Beyond Cyberpunk 2077 seems like a pretty apt title for this particular post? Don’t you think? And yes, my fascination with the games I write about (on a daily basis) gets bigger with each post…. But, I’m also fascinated by the team behind the video game making process. The creators, developers, directors and of course the actors.
Yes, I’ve already had the pleasure to talk with the creative team behind Exit Limbo. And I even mentioned the involvement of Norman Reedus, Guillermo Del Toro, Léa Seydoux, Mads Mikkelsen (among others) in Hideo Kojima’s Death Stranding. Check that cool post over here. Not to mention that I also had the immense pleasure to write about Giancarlo Esposito. The man star in Far Cry 6, and you can read that particular post here. But, that’s only a fraction of my current topic.
Keanu Reeves Goes Beyond Cyberpunk 2077
Indeed. He’s probably the latest in the long list of Hollywood (and non-Hollywood) actors that made a swift transition into the gaming industry. Whether it’s by voice acting or full-on motion-capture performances, it doesn’t matter. We’ll be seeing him in the upcoming Cyberpunk 2077 video game next month. But until then, let’s do a quick reminder of the game itself. What’s Cyberpunk 2077 all about?
Going Beyond Cyberpunk 2077 Franchise
Adapted from the Cyberpunk franchise, the story takes place in dystopian Night City, an open world with six distinct regions. Players assume the first-person perspective of a customizable mercenary known as V. A man who can acquire skills in hacking and machinery, an arsenal of ranged weapons, and options for melee combat.
Cyberpunk 2077 drew its influences from the 1982 film Blade Runner, the anime series Ghost in the Shell, and video games System Shock and Deus Ex. But it also features a motorbike from the Akira manga and anime film and a car inspired by Mad Max: Fury Road (2015). Not to mention it has Keanu Reeves in one of the leading roles.
Immersive And Fun
But as one IGN author put it in his final preview: It took me roughly six hours of playing to reach Cyberpunk 2077’s opening title card. That was six hours of the 16 I got to play earlier this week. And even after countless adrenaline-filled shootouts, compelling conversations, and weirdly abundant dildos, I feel like I only just started to scratch below the surface. Of what’s here.
So you just know it’s going to be fun and engaging. But although i’m going to focus (for the most part on Keanu), there are plenty of great actors in this game too. Cherami Leigh, Gavin Drea, Mark Holden and even the singer Grimes.
That being said. Which acclaimed actors besides Keanu already appeared in other video games? Scroll down to find out. There are Oscar winners and acclaimed character actors in the bunch. But it’s a good group nonetheless. Oh, and disclaimer is in order. I’ll be focusing of male actors for now, and i’ll leave out the actresses for a separate post in the future. Because they deserve a separate post, don’t you think?
Oscar winner Kevin Spacey, Kiefer Sutherland, Mark Hamill, Martin Sheen and Matthew Perry on the slideswhow.
Kevin Spacey in Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
Kevin Spacey is for lack of better phrasing, a Hollywood legend. I’m sorry, but he is. And I know his reputation is tarnished, but that doesn’t change the fact that he was (or still is) a great actor. Two times Academy Award winner, and probably one of the most talented actors of his generation. And prior to his investigations for sexual misconduct, he was one of the most respected and revered actors in Hollywood. But before, the motion capture performance in Advanced Welfare, he had done only one voice work gig in a video game. He voiced Lex Luthor in the Superman Returns the video game.
However, Kevin Spacey plays the story’s later-to-be main antagonist, Jonathan Irons. A CEO at Atlas Corporation, a private military company. But this particular game has plenty of great actors in the cast. Well, besides Kevin Spacey. First, there’s John Malkovich, then the late Bill Paxton and Bruce Cambell. Rose McGowan is in it too, and so is Jon Bernthal.
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare was released to a positive critical reception and was declared an improvement over its predecessor, Call of Duty: Ghosts. Many critics praised the visuals, voice acting, particularly Spacey’s, the single-player campaign, the fast, dynamic, and exciting gameplay.
