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Martin Sheen, Tricia Helfer sounding off in Mass Effect 2

BioWare's sci-fi RPG gains celebrity voice cast, including Seth Green, Keith David, Adam Baldwin, Michael Hogan, Carrie-Anne Moss, more.

BioWare secured a handful of big names to lend celebrity gravitas to the original Mass Effect, tapping the likes of Modern Warfare 2's Keith David and Lance Henriksen for voice-over work. With Mass Effect 2 slated to arrive for the Xbox 360 and PC on January 26, BioWare today announced both David and Seth Green will reprise their respective roles as Admiral David Anderson and Normandy pilot Joker.

Unfortunately, the krogan are a habitually taciturn species.

Unfortunately, the krogan are a habitually taciturn species.

Martin Sheen (Apocalypse Now, The West Wing) is perhaps the most celebrated new addition to Mass Effect 2's voice cast. The Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning actor will portray the enigmatic "Illusive Man," commander of a humancentric secret society called Cerberus. Fellow Emmy Award winner Shohreh Aghdashloo (House of Saddam, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2) will also lend her voice to the sci-fi role-playing game as Admiral Shala'Raan vas Tonbay.

Chuck's Adam Baldwin and Yvonne Strahovski will voice the characters of Kal ‘Reegar and Miranda Lawson, a Cerberus operative. Michael Dorn, of Star Trek: The Next Generation fame, will lend his baritone to Gatatog Uvenk, while Carrie-Anne Moss (The Matrix, The Matrix Revolutions) will portray planet Omega crime lord Aria T’Loak.

Tricia Helfer, who just recently lent her voice to Bungie's Halo 3: ODST and will also portray Kerrigan in Starcraft II is onboard as EDI, better known as the new voice of the Normandy. Helfer's Battlestar Galactica costar Michael Hogan (aka Saul Tigh) will assume the role of Captain Bailey.

Mass Effect 2 begins with the original game's hero, Commander Shepard, embarking on a dangerous mission to the mercenary-controlled Omega mining facility. While BioWare has remained tight-lipped on further plot details, the sequel will provide continuity by importing character decisions made in the original game. Check out BioWare's just-released trailer, below, to hear the newly announced voice cast in action.

109 Comments

  • UnsolvedParadox

    Posted Jan 31, 2010 7:30 am GMT

    Just started playing, the voice work has been incredible.

  • blue_shift_91

    Posted Dec 28, 2009 5:21 am GMT

    insane cast. they better have a lot of lines, or else i'm gonna feel ripped off and let down.

  • hlmcpherson

    Posted Dec 20, 2009 5:04 am GMT

    I bought this game yesterday immediately after seeing Yvonne Strahovski face on one of the characters in this video. Haha, yes I'm in love.

  • True_StormRage

    Posted Dec 19, 2009 1:27 am GMT

    @Rottenwood
    So what your saying is that video games will never be able to contend with movies, and since you think they cant, that any actor movie or television star that takes one of their deals or does a bit in it has fallen out of grace and is no longer a big star.

    All I can say is that your logic is flawed. In the past, current, and future market, video games productions and sales are slowly and very rapidly becoming superior to the movie experience profits.

    For example, movie now a days, the profit is coming mainly from dvd sales and ticket sales, but even that is now swiftly dropping with how easily a person can just go online to watch a pirated copy or even download a dvd quality version of the film. And finding that only takes a few minutes. Where as trying to pirate most games its a little harder, cause you have to crack the copy write protection and then generate a key for it. Even then, that doesnt mean it will work. Movies, you can just record it or rip it with no problems and distribute it freely on the internet.

    So with all that in mind, the video game companies will in the end have more money to pay the voice actors for their time. And the voice acting may not pay a few million for like 1 piece of work as if they were making a movie, but they dont have to commit nearly as much time for the voice acting, meaning they could do more voice acting in the time they'd have to act in the one movie and come out with more money then if they acted in the movie.

  • Prophizle

    Posted Dec 17, 2009 6:20 am GMT

    i was reading an article today (in gamer informer) and there's so much more stuff to do and its not just boring planet exploration like the last.. trust it will be contender for 2010 GOTY

  • Rottenwood

    Posted Dec 15, 2009 12:21 pm GMT

    @Jedilink109

    The argument is fine. Moss starred in the Matrix Trilogy, one of the most influential and commercially successful franchises in recent memory. She followed that with Chocolat and Memento, which were both critical and commercial smashes. Now she has a small part in a video game. (For the sake of perspective, the director of Memento ended up with the Batman franchise and a trillion dollars to work with.) Now matter how you slice it, her star wattage seems to have burned out. Perhaps her agent needs a roundhouse kick.

    I have nothing against the rest of the cast, but nobody is going to pay a geriatric Martin Sheen to be a romantic lead anymore, and the others are character actors on television shows. This is a decent gig for them. Michael Dorn seems like a good guy, but it's not like he had to choose between this or the new Scorcese movie. He's doing this in lieu of a Star Trek convention in Podunk, Texas.

