Cast members from Baldur’s Gate 3 took to the main stage at New York Comic Con yesterday to discuss their roles (and rolls), go behind the scenes, and answer some fan questions. The four-person party talked about everything from D&D and motion capture to squirrels and Chappell Roan. Neil Newbon (Astarion), Devora Wilde (Lae’zel), Aliona Baranova (Corinna), and Jennifer English (Shadowheart) guided attendees on quite a Q&A adventure.
Maggie Lovitt of Collider moderated the panel, entitled Exploring Faerun: Behind the Scenes of Baldur’s Gate 3. She kicked things off with a question about the cast’s familiarity with Dungeons & Dragons, the basis for the gameplay system in Baldur’s Gate 3. And the answers varied.
“Baldur’s Gate 3 is a gateway drug to D&D,” explained Neil Newbon. Newbon had the most familiarity with the role-playing game going in, identifying as a “card carrying geek.” So he had effusive praise for the (mostly) wholesome fandom of D&D and Baldur’s Gate 3.
On the opposite end of familiarity, Jennifer English explained that she didn’t know much about D&D going into production. “It wasn’t a thing in my rural town.”
“You didn’t look hard enough,” Newbon immediately responded. And you could absolutely hear the Astarion in his voice.
On the Road with Baldur’s Gate 3
From there, cast quickly slipped into the genuine camaraderie they have with one another. And the adventure of the panel took a few turns as they bickered and bantered like a family.
In fact, the cast recently went on a road trip together, in real life. Newbon and Wilde felt like the parents and Baranova and English were the kids in the back. Newbon quickly discovered his distaste for Chappell Roan. Admittedly he only listened to ten seconds, but found these “the longest ten seconds.” The rest of the cast later serenaded him with “Pink Pony Club,” live at the panel, to his displeasure.
But Newbon only moved his chair away from the others when Wilde told the crowd to try ranch dressing on ravioli. She also mentioned it’s great on pizza and pretty much anything.
After arguing broke out, Newbon spilled water on himself and Wilde got some paper towels. And immediately wrapped him up like a mummy.
Back on track (momentarily), how much research did Wilde do about the Githyanki? “Very little, but it was justified.” She felt that all the lore might bog down the character, so she learned just enough to know how harsh Lezel was and how she’d soften over time. But she did become quite proficient in Gith, “the language of my people.”
In addition to voicing Astarion, Newbon also provided motion capture for other characters. A seasoned thespian, he found inspiration for their movements in unlikely places. The inspiration for Gortash? Barack Obama.
“Obama is a brilliant statesman. He’s not evil,” Newbon clarified. He studied some other presidents as well for the role, and also mimicked his brother for other motion-capture performances in the game.
The Rolls of a Lifetime
Speaking of surprising roles, Baranova seemingly rolled a 1 in auditioning for Shadowheart and not getting the part. But somehow it became a 20. “If you can’t get the part then get the girl,” Baranova said to cheers, as she became the real-life partner of English, who did book the role. “I romanced her… and then I romanced her in the game.” On top of that, Baranova did judo for a while and a lot of motion capture, so she got the job as motion capture director instead.
So who did the other cast members romance?
“Myself,” Wilde immediately admitted.
“We call it Astar-bation,” shared Newbon, who romanced his own character in the Larian game as well.
“I am also romancing myself,” shared English.
From there, all sorts of topics came up. Wilde talked about using a Shadowheart body pillow “for the Lae’zel-Shadowheart fight… nothing else.” Baranova mentioned how many people apologize to her for kicking the squirrel (she voices one, as do all of the game’s directors) English talked about getting cast as Oliver Twist in Oliver! And Newbon talked about starting his acting career playing to one audience member at the Edinburgh Fringe.
The Party Behind the Party of Baldur’s Gate 3
And while the panel got pretty wacky from time to time, the cast members weren’t afraid to share some wholesome moments praising each other, and their crew.
“We’re all lucky Aliona did not get Shadowheart. Because we got a fantastic and brilliant performance director,” Newbon explained, before complimenting the rest of his cast members, especially those not present on the panel.
“Dev’s performance of Lae’zel made me cry,” admitted English, referencing the point at which Lae’zel questions her purpose.
“Everyone on stage did amazingly,” Wilde added, and also praised everyone from the characters with the most lines to those with two. “I didn’t understand the hype of Baldur’s Gate until I played Baldur’s Gate.”
The actors praised not only the entire crew of actors, but also the directors, developers and more. They mentioned that over a thousand people worked on Baldur’s Gate 3 in various capacities. “It’s a big team effort,” Wilde said. And the work (and camaraderie) clearly shows.
