Resident Evil has plenty of fans, many of whom are largely driven by their love for the franchise’s tension and horror storytelling. However, some fans are also pretty heavily invested in the dynamics between the recurring characters, especially when the prospect of a romance between some of them might be at play. This especially extends to Leon, whose status as a heartthrob among players (and developers) has prompted plenty of debate.
For years, there has been debate over who Leon should end up with, a discourse that only got more heated after Leon was quietly hinted to have gotten married off-screen. While it’s unclear who that partner might be, some fans have cited cut material from the Resident Evil 4 remake that could suggest it’s indeed someone we’ve seen before. I really hope this theory is wrong, though, because I hate what it says about the series and could ruin an otherwise exciting character return.
Resident Evil Fans May Have Found Proof That Leon Married Ashley
The Resident Evil shippers have been caught up in a surprisingly intense debate following the release of Resident Evil Requiem. One of the final cutscenes in the game shows that Leon apparently has a wedding ring, suggesting the franchise heartthrob tied the knot between the events of the games. This has prompted plenty of speculation over who that could be, with guesses ranging from his Resident Evil 2 co-star Claire Redfield to his frequent love interest/franchise wildcard, Ada Wong.
However, cut files from 2023’s remake of Resident Evil 4 have given credence to another contingent of the fanbase. In the “chainsaw demo” for the Resident Evil 4 remake, a picture of a seemingly older Ashley can be seen in Hunnigan’s office. The picture was taken down in the full release, however, suggesting that Capcom didn’t want fans seeing that older Ashley. The picture of her is also notably a much more grounded picture than the images most characters in the Resident Evil franchise have, hinting that she’s not an active agent in the field but rather a civilian with a relationship to the agents like Leon.
This has led to renewed speculation that the picture was actually intended to be a subtle hint that the adult Ashley had remained close with Leon and may have even become his wife later in life. For some fans, that’s a promising development, especially in light of the bond that Leon formed with Ashley in Resident Evil 4. It would also be the first formal return for the character to the franchise since a brief easter egg in Resident Evil: Infinite Darkness. While it would be exciting to see Ashley again, I really hope it’s not in this way.
Resident Evil Shouldn’t Pair Off Ashley And Leon
Revealing Ashley as Leon’s eventual wife would make some fans happy, but it would also be a very frustrating turn for everyone else — even beyond the other shippers. Obviously, giving Leon a confirmed and steady romantic relationship would undercut any hopes fans of Ada or Claire had for a happy romantic ending. Beyond the shipping wars in the Resident Evil fandom, though, the decision to pair off Leon with Ashley would also just feel weird to me on a thematic level. Ashley’s and Leon’s dynamic in Resident Evil 4 is so rooted in the latter protecting the former as a blunt guardian that adding a romantic subtext would feel disingenuous.
The dynamic between the pair in the original game and the remake didn’t carry much genuine romantic undertone, with the more compelling amorous relationship existing between Leon and Ada. There’s also the somewhat queasy element that comes into play if Leon saving Ashley made them fall in love, revitalizing the tired and problematic “save the girl, get the girl as a prize” trope that modern games have increasingly moved away from. I’m not even necessarily a Leon/Ada or Leon/Claire shipper, but I do think Leon’s chemistry with all of them is better than anything he had with Ashley.
In fact, Ashley’s dynamic with Leon is much more reflective of his habit of becoming protective of young women in a more fatherly/brotherly way, similar to the relationship he develops with Grace in Resident Evil Requiem and has been defined by his efforts to help Claire protect Sherry Birkin in Resident Evil 2. It adds a potentially queasy element to Leon’s dynamic with younger women if it turns out he eventually married one of the ones he protected — even if it was only after she had gotten older, it still complicates Leon in a way I don’t think he needs to be changed. Even if Leon doesn’t end up with one of his previous love interests, I really hope that Leon’s partner isn’t actually Ashley. While it would be interesting to see an older version of the character factor into the franchise’s future, I really hope it’s not as Leon’s wife.