  • Jedilink109

    Posted Dec 15, 2009 10:58 am GMT

    @Rottenwood

    You say that as though HER star power is hurting while everyone else in the game seems to just be enjoying their fame or something. Might wanna rethink the arguement there...

  • Jedilink109

    Posted Dec 15, 2009 10:56 am GMT

    HOLY FRICKIN CRAPNESS!!!!! Tricia Helfer, Michael Hogan, Carrie Anne Moss, Micahel Dorn, AND Martin Sheen?????? This is fantastic, PLUS the original cast will come back for the second one. That's awesome. I was super craving Mass Effect 2 the second I finished the first game so I'm ridiculously excited for this next game. It's gonna be fantastic. ^_^

  • necronaux

    Posted Dec 15, 2009 10:31 am GMT

    Cool. Nice to see the scifi folks getting work.

  • bschroth

    Posted Dec 15, 2009 9:15 am GMT

    this game is gonna rock. just started a 2nd playthrough. good to see they're putting the necessary talent in the game to make it a AAA title.

  • ffviiifreak

    Posted Dec 14, 2009 8:20 pm GMT

    as well as the voice of Kain from LOK which they seem to have specifically forgotten...sob sob

  • vengeance00

    Posted Dec 14, 2009 5:14 pm GMT

    i hope when i import my character i can edit his features for a few more scars, just to show he hasn't been slacking off for however long the break between me1 and 2 is.

  • Rottenwood

    Posted Dec 14, 2009 6:05 am GMT

    @NobleEskimo

    I'm a dyed-in-the-wool video game geek, but games have a while to before they reach the artistic quality of great cinema. Dragon Age is amazing, but I can't recall the last time I saw a good movie where the actor's voice dropped out during key dialog sequences, or characters who only had four conversation trees. Getting there, though.

    As for me personally, the choice would be easy. In terms of prestige, money, and women, there's no contest... film work blows voice work out of the water and then vaporizes it.

  • Barighm

    Posted Dec 13, 2009 9:56 pm GMT

    As long as these actors WANTED to voice these roles, I'll be happy. If it was something more along the lines of Bioware calling these guys up and saying "Please do our game" and the actors replied "Pay my fee, send a script, and I'll call in some lines and hopefully I won't be too drugged up"...then I'll bet it will be a waste of resources.

  • supaflyvenom13

    Posted Dec 13, 2009 9:48 pm GMT

    Yvonne Strahovski and Adam Baldwin = Chuck-tastic!
    As if I didn't already anticipate this game enough, waiting 6 weeks is going to feel like a lifetime now.

  • NobleEskimo

    Posted Dec 13, 2009 8:30 pm GMT

    @Slartibapfast My understanding is if you choose to continue from your save game from the 1st, then it will be either one you chose at the end. That being said, I have a feeling they will not play a big part in ME2's story. Bioware simply would not have the resources to make EVERY decision impact the game entirely... though I would love to be proven wrong.

  • NobleEskimo

    Posted Dec 13, 2009 8:28 pm GMT

    @Rottenwood Videogames generally have higher production values nowadays, aside from Avatar and the like. Plus, their stories are richer and worlds have more depth. I would much rather be an actor in a game than a movie.

  • Rottenwood

    Posted Dec 13, 2009 7:44 am GMT

    Man, did Carrie-Anne Moss' star fall after the Matrix closed up shop. From the Matrix and Memento, to doing a part in a video game. A damn good video game, but still.

  • Port2geezplaya6

    Posted Dec 12, 2009 11:14 pm GMT

    gotta agree with most of what is being said here. Good voice actors can really set a story driven game like this apart from the competition.
    Celebrities voice actors are usually much better at it than others (although there have been a few unknown gems out there)
    Anyways if casted correctly, and I have faith in Bioware, they can really lend to the personality of the characters. Seth Green as Joker in the last one was great, really fit his character.

  • Slartibapfast

    Posted Dec 12, 2009 2:59 pm GMT

    Does anybody know if Udina will be the "councilman" if you picked him instead of Anderson at the end of the 1st one?

  • jgb2292

    Posted Dec 12, 2009 2:32 pm GMT

    Game of my year .. Bioware always been good at casting there games .. playing jade empire was like who's who's celebrity list

  • Spybreak

    Posted Dec 12, 2009 1:56 pm GMT

    "Yvonne Strahovsk!!!! enough said" - This! ^^

  • sircyrus

    Posted Dec 12, 2009 12:22 pm GMT

    Celebrities voicing game characters really does nothing for me.

    If anything, it's an immersion breaker because you link the voice with a different face, character, and setting.

    The upside is the voice acting is usually pretty good, but it still comes off as Captain Janeway pretending to be Flemeth.

