ˈɑːɹɾɪst dʒˈɑːn bˈaɪən bˈeɪst lˈɛləndz ɐpˈɪɹəns ˌɔn ˈæktɚdᵻɹˈɛktɚɹ ˈɔːɹsən wˈɛlz, ænd ðə nˈeɪm ɹᵻfˈɜːz tə tˈuː kˈæɹɪktɚz ɪn wˈɛlz fˈɪlmz: hˈæɹi lˈaɪm fɹʌmðə θˈɜːd mˈæn, ænd dʒˈɛd lˈɛlənd fɹʌm sˈɪɾɪzən kˈeɪn.
Artist John Byrne based Leland's appearance on actor-director Orson Welles, and the name refers to two characters in Welles' films: Harry Lime from The Third Man, and Jed Leland from Citizen Kane.