves?

Nick: Leon and Resident Evil have stood the test of time together. Going on three decades,

they’re both multi-generational. Being a fan who grew up with these games, I have such

a deep understanding and respect for the lore and this character. For this older version, it

was important to keep his past experiences front and center of my mind to help influence

creative choices as an actor. I’ve always known who this guy was, now I had to help

create who he is at 49.

The Horror Lounge: Could you describe your experience working with Angela Saint'Albano? Were you surprised Requiem would feature such prominent connections to the RE: Outbreak games?

Angela is simply amazing in this project and gives us rookie Grace Ashcroft…a perfect

pairing for a veteran Leon. She gave SO much authenticity to her role that it made my

job easy while acting in scenes together. It was an absolute joy to work with her.

I am always pleasantly surprised with the creative direction Capcom takes Resident Evil

games in. I thought it was smart to draw from slightly obscure source material because it

is so rich with connective lore. There is still so much room for story expansion and I’m

here for it, patiently waiting!

The Horror Lounge: As a fan speaking to another fan, what is most exciting about Requiem?

Nick: I think one aspect that stands out is how cinematic it feels and how story heavy it is.

There is so much going on behind the horror, and through the action. This title feels

unique in so many ways; a true love letter to fans of any level, while giving so much

respect for the series as a whole. There’s something for everyone in this game and I just

hope they all enjoy it as much as my brother and I did.

The Horror Lounge: Thank you again for your time, Nick. We can’t wait to play the game, and we hope these next busy weeks for you go great.

Resident Evil: Requiem is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2.