As an avid gamer who has followed the Star Wars franchise for over a decade across games, movies and more, I could barely contain my excitement when Star Wars Jedi: Survivor was announced last year. The sequel to 2019‘s smash hit Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Survivor marks the return of Cameron Monaghan‘s Cal Kestis, alongside other beloved characters from the predecessor that sold over 20 million copies worldwide.
Set years after Fallen Order, Cal‘s story continues with tense new planets, formidable foes, expansive lore and seemingly a cast assembled to deliver it in memorable fashion once again. As someone who has replays the first game countless times, I decided to take a closer look at the voice talents bringing the sequel to life.
The Leading Light: Cameron Monaghan Headlines Familiar Faces
It is hard to discuss Star Wars Jedi: Survivor without mentioning Cal Kestis, the fiery-haired Jedi Knight that looks to anchor the sequel in more ways than one. Having been honored for his work on the first game, Cameron Monaghan will surely approach the second outing with added layers of emotional complexity.
As an actor, Cameron impressed me tremendously in his dark portrayal of iconic villains across 100+ episodes of Gotham. Yet as Cal, his headstrong vulnerability shines through in making him an unlikely hero. Survivor appears likely to expand on the graven worlds from Fallen Order and I anticipate Cameron‘s vocals adding real grit to the role this time around.
Acclaimed actors like Debra Wilson (Cere) and Daniel Roebuck (Greez) are also set to return, lending familiarity for fans in a story set years later. Their veteran instincts will likely come through strongly via voices that strike the perfect balance as allies and antagonists.
While trailers tease sinister foes, I believe Survivor will stay true to its heart – the bond between Cal, Cere and the rest of the crew from the first story.
Antagonists Assemble: Veterans Add Menace
However, the hype around Survivor also stems from some of its new additions, particularly on the dark side. Established TV stars like Cody Fern of American Horror Story and DC legend Scott Lawrence as Darth Vader himself have gathered plenty of chatter from the community.
Their alignments to the dark side roles feels like a natural transition. After his twisted roles in American Horror Story‘s Apocalypse and 1984, Cody‘s portrayal of former Jedi Dagan adds further mystique and malice. Similarly, Scott‘s legendary vocals as Vader personify the perfect villain that Cal must overcome. Their fame and vocal talents have certainly elevated the hype for Survivor‘s new rogues gallery.
Additionally, veterans like Tony Amendola (Eno Cordova) and Misty Lee bring decades of experience in similar mystical roles across games and animation. Their wise tones seem fitting to showcase the depth of Survivor‘s lore and conflicts pertaining to Jedi history.
The New Class: Unheralded Actors Take Center Stage
However, similar to Fallen Order before it, Survivor‘s cast also makes space for some lesser known talents. Kestal Akuna (Tahijae Turner) and Gabs (Britt Baron) are relatable characters brought to life by emerging stars. Much like Cal was initially, their inclusion represents a clean slate for newcomers to make their mark.
As Cal‘s powers progress, so too will the performances by Cameron Monaghan and others in capturing his budding heroism. Combined with cinema-quality visuals across rich new landscapes, the voice cast of allies and villains collectively transport players into a dangerous yet wondrous galaxy.
By The Numbers: Scale of Star Wars Jedi Series
To provide further context around the universe that Survivor‘s voices inhabit, the financial traction and acclaim for the series so far has been terrific:
- Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order (2019) sold over 20+ million copies worldwide
- The game received 85+ scores on Metacritic and OpenCritic
- It was among the top 10 best-selling games in the US in its launch month
Furthermore, earlier Star Wars games have featured esteemed voice talents like Sam Witwer as Starkiller (Force Unleashed series) who reprise roles in Survivor too. Combined with Disney‘s marketing machine, it elevates voices new and old into the spotlight at an unrivaled scale.
Verdict: A New Star Wars Story To Lead The Franchise Forward
In closing, the voices helming Star Wars Jedi: Survivor carry massive creative responsibility in building out Cal Kestis‘ next chapter but also advancing the franchise into a new era. Cal‘s fate seems intrinsically tied to Cameron Monaghan‘s vocals in conveying his emotional and physical journeys as battles intensify.
The sequel expands on rich foundations established by its souls-like gameplay and narrative recipe that ingrained the first game deeply into Star Wars lore. The vocal performances look to retain familiar essences of the beloved predecessors while treading darker territories.
As someone who awaits Jedi: Survivor eagerly, the voice cast ensemble strikes the right balance between celebrated veterans and emerging talents similar to the characters they inhabit. Their collective efforts will hopefully make Cal Kestis a next-generation Star Wars icon that leads the franchise forward into gaming‘s upper echelon occupied by the likes of Master Chief and Lara Croft.