  • northArrow

    Posted Dec 12, 2009 11:29 am GMT

    Bioware is hands down the best RPG developer, and there isn't even a close second. Currently loving Dragon Age and can't wait for this game!

  • Johny_47

    Posted Dec 12, 2009 9:57 am GMT

    Mass Effect 2 makes buyin a new ****box worth it, unless you can have achievements and whatever DLC that's released on PC?

  • nutcrackr posted Dec 12, 2009 3:56 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    nutcrackr

    Posted Dec 12, 2009 3:56 am GMT (hide)

    Good to see old bioware using a budget cast to keep game costs down.

  • gamer082009

    Posted Dec 11, 2009 9:56 pm GMT

    Those celebrity voices is what takes you even deeper into Mass Effect. Mass Effect 2 is gonna be epic..I can't wait for this game!!!!

  • fernandino

    Posted Dec 11, 2009 8:43 pm GMT

    Yvonne Strahovsk!!!! enough said

  • Legendary_Ross

    Posted Dec 11, 2009 5:18 pm GMT

    I'm sure I will make my 360 RROD with this game.

  • DeadlyPlatypus

    Posted Dec 11, 2009 4:50 pm GMT

    Trinity

  • Gr4ntus

    Posted Dec 11, 2009 1:37 pm GMT

    Amazing video, though I wanted to see two Shepard's voice ators. They should've thrown in Garrus and Liara there as well

  • NOscope42

    Posted Dec 11, 2009 1:03 pm GMT

    woot!!!


    nuff said

  • BattleSword1

    Posted Dec 11, 2009 12:36 pm GMT

    Lance Henriksen isn't coming back? I am disappoint. I looove his voice.

  • ChrisGamer5757

    Posted Dec 11, 2009 9:48 am GMT

    Sorry but Martin Sheen's voice just does not fit at all, sounds completely out of place. Micheal Dorn for a Krogan, that is awesome.

  • sexyfunkmaster

    Posted Dec 11, 2009 8:45 am GMT

    to Deano
    read this... http://masseffect.wikia.com/wiki/Humans

    Under the biology section, second paragraph down... first line. "Humans can now live to 150 years..." thats what that says, and it comes from the in game codex from ME 1...

  • sexyfunkmaster

    Posted Dec 11, 2009 8:43 am GMT

    To Deano
    Whatever you say man... how about before you comment about the mass effect universe you, oh i dont know, READ THE BOOKS!

    And it IS illusive man. he doesn't look all that invisible to me now does he?

  • QuatrixJ

    Posted Dec 11, 2009 8:42 am GMT

    What's the point in having famous actors voice video games and cartoons? Their faces are recognizable. Voices can be copied.

  • lamprey263

    Posted Dec 11, 2009 6:51 am GMT

    Interesting cast of voice talent, plus this game just looks great. I'm a big fan of the first game but this game looks to be so much better I cannot wait to get my hands on it.

  • Rummy500

    Posted Dec 11, 2009 6:29 am GMT

    @Igrat - Gotta love Keith David. But Vin Diesel? I know it Impossible now but what if in the first ME they made him the voice of Shepard? You could be a bad@ss renegade infiltrator who does anything he wants. I think that every time I see Pitch Black.

  • Igrat

    Posted Dec 11, 2009 5:47 am GMT

    I love Keith David's voice. Ever since I saw his part in Pitch Black, he is my favourite voice actor, aside from Vin Diesel of course. Wish they could take him on as well (one of the bad guys maybe)..

  • Excedra

    Posted Dec 11, 2009 5:04 am GMT

    bioware is amazing

  • thibbledorfP

    Posted Dec 11, 2009 4:38 am GMT

    Honestly the new talent is not that appealing to me. That doesn't mean they're not good, but the only two voice actors I cared about returning was Keith David and Seth.

  • NightmareCV

    Posted Dec 11, 2009 4:25 am GMT

    As if I wasn't pumped enough for this game they go and show off a top notch voice cast like this.

  • Palantas

    Posted Dec 11, 2009 4:04 am GMT

    Yay, Kieth David's back! I read something months ago how he might not be in Mass Effect 2, which would have been a shame.

  • Henninger

    Posted Dec 11, 2009 1:25 am GMT

    Keith David is putting in work 4 the gaming industry! Hope he keeps it coming cuz he's a great voice actor.

  • gameking5000

    Posted Dec 11, 2009 12:55 am GMT

    Let's hope the game is just as good as the celebrities

  • EverteMax

    Posted Dec 11, 2009 12:33 am GMT

    Wow, what a cast, blows almost every game out of the window.

    Nobody knots my stomach like Bioware does. I remember when they announce Mass Effect and the wait towards the first game release!

    Can't wait!

  • forhekset

    Posted Dec 11, 2009 12:10 am GMT

    Feels like there's more actors on board for this than there was characters in the first one.

    The trailer gives the impression of a high budget movie rather than a game.

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