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McDowell, Flair Uprising on Red Alert 3 March 12

Q&A: Heroes star joins wrestling legend in PC expansion to alternate-history RTS; producer Amer Ajami talks landing talent for add-on, which also stars DOA's Holly Valance.

The year had barely started when gamers learned that Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 would be getting its first expansion, subtitled Uprising. Exclusive to the PC "for now," according to EA Los Angeles senior producer Amer Ajami, the add-on will be available for download on the PC on March 12 for $19.99.

Mr. McDowell will take your questions now.

Mr. McDowell will take your questions now.

As has been the case since Kane executed Seth in the original 1995 C&C, Uprising will feature full-motion video cutscenes with real-world actors. Following in the footsteps of Red Alert 3 cast members J.K. Simmons, Tim Curry, and George Takei will be Malcolm McDowell. Best known in the film world for his portrayal of a psychotic teenage thug in A Clockwork Orange (1971), the British-born thespian is familiar to younger audiences for his roles in Star Trek Generations (1994) and the television series Heroes. Gamers will recognize his face from the live-action cutscenes in the Wing Commander games and his voice as that of President John Henry Eden in current best-seller Fallout 3.

In Uprising, McDowell will play as Rupert Thornley, the president of the European Union and current leader of Western Allies fighting the Soviets and Japanese. McDowell was the developers' first choice for the role of the erudite British leader, given his famed diction and gravitas. "There's only a few people that have the kind of pull he has," Ajami told GameSpot.

Holly Valance.

Holly Valance.

The producer went on to explain EALA's casting process for the C&C games' FMV sequences, which are done in coordination with EA's marketing department. "We have a four-sided square we try and fit people in when we cast them," said Ajami. "One, they have to have what we call 'nerd cred,' because that plays into our audience a lot. Then, they have to be a big-name actor as well. Third, they have to be recognizable, so if you look at them you might not know exactly who they are, but you know they've seen them somewhere before. And the fourth one doesn't apply to Malcolm, but having hot chicks [in the game] never hurts."

One of the attractive actresses recruited for Uprising is Holly Valance, the Australian-Serbian actress who recently appeared in the disastrously received film adaptation of Dead or Alive. She is joined by C&C newcomer Jodi Lyn O'Keefe from the television show Prison Break, and series veterans Gemma Atkinson and Ivana Milicevic reprise their roles as Lt. Eva McKenna (Allies) and Dasha Fedorovich (Soviet). Julia Ling will also return as Izumi, sister of the Japanese Empire's psionic commando Yuriko Omega--who will also appear in one FMV sequence portrayed by an as-yet-unannounced actress.

"Woooooooooo!"

Definitely not fitting into the "hot chick" category is Ric Flair, the former pro wrestler and outsize television personality. He will portray Commander Hill, a military strongman players must battle in Uprising's all-new Commander's Challenge mode. "We needed somebody to yell at you and call you names--he definitely fit the bill," Ajami said of the famously boisterous ex-mat-man.

Uprising will feature some 25 minutes of full-screen FMV cutscenes, drawn from more than 30 pages of script. Directed by EA's full-time cinematic director Richard Taylor, the scenes were shot over eight days last year on soundstages in Hollywood and nearby Culver City, California.

74 Comments

  • Coolhandlew

    Posted Feb 12, 2009 4:31 am GMT

    pointless getting good actors, actresses in if the game is poo, like ra3 was, compared too ra2 and 1. ra3 feels more like a c&c generals game.

  • TehUndeadHorror

    Posted Jan 28, 2009 8:55 pm GMT

    Wooo hot chicks!

  • brandonnerdratt

    Posted Jan 28, 2009 2:12 pm GMT

    command and conquer series best games ever!

  • Taegre

    Posted Jan 28, 2009 10:45 am GMT

    mice16
    "I did notice that none of those points of the square actually have anything to do with actual acting skill. (Nerdness, famousness, familiarity and hotness)"

    This is the Red Alert series, where B-movies come to life.

