The cast of Baldur's Gate 3 has received widespread acclaim since the game's release, from Neil Newbon's award-winning performance as Astarion to Tim Downey (of The glory of Paddington) as Gail. But how would the characters—no, not the actors—act if they were auditioning for the role? another role in the game? We thought it was a great idea, so we gathered some of our fan-favorite actors and, perhaps under pressure, had them audition for new roles.
“I'm Gale from Waterdeep, and I'm going to play the role of Lae… Lae'zel,” Downey said. “I can still smell their blood on you! I can smell your sweat!” Considering Gale is a fairly polite and cat-like father, it's hard to imagine him ever feeling Lae'zel's bloodlust, let alone her sexual insistence. At the same time, we would really like the whole game to be like this.
Meanwhile, Neil Newbon's Astarion was preparing to play Shadowheart, with Jennifer English standing next to him and physically forcing him to his knees: “On your knees Newbon.” Astarion didn't seem happy about the situation.
“I'm auditioning for the role of Shadow Heart, without coercion… of my own… free will,” he said, looking at English to make sure he hadn't done anything wrong.
One of the best was actor Will Theo Solomon's portrayal of Minsk, a ranger who, if he were a cat, would definitely be orange.
“No, Boo! Druid did not defeat Minsk in arm wrestling! This is an unfair fight! – said Solomon. “And halfway there he turned into an Owlbear, and there was fat on the stump!”
Boo this is, of course, the Minsk “giant space hamster in miniature”, which definitely not just a regular hamster that gets replaced every few years when the last one dies.
Jennifer English's role as Astarion and his meme-worthy line “the full concentrated power of the sun” – which may have been Megamind's Easter egg – may be our favorite line reading. Shadowheart, who is not a vampire, may also be much less afraid of the sun itself, so turning her into Astarion might make the game a little easier!
Baldurs Gate 3 was GameSpot's GOTY for 2023. Larian Studios said it won't be making a sequel, but intellectual property owner Hasbro said Big plans for future Dungeons & Dragons games.
