Hollywood Actors Leap Into Gaming
A stream of actors who built their careers in Hollywood are making their digital presence felt in video games, a once stigmatized medium that is increasingly seen as a unique storytelling platform with the ability to reach large audiences.
Some are voice acting, transferring skills they may have honed in animated movies or TV shows, while others are contributing their likenesses through advanced motion-capture technology that can replicate furrowed brows and crinkled cheeks.
Last year, Cameron Monaghan led Star Wars Jedi: Survivor; Megan Fox portrayed a character in Mortal Kombat 1; and Idris Elba and Keanu Reeves provided the backbone of Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty.
In a remake of the 1992 horror game Alone in the Dark, both Jodie Comer, who won an Emmy for “Killing Eve” and a Tony for “Prima Facie,” and David Harbour, known for his work on “Stranger Things,” are making their video game debuts. They are among the group of actors meeting younger generations where they already are.
“I hope that people are still watching two-hour movies decades from now, but I know they will be playing video games,” Mr. Harbour said in an email.
In a behind-the-scenes video by the game’s publisher, Ms. Comer said that working on the movie “Free Guy,” set in a fictionalized video game, gave her a newfound appreciation of the industry. “It’s so incredible to be able to kind of step out of what you usually do and explore something new, and kind of challenge yourself,” she said.
In Alone in the Dark, Ms. Comer’s character and the private investigator she hires, played by Mr. Harbour, explore a psychiatric hospital to uncover the truth behind a recent disappearance.
The migration to video games is happening because leaps in technology have reduced the disconnect between real-life and digital performances.
Bringing in known actors enables studios to engage with people who might not be interested in their games.
“If you saw David Harbour and Jodie Comer were starring in a new ‘Alone in the Dark’ horror film, you’d probably go see it,” said Michael Csurics, the game’s casting and voice director.
A known presence can drastically increase a game’s reach. For big-budget games, screen actors are a small vote of confidence. For indie games, they can be an all-or-nothing bet. “Having a celebrity definitely tilts the scales on a budget,” Mr. Csurics said.
Movie and TV actors who have crossed over into video games note the similarities of performing in either medium.
Karen Fukuhara joined the cast of The Callisto Protocol, a 2022 horror survival game, a few years after starring as Kimiko in “The Boys,” a satirical superhero series.
Ms. Fukuhara said that she had “imagined a video game casting to be like, OK, just act like you’re in a war zone or act like you’re shooting at someone,” but that she was surprised how much the experience “felt like a scene.” Ultimately, acting is acting. Mr. Harbour said that video games allowed for artistry, social commentary and emotional catharsis, and that he joined Alone in the Dark because it “seemed fertile soil for an imaginative retelling and the opportunity to actually take a chance.”