  • FidelSarcastro

    Posted Jan 28, 2009 9:33 am GMT

    I dont know who would make a better Red Alert 3 character... Ric Flair with his WOOOOOOOOO!!! or Howard Dean with his AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

  • SLjimbolian

    Posted Jan 28, 2009 8:40 am GMT

    WOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

  • mice16

    Posted Jan 28, 2009 1:59 am GMT

    I did notice that none of those points of the square actually have anything to do with actual acting skill. (Nerdness, famousness, familiarity and hotness)

    I think that it's sad when they have to consult their marketing department before making a casting decision. Good thing Joe Kucan, Arthur Roberts, Andrea Robinson and John Milford were not chosen on any of those oh so important credentials.

  • AjaxsLastStand

    Posted Jan 28, 2009 1:10 am GMT

    Why hasn't anyone said WOOOOOOOOOOOO yet?

  • RoughTumbler101

    Posted Jan 28, 2009 12:35 am GMT

    To bad my P.C. is garbage cuz i would buy this. WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

  • macrules_640

    Posted Jan 27, 2009 11:28 pm GMT

    With the mention of Ric Flair this game has got me interested. Woooooooooooo!

  • dmfreak

    Posted Jan 27, 2009 10:34 pm GMT

    oh yes ric flair! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!

  • Pete5506

    Posted Jan 27, 2009 8:52 pm GMT

    lol, I hope its fun

  • DeadManRollin

    Posted Jan 27, 2009 8:44 pm GMT

    Wooooooooooo!

  • Tranceplant

    Posted Jan 27, 2009 8:04 pm GMT

    WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

  • Chief_Kuuni

    Posted Jan 27, 2009 6:14 pm GMT

    Ric Flair is the best, Wooo

  • BloodMist

    Posted Jan 27, 2009 5:37 pm GMT

    Ric Flair has always been funny...fit's the RA universe perfectly.as for the DoA movie, it's incredibly funny.See it.

  • JamesSoprano

    Posted Jan 27, 2009 4:06 pm GMT

    Ric Flair and C&C do not mix at all .. but it sounds funny .. so i would love too see a trailer with him in it

  • Taegre

    Posted Jan 27, 2009 3:37 pm GMT

    Anybody else find it ironic that the pic shows Malcom McDowell being interviewed for a game about massive world war at the Society for World Peace?

  • Bozanimal

    Posted Jan 27, 2009 3:25 pm GMT

    Wait, there was a Dead or Alive movie? (Googles) And it's got Jaime Pressly? (More Googling) Darn it, it's rated PG-13. How good can a movie about 4 hot girls slashing ninjas be without being rated R?

    Who am I kidding, I'm going to go rent it tonight.

  • Gamingcucumber

    Posted Jan 27, 2009 3:17 pm GMT

    Wow those are two names I never would have thought to have been feautured in a video game. Let alone Red Alert. Especially Malcolm McDowell, wonder if he saw this comming when he was filming A Clockwork Orange with the master that is Kubrick.

    Anyway, cool I guess but I would rather have them spend the money on making a quality game, worthy of the name Red Alert. Also anyone annoyed by the fact that EA probably spent more money getting those names than what the saved by shutting down Westwood? I STILL can't get over the fact that ANYONE shut them down....god...

  • IamLegend316

    Posted Jan 27, 2009 2:58 pm GMT

    Whether ya like my spam rush, or ya don't like it....learn to live with it, cause it's the best......goin'.......today.......Wooooooooooo!

  • jrabbit99

    Posted Jan 27, 2009 2:58 pm GMT

    I wish I could get the game!

  • tylerliextacos

    Posted Jan 27, 2009 2:45 pm GMT

    McDowell freaks me out ever since i even knew what A Clockwork Orange is...

  • vampyre_dark

    Posted Jan 27, 2009 2:41 pm GMT

    Please. Please. PLEASE. Release a trailer video with Flair cutting a promo in here.

  • biggest_loser

    Posted Jan 27, 2009 2:35 pm GMT

    Aw man. Holly Valance. There is a God

  • Dagamemonkey

    Posted Jan 27, 2009 1:34 pm GMT

    McDowell still has that "Kubrick stare" from the movie.