Kiefer Sutherland in Metal Gear Solid V
Most of you may know Kiefer as Jack Bauer, but I’ve been a fan of his since Stand By Me and Lost Boys. Yeah. But the thing is, Kiefer is a bit of a legend in the Metal Gear community. He starred in Call of Duty: World at War – Final Fronts, Call of Duty: World at War, Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes before Metal Gear Solid 5.
And in 2018 he was in Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 too. But let’s get back to Metal Gear Solid V. He provided the English voice and facial capture for Big Boss and Venom Snake in Metal Gear Solid V, and he was good at it. His distinct raspy voice blended nicely with the character, and his talent gave it a nice gravitas to the entire game. Don’t you agree? Let us know if you’re a fan of Kiefer’s interpretation. Don’t be shy. Hit that comment section.
Mark Hamill in Batman: Arkham Asylum
Here’s another legend. The one and only Mark Hamill in the role of the Joker no less. But yeah. Batman once again battles his arch-enemy- The Joker in Arkham Asylum. But the real star of this game is the Clown Prince of Crime himself. He even instigates an elaborate plot to seize control of Arkham Asylum, trap Batman inside with many of his incarcerated foes.
Oh, he even threatens Gotham City with hidden bombs. Reviewers called it the “greatest comic book game of all time and the “best superhero game of modern times. But just how good is Mark in the role of the Joker? Incredible. Hamill’s performance received consistent praise. With reviewers commenting upon his excellent inflection and timing on a cackling, maniacal performance that steals the show. As if you can expect anything less from Mr. Hamill? I don’t think so.
Matthew Perry In Fallout: New Vegas
Matthew Perry’s voice over work in Fallout: New Vegas is his only work in a video game. But this is a rather different role for the comedic actor indeed. I mean, Chandler from Friends plays a mobster by the name of Benny. How cool is that? Well, very but he was a fan of the Fallout series (Especially Fallout 3) before he voiced the character. He even presented Ellen DeGeneres with a copy of the game (on her show), and after that, he was asked to be a part of New Vegas. And yes, his voice work is not the best received, to say the least, but I just had to include it. Since I’m a fan of Matthew and the game series (as of recently).
New Vegas ended up cherished dearly by the hardcore Fallout-faithful, and although it mostly did very well critically, voice performances like Perry’s stick out like a sore thumb among a sea of otherwise solid performances. – said WhatCulture about Perry. Yikes.
Martin Sheen In Mass Effect 2 And 3
Another acting legend, and another villain. This time it’s Martin Sheen in the role of The Illusive Man. He played the role of the Illusive Man in Mass Effect 2 and 3 respectively, and he was incredible as always. But although Sheen is good and got critical acclaim, I found a lot of complaints on Reddit precisely for this role. The Illusive man is a character in his 40’s, but he was played by a man in his 70’s. Furthermore, the age difference really came through in Mass Effect, and you can really tell that it’s a much older voice in a much younger role.
The Illusive Man is the elusive, secretive, and well-informed leader of Cerberus. He has close-cropped silver-grey hair with “steely blue” eyes which appear to be prosthetic. And coincidentally, he’s voiced by one of the best character actors in Hollywood.
Fun fact: The Illusive Man may be inspired by the Cigarette Smoking Man from the television series The X-Files. Like the Illusive Man, the Smoking Man is a member of a shadowy organization (The Syndicate). Also, he alternately aids and opposes the protagonists of the series in their endeavors.
Which Actors Would You Add-In The Beyond Cyberpunk 2077 List?
Maybe the fellow Oscar winner Rami Malek in Until Dawn? Or perhaps Nathan Fillion in Halo? Perhaps Ray Liotta in GTA: Vice City? Or Sean Bean in Elder Scrolls Oblivion? Tell Us in the comment section. We’d love to know.
