Over the years, the incredible Star Wars franchise has reached far beyond thrilling and entertaining cinemagoers.
Throughout the last several decades, the stories and lore of this fascinating science fiction universe have captivated the attention of video game fans.
Following the huge success of Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order in 2019, publisher Electronic Arts released Star Wars Jedi: Survivor in 2023 as the direct sequel.
Both games follow the journey of young Jedi Knight, Cal Kestis, who continues his voyage of self-discovery and battles the tyranny of the Galactic Empire.
Akin to the first title in the series, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor features an outstanding cast of talented and experienced video game voice actors, many of whom engaged in physical performances for motion capture.
The combination of voice and motion really brings the featured characters to life, making them uniquely captivating and realistic for players.
Were it not for such highly skilled and professional voice actors, all of whom give animated characters personalities that entertain and engage audiences, the video game Star Wars experience just wouldn’t be the same.
But what do the voice actors and production crew themselves think about their work in this project?
“I think we are in a golden era now, where games are starting to come into their own in the storytelling space,” mused Cameron Monaghan, speaking with Gamespot about his role in the hugely successful Jedi: Fallen Order and Jedi: Survivor.
As for his own personal approach to developing the character of Cal Kestis in both games, Monaghan stresses that much of the inspiration comes from within.
“When you try to find a character, you take the whole of your character and the whole of yourself, and you try to find the intersection,” he explained.
“All characters should be able to be formed from an internal standpoint, right?
I think that if you’re working from the inside out, that character will always seem genuine,” suggested Monaghan, regarding the way he sought to give Cal Kestis an emotional authenticity.
“I would say there are parts of myself that I have found in Cal,” he revealed.
Image courtesy of Shutterstock
Scott Lawrence as Darth Vader
Movie fans will always associate veteran actor James Earl Jones with the voice of Darth Vader, arguably one of the most iconic roles in cinematic history.
But ever since Tie Fighter was released back in 1994, the unmistakably sinister and deep voice acting that resonates with video game audiences has been that of Scott Lawrence, who is also credited with various other roles in Star Wars games and animated features.
“It took a while to get comfortable. I realized that I couldn’t be James Earl Jones, but I could be Darth Vader, so I concentrated on bringing the spirit of Darth Vader because there’s only one James Earl Jones,”
he acknowledged.
Working on Star Wars Jedi: Survivor was just the latest outing for Lawrence as Darth Vader, having now voiced the character in countless video games in the franchise for more than three decades.
And in truth, he’s actually recorded more lines as Darth Vader than James Earl Jones ever did, including an amusing appearance in a Burger King commercial.
So how do you voice a robotic character who doesn’t actually speak words, but interacts with lively chirps and beeps that convey its thoughts?
Tom Keegan, the performance director for Jedi: Fallen Order and Jedi: Survivor explained at the vg247 website, fondly recalling how Gideon Emery approached this particular challenge.
“He had this nose flute, it’s a weird thing you strap over your nose and it makes these whistling sounds and tones,”
revealed Keegan of the approach taken by Emery.
The actor also created his own cardboard replica of BD-1, using this to hand-puppeteer the movements, underlining the creativity of thinking that goes into video game acting.
Debra Wilson as Cere Junda
“I am your vessel, use me, possess me,” says Debra Wilson of her artistry as a voice actor, “because you’re using my emotions, you’re using my tears, you’re using my vocal cords, you’re using my heart and you’re using my experiences.
Her conversation with The SSW Network provided a revealing insight into how she embraced the role of Cere Junda.
“We have such a kinship” explained Wilson about diving back into the Jedi: Survivor, believing “that alignment was not a challenge at all,” having thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to “watch the story develop” in the second game of the series.
“I’m extremely proud of where the characters go and what becomes of them,” she highlighted, regarding the overall production.
Noshir Dalal as Bode Akuna
There’s often more to a villain than meets the eye, and this is what Noshir Dalal aimed to convey when voicing the role of Bode Akuna, putting incredible thought into the personality and emotional motivations of the character.
“I’m a huge Star Wars fan, but I don’t pretend to be a Star Wars academic,” he openly and honestly disclosed via his own YouTube channel.
Speaking directly to fans of the Jedi: Survivor game, Dalal explained that creating his own headcanon for the character portrayal of Bode Akuna was essential.
This included shaping a backstory that went beyond the script, feeling this approach to voice acting provides him with an “emotional hook” that makes the role “honest” for himself and the audience.
Tina Ivlev as Nightsister Merrin
Regarding the first game, Tina Ivlev acknowledged it was challenging to play Nightsister Merrin, a character that is the last of her kind, sharing the same feelings of loss and emotional resistance as the main protagonist Cal Kestis.
“She doesn’t understand what a normal relationship looks like,” perfectly conveyed by Ivlev in Jedi: Fallen Order.
However, for the emotional evolution of Merrin in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, Ivlev wanted to incorporate “iterations of her being softer at times” in the voiceover.
“Playing this role has been incredible.
The whole cast and crew has been a dream team,” she enthused at Ocala Comic Con in 2023, adding that constant discussions with the writers were a huge part of the creative process.
Daniel Roebuck as Greez Dritus
“At the audition, I channeled Earnest Borgnine,” for the voiced sound of Greez Dritus, said Daniel Roebuck in a Q&A with fans, giving them an insight into how he created the character persona.
But explaining the process of impersonation within character development, another famous actor came to mind, while recording lines for the popular and pint-sized Greez.
“It was necessary to channel another actor who I respect very much, Joe Pesci,” and the reasoning was clear in his own mind.
“The whole thing about Greez is that he’s a little guy, but little guys don’t see themselves as little guys, because they see themselves as big guys,” he suggested, explaining why the character has a bossy nature aboard the spaceship.
Having played a variety of different characters in the American Horror Story universe, the performance of Dagan Gera in Jedi: Survivor, voiced with passion and intensity by Cody Fern, who really delved into the conflicted emotional nature of his character.
Fern wonderfully captures the tone of a High Republic-era Jedi, one who feels betrayed and has now turned to the Dark Side of the Force.
Temuera Morrison as Boba Fett
Fresh from the success of his appearances in The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett, there’s an exciting cameo appearance for Temuera Morrison voicing this cherished character in the Jedi: Survivor video game.
“Boba Fett had to be there,” insisted senior writer Cheyenne Paulani Morrin. “Temuera Morrison was great to work with.
He was in the booth, he was goofy and professional,” recalls Morrin of the fun they had recording lines.
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