  • thorsen-ink

    Posted Jan 27, 2009 1:14 pm GMT

    @ DemannameD: Yeah, I know--just picked his most recent and visible project. He's been in in 80-plus movies, and I am a big fan of If... and Clockwork Orange (which I own on Blu-ray).

  • Vainamoinen82

    Posted Jan 27, 2009 12:57 pm GMT

    Wooooooooooooo!

  • Hekynn

    Posted Jan 27, 2009 12:45 pm GMT

    Mcdowell does play a very good villian for any kind of game or movie

  • firedrakes

    Posted Jan 27, 2009 12:45 pm GMT

    we just need the hulk hogan and we be set

  • darkdragonmage9

    Posted Jan 27, 2009 12:26 pm GMT

    lol flair I wonder if I'lll go WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

  • killa4lyfe

    Posted Jan 27, 2009 12:20 pm GMT

    my "woo" will all of urs! cuz,,,,,,

    WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO x INFINITE

  • baystatethrashr

    Posted Jan 27, 2009 12:18 pm GMT

    YES!!!!

  • xMADxDOGx

    Posted Jan 27, 2009 12:13 pm GMT

    it's not woooooo , it's banzaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaai!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Senor_Kami

    Posted Jan 27, 2009 12:08 pm GMT

    I haven't played a RTS in over a decade, but this news and most of what i've heard about the overall silliness of RA3 make me want to purchase it.

  • Taegre

    Posted Jan 27, 2009 11:58 am GMT

    "NObody says WOOOOOOOOOO around here, except ME!"

  • Chico_Azteca

    Posted Jan 27, 2009 11:57 am GMT

    To be the man

    wooooooooooooooooooooo

    you must beat the man

  • Maverick82102

    Posted Jan 27, 2009 11:55 am GMT

    @ Inconnux

    Why must a policy be idiotic just because you don't like it?

  • OICWUTUDIDTHAR

    Posted Jan 27, 2009 11:50 am GMT

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PipOWwt7wXY&feature=related

    Wooooooooooooooooo!!!

  • Inconnux

    Posted Jan 27, 2009 11:41 am GMT

    Just another EA game that I will skip due to their idiotic DRM policies.

  • ocman1

    Posted Jan 27, 2009 11:36 am GMT

    Plus, if you beat him in the game I will DEMAND that he does the Flair Flop and dives headfirst into the floor. Attention EA, next add on you could feature the "American Dream" Dusty Rhodes. Could make for some awesome 1v1 cage matches.

  • Denji

    Posted Jan 27, 2009 11:21 am GMT

    Rick Flair? LMFAO

    YOU GOTTA BUILD A TANK CAUSE IF YOU DON'T BUILD ONE *does strut, elbow drops the floor* WOOOOO! YER GONNA DIE! As god as my witness YER GONNA DIE!
    WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

  • tamd

    Posted Jan 27, 2009 11:15 am GMT

    thats kinda funny cast wrestling star
    caligula star
    dead or alive star

  • ocman1

    Posted Jan 27, 2009 11:14 am GMT

    "MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAN.......... WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.....
    GENE."

    My favorite Flair-ism, besides his phallic reference to Space Mountain. LOL

  • Chaoricus

    Posted Jan 27, 2009 11:14 am GMT

    Woooooooooo!

  • GC4ever

    Posted Jan 27, 2009 11:06 am GMT

    LMAO!!!!
    Ric Flair!!!!
    WHOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!
    that's great, i'd buy it just to see him act!!!!
    LOL
    WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

  • Gamer_4_Fun

    Posted Jan 27, 2009 11:04 am GMT

    what?!

  • TheArcade

    Posted Jan 27, 2009 10:48 am GMT

    WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

  • ocdog45

    Posted Jan 27, 2009 10:47 am GMT

    i can't wait to see that on youtube.

  • DBZ_RPGs

    Posted Jan 27, 2009 10:47 am GMT

    WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

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