One of Baldur’s Gate 3’s standout stars has just signed on for a fantasy RPG that’s launching soon, and it will be a clear break from what he did in the D&D hit. GreedFall: The Dying World (formerly GreedFall II) has cast Neil Newbon – the voice of Astarion – as the game’s main villain.

This is shaping up to be a particularly strong year for narrative-driven RPG fans, and not only because of games like The Blood of Dawnwalker or Fable, but also thanks to the full release of GreedFall: The Dying World. The follow-up to the 2019 RPG – which recently dropped the “II” from its title – has not only locked in its post-Early Access release dates, but also made a move that’s likely to stick with players: Spiders has hired Neil Newbon, the 2023 Game of the Year Best Actor winner, to headline the adventure as its primary antagonist.

Even though we’ve only been able to experience a small slice of the game so far, the French RPG’s main villain had remained a question mark. That character is Kurnaz, and the studio confirmed in a behind-the-scenes video that he will be voiced by the American actor who played Astarion in Baldur’s Gate 3. Unlike his work with Larian Studios, however, Newbon reportedly did not do full performance capture this time, focusing solely on voice acting.

Still, given his résumé, this is anything but a throwaway part. To shape Kurnaz, Neil Newbon worked closely with acting director Damien Goodwin on the project. The two settled on a polished accent that, in certain moments, subtly nods to the character’s more modest beginnings. Newbon also pulled inspiration from Jason Isaacs, particularly his take on Lucius Malfoy in the Harry Potter films. In Newbon’s own words, the goal was “not to play Kurnaz like a cartoon villain”, but to present a layered character whose story can be told without simplistic judgments.

Beyond the antagonist role, Newbon is also voicing Ingo, a supporting character who is the complete opposite of Kurnaz. Built on the Falstaff archetype from Shakespeare, Ingo is cowardly, opportunistic, and openly comedic. The actor says taking on multiple roles in the same project lets him explore different registers and refresh his approach to supporting characters, citing influences like Peter Ustinov, Ian McKellen, and Patrick Stewart.

GreedFall: The Dying World Hits PC First, Then Consoles

All of this has helped the project draw fresh attention, especially from those who understand just how much Newbon’s work has resonated across the industry. And the wait for the finished version will be short: Spiders has confirmed that GreedFall: The Dying World leaves Early Access on March 10, 2026, on PC. Shortly afterward, on March 12, the game will officially launch on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.

Source: 3djuegos