Video Game Performers: Why Are They Still Getting Snubbed by TV and Movies?
Video game performers are basically the Swiss Army knives of the acting world—and yet, when Hollywood comes a-knocking to adapt our favorite games, they still get left outside in the rain. Why? Recently, Baldur’s Gate 3 actor and director Aliona Baranova brought some big, much-needed energy to this question, and honestly, it’s about damn time someone did.
If Video Game Performers Are So Good, Why Are They Ghosted by TV Studios?
Baranova didn’t mince words during a Tampa Bay Comic Convention panel: there are legions of fans who will support video game performers across projects. But when gamers tune in to a show like The Witcher, where’s Doug Cockle? (He voiced Geralt so perfectly, you can almost smell the monster guts.) Instead, we got Henry Cavill, who—don’t get me wrong—is charming and hairy in all the right ways, but never once said “Wind’s howling” like he actually meant it.
Baranova has a point: performers like Cockle get passed over for roles in the very franchises they helped define. Even a cameo would have been nice. (Come on, he killed it in the animated Witcher movie!) Meanwhile, the hype machine for those shows is powered by the exact same audience that’s obsessed with the games. Studios, hello? There’s a marketing goldmine here and you’re digging for pyrite.
More Than Just Voices: The Full-Body Talents of Video Game Performers
Here’s what non-gamers might not realize: video game performers don’t just show up, read lines in a hoodie, and send in the invoice. They give you their face, their body, sometimes even the awkward jump animations. Mocap suits, facial rigs, emotional breakdowns in front of green screens—these folks bring your favorite characters to (virtual) life from the skeleton up.
- Mocap and facial capture
- Stage combat and raw acting chops
- Voice delivery that can make you cry in a room full of ping pong balls
As Baranova pointed out, a lot of game actors are classically trained, some in the same schools as your favorite Oscar-winners. The idea that they’re just thumb jockeys shouting into a mic is…well, let’s call it what it is: total nonsense.
When TV Adaptations Get It Right (The Exception That Proves the Rule)
Take The Last of Us HBO series. Ashley Johnson and Troy Baker (Ellie and Joel’s original voices) actually snagged roles in the show—even if they’re not playing themselves. The result? Johnson became the most searched person on IMDb when the show dropped. Coincidence? About as much as Luigi being missing from a Mario movie for no reason. (Need your own mushroom kingdom fix? Read about why Donkey Kong Bananza is a Switch 2 masterpiece.)
There’s real appetite here. The fans aren’t just willing to follow these actors—they’re practically salivating at the chance.
Five Reasons Video Game Performers Should Be on Your TV (and Not Just in Cameos)
- They already know the character: Sometimes better than the screenwriters do.
- Insane work ethic: If you can cry convincingly in a spandex suit, you can carry a Netflix series.
- Global fanbase: Gamers are loyal, sometimes terrifyingly so. Studios, do you not like money?
- Multitalented: Voice, face, body—these folks are triple threats.
- Higher authenticity: Ever cringe at a bad live-action game adaptation? (Looking at you, Assassin’s Creed.) Let the source talent do the heavy lifting.
The Real Reason for the Snub? (Spoiler: It’s Studio Arrogance)
According to Baranova, it comes down to perception. Studios see video game performers as niche. Oh, they do video games? Adorable. But that’s just blinkered thinking. Games are mainstream now. (Genshin Impact alone funds entire small countries—even if PS4 support is on the way out.)
Ignoring video game performers in adaptations is like ignoring your star quarterback during playoffs. It’s not just rude; it’s sabotage. You want actors with dedicated followings and proven chops? They’ve been right under your nose, wearing motion-capture pajamas.
Video Game Adaptations: The Future Should Be Full of Familiar Faces
We’re living in a golden age for video game adaptations—Fallout, Super Mario Bros., and more are killing it. And there’s a huge list of upcoming video game adaptations worth your calendar space.
Studios, it’s time. Give video game performers the respect (and screen time) they deserve. As Baranova put it, ignoring this is leaving both money and fan goodwill on the table. Your move, Hollywood. Don’t screw it up.