Baldur’s Gate 3 is filled with amazing characters and even more amazing performances, and none have captured the gaming audience quite like Neil Newbon’s Astarion. To this day, Newbon still laughs like the beloved fantasy vampire with the spirit of Astarion still resting somewhere inside the actor.
Speaking to Dungeons and Dragons’ official social media account, Newbon explained that he isn’t quite ready to give up the role of Astarion yet. While Larian Studios isn’t working on a Baldur’s Gate 4, although Wizards of the Coast has said a sequel is “of course” going to happen, Newbon wants to continue on with the character.
“It’s been one of the best roles I’ve ever played in my entire life,” Newbon said, “and, I don’t think, I’m not ready to let go of him.”
Newbon explained that the character, which he spent four years developing with Larian Studios, has “meant more than I ever realised he would mean when we started the recordings”.
“To hear so many people from so many different countries from all over the world, so many different backgrounds, coming forward and saying the game—D&D specifically—and also our game, and also the characters in the game, and also my character all meant so much, helped them through a dark time, helped them push through something difficult in their life or made them feel seen in a way is extraordinary as an entertainer to hear that”.
Newbon explained that it’s not all about him, although he definitely deserves to take some pride in the situation, but instead it’s down to “hundreds of people that go into making this story, go into making D&D”, saying he’s “just an actor”.
“That’s what D&D is about,” the Baldur’s Gate 3 actor concluded, “D&D is supposed to bring people together.”
Baldur’s Gate 3 is one of the best interpretations of Dungeons and Dragons in a video game format for a multitude of reasons. Yes, the game has stellar writing and performances, but just like the tabletop game, it also brings people together. In fact, even Skyrim’s lead designer Bruce Nesmith played through the entire game in co-op.
It’s not known if Astarion will ever return in a future Baldur’s Gate game, or who is even making the next one, but it would be fun. After healing his trauma in Larian’s game, it would be interesting to see the character pop up for a side quest or two… well, if his good ending is actually canon.
