It’s shaping up to be a big few months for fans of Star Wars.
Before spring has even been allowed to settle, 2023 will already have delivered new seasons in the popular Mandalorian and Bad Batch series, and one of the most highly anticipated games of the year.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is the sequel to 2019’s Fallen Order, which released to widespread acclaim and has since amassed more than 20 million players.
Among its qualities was the performance of its lead actor, Cameron Monaghan, who had made his name in TV shows including Shameless and Gotham.
Having lent both his voice and likeness to the character of Jedi Knight Cal Kestis, the 29-year-old offered some star quality to the project – and thinks more of his peers will soon make the jump into games.
“We’re seeing games coming into their own as a story-telling medium,” he told Sky News.
“We’re seeing mature, smart stories being told, which are every bit as in-depth and meaningful as film or TV can be.
“Regardless of whether a performer has been on film, TV, or theatre, or might specialise in performance capture, or voice acting, there are so many performers that are getting their due through the video game medium.”
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‘My inner 12-year-old is really excited’
Monaghan said he was excited to be picking up the lightsaber again for the sequel to Fallen Order.
The American, who also performed motion capture for the part, said his “inner 12-year-old kid who just used to run around with a broom handle, and spin it until I broke a lamp, is really excited to be able to continue”.
He said there was no difference between acting for film or TV, and performing in a 3D-rendered game.
“In any of them, you’re just trying to find the truth of scenes and situations,” he said.
“As long as you’re present and reactive, that’s the most important thing you can do as an artist and a performer.
“Obviously the window dressing around it changes, on a set so much of what you’re worried about might be your lighting or your wardrobe.
“When you get on to a performance capture stage, a lot of it is a lot more technical.”
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As with any Star Wars project, plot details are shrouded in secrecy
Survivor takes place between the last Star Wars prequel film Revenge Of The Sith and A New Hope, as the Jedi are hunted down and purged by the Empire.
Disney has in the last two years released several Star Wars TV shows set in the same era, including The Bad Batch, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and most recently Andor to much acclaim.
While he had praise for the “really incredible” Andor, Monaghan denied these productions had any impact on his portrayal of Kestis, as most of his inspiration for the character came from outside the Star Wars universe.
He said: “For me, when I’m watching any film, any story, I’m usually trying to look for a little something to put in the back pocket and use at a different time.”
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is due for release on 15 March.
