When Patrick Stewart starred in Oblivion, he was blown away by the lore Todd Howard gave him
By (Image credit: Bethesda)
Patrick Stewart was renowned for his numerous performances in cinema and television, encompassing franchise-defining roles in X-Men and Star Trek; however, he also featured in various video games throughout the years. His most significant video game appearance is undoubtedly in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, where he enacted the role of Emperor Uriel Septim VII, and he was reportedly astonished by the intricate lore Bethesda had crafted for his character.
Following Stewart’s passing at 86, admirers have recounted many unforgettable anecdotes and tales regarding the actor’s life and profession. One such account, highlighted by Bluesky user shadowtodd, originates from a documentary about the creation of Oblivion, which was initially part of a bonus DVD included in the game’s original 2006 Collector’s Edition.
In that documentary, a surprisingly youthful Todd Howard stands before a group of Bethesda developers and displays a photograph of himself and his wife with Stewart. “Ken [Rolston, lead designer] had penned a series of notes for Patrick Stewart about the character,” Howard recounted. “Very, very extensive. I thought it was excessively long, to be honest.”
It is essential to keep in mind that, despite Stewart’s prominence, Uriel Septim’s involvement in Oblivion is relatively minimal. (Spoilers: he meets his demise before the tutorial area concludes.) Still, a robust lore had been established around the character during the previous three installments, and regardless of Howard’s reservations, it appears the team was eager for Stewart to explore every aspect.
“I had forwarded everything to Patrick,” Howard remarked. “Patrick arrived and said, ‘I received the notes on the character.’ I was kind of like [gestures nervously]. He stated, ‘Never in my life while portraying any character have I received such thorough notes, and I loved it. I am truly fascinated. This seems really awesome. You all have put a lot of consideration into this. I can’t wait to perform it.’
The Making of Oblivion (FULL | HQ | ENG) – YouTube
In another segment of the documentary,
