GamesActionIndiana Jones and the Great CircleTroy Baker originally turned down playing Indiana Jones, but took the job because it wasn’t about doing “a bang on impression” of Harrison FordWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
GamesActionIndiana Jones and the Great CircleTroy Baker originally turned down playing Indiana Jones, but took the job because it wasn’t about doing “a bang on impression” of Harrison FordWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Bethesda)
However, the lead actor told Gamesradar+ that he initially passed on playing Indiana Jones because the role “scared” him and that he had doubts that he’d be able to pull it off. Also, one key developer in particular was especially doubtful that Baker could do it.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle looks every bit the “direct sequel to Raiders of the Lost Ark” - YouTubeWatch On
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle looks every bit the “direct sequel to Raiders of the Lost Ark” - YouTube
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle looks every bit the “direct sequel to Raiders of the Lost Ark” - YouTube
“I originally passed [on the Indiana Jones role] because, truth be told, I was so scared that I would not be able to pull it off. And fortunately, [voice acting director] Tom Keegan saw past my insecurities and encouraged me to put myself on tape for this still,” said Baker.
Over the last decade, Baker has become one of the most recurring and recognizable actors to appear in video games. His most famous video game roles include Joel inThe Last of Us Part 1and 2, Sam Drake in Uncharted 4, Booker Dewitt in Bioshock Infinite, and The Joker in Batman: Arkham Origins. Still, despite his portfolio of work, the proposition of stepping into the role of the iconic Indiana Jones - for the character’s most fully realized AAA game to date - took a lot of work, and finding the leading man took time.
“We saw over 1000 people for this role, and so not only am I in competition with all those truly talented people, but I’m also in competition with myself,” he said. “And the beauty of this is that it’s not about ‘can you make a bang-on impression?’, it’s ‘can you help us feel like this is an authentic Indiana Jones?’ Because that’s what the core of all this is: does this feel like it’s an authentic Indiana Jones?”
After recent hands-on time with the game and more gameplay demos showcasing its scope, Baker’s performance stands up pretty well despite some massive shoes to fill. However, during the early casting, one key developer in particular was not enthused with Baker in the running—and that was the lead producer of The Great Circle and head ofBethesda Game Studios, Todd Howard.
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“My favorite part of that story is how Todd Howard, when they originally brought my name to him, rolled his eyes like, ‘No, I’m not putting Troy Baker in my game.’ And I never thought that I would be [in it either].”
Thankfully it seems Baker won Howard over, and we’re now just weeks away from the release of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, which will bethe most ambitious and large-scale gamefocusing on the explorer and archeologist that we’ve seen yet.
If you want more about Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, go read ourextensive previewof the game.
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