Star-Studded Cast Elevates Clair Obscur RPG, Featuring Andy Serkis and Baldur’s Gate 3 Veterans

Although it is Sandfall Interactive’s debut game, the highly anticipated turn-based RPG Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 boasts an impressively talented voice cast, a fact that was not planned. In truth, it happened somewhat by chance.

Sandfall’s CEO and creative director, Guillaume Broche, shared insights on a recent episode of the official Xbox podcast. Stars like Andy Serkis from Lord of the Rings and Daredevil’s Charlie Cox joined the cast of Clair Obscur by way of their representation. However, as Broche humorously points out, they cast Shadowheart actress Jennifer English and Final Fantasy 16’s hero (and also, banana champion) Ben Starr through blind auditions.

“Initially,” Broche explains, auditions were “only for the trailer, for [the scrappy protagonist] Gustave, and also the trailer’s voiceover. We received about 20 different auditions, all in blind format, so we were unaware of the names behind the submissions.”

“There was one voice that stood out,” Broche adds, “and I thought, ‘Wow, this voice is fantastic. Let’s choose this person.’ Later, our quest designer Victor [Deleard] listened and said, ‘Isn’t that Clive from Final Fantasy?'” Now, Ben Starr is set to portray the weathered character Verso, rather than just providing the booming narration for the trailer.

His rich timbre was too distinctive for that not to be the case, as the devoted Clive fanbase remains fervent. Followers of Jennifer English’s number one romance Shadowheart undoubtedly feel a similar attraction to her sweet tones.

Broche certainly did. “Jennifer English had a similar [experience],” he confides on the Xbox podcast. “We received about 25 tapes for [the orphaned protagonist Maelle], and I thought, ‘This one is it.’ Later, I found out, ‘This is Shadowheart.’”

Saving the world with a baguette? “A joke that went too far,” shares Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s creative director, as we discuss Final Fantasy, Persona, and more.