Baldur’s Gate 3 actor Samantha Béart has hinted as a possible return for HBO’s upcoming live-action TV series.
Not expected to release for years, the upcoming HBO series will be set after the events of the games. While actors such as Neil Newbon have expressed a desire to return to the show, it’s not known which characters will return.
Speaking at the Future Games Show, Béart confirmed that showrunner Craig Mazin is planning to have some returning characters from the main game in the upcoming sequel series. However, it’s not known if those characters will be from the main party, or if they will be recast.
“I think I’m ready to make a statement that I’ve prepared,” they said. “There’s been a lot of speculation as to this HBO show based around Baldur’s Gate 3, actually after the events of Baldur’s Gate 3.”
Béart explained that they personally know showrunner Craig Mazin through their work on BAFTA Breakthrough, an initiative to support emerging creators in TV, film, and games. “I actually know Craig through BAFTA Breakthrough ‘cause he casts game actors in his TV shows,” they continued.
“Anyway, I’ve got my thing. Craig Mazin has personally expressed to me his belief that the key cast of Baldur’s Gate 3 should be represented meaningfully on-screen on the show, either as someone familiar or someone new. And that’s words he actually said to me.”
Béart gave their prepared statement while holding a flash card with the following text: “Karlach Cliffgate pegged Craig Mazin and he loved it.” I feel that’s essential context to the story.
This could mean that the main cast of Baldur’s Gate 3 will be in the HBO show, although not necessarily as their video game counterparts. Mazin has done this before with his adaptation of The Last of Us. In Season 1, Ellie’s game actress Ashley Johnson played Ellie’s mother. In the same season, Troy Baker, who played Joel in the games, played the character of James.
It’s unknown how much of a role the main party of Baldur’s Gate 3 will have in the upcoming TV show, if they’ll appear at all, or if they will be recast. Nevertheless, the series has already proven controversial with fans, especially as the game’s original developers, Larian Studios, are not involved in the project.
In an interview with FRVR earlier this year, Newbon called for fans to give the show a chance. While the actor realises why fans are so attached to the current versions of the characters and story, they hope the fans give Mazin space to create their version of Baldur’s Gate.
“I really hope people give them space to make the show that they want to make,” he said. “It’s really important that artistic endeavours are left to cook. What they’ll do with it, who knows? But he’s [showrunner Craig Mazin] an amazing writer. I think he’s a great showrunner as well. I think Chernobyl is a great example of how good his writing is, man.”
