Treyarch has announced today that COD: Black Ops has gone all Hollywood with the inclusion of actors Gary Oldman and Ed Harris, as well as script writer David S. Goyer who has come on board to provide script consultation and story development support.
Oldman will reprise his role as Viktor Reznov from Call of Duty: World at War, with Harris playing one of the game’s main characters, CIA operative Jason Hudson.
Mark Lamia -Studio Head of Treyarch – had the following to say:
“Oldman, Harris and Goyer are considered some of Hollywood’s finest talents and they perfectly complement Call of Duty: Black Ops’ ambitious and immersive single player experience.
Their contributions have helped us to push the boundaries of our story telling and character development far beyond anything we have ever attempted before in the franchise.”
Is a Hollywood voice cast something you deem as important?
Source: Press Release
BlackWidowShirt
I’ve never heard of any of them.
yogdog
oldman was commissioner gordon in batman begins and the dark knight (great films), and dracula in… dracula
Bilbo_bobbins
Oldman has a class voice, great actor too. Really doesn’t bother me who does the voice overs to be honest, normally the stories are never that interesting in FPS anyway for me to car about the characters.
Foxhound_Solid
Oldman…
Batman
Friends
Dracula
Fifth Element I think also?
That dude can act!
shields_t
Plus not a lot of people realise he’s a cockney, given his multi-accented roles.
rht992
he’s a cockney? your kidding!! that dude can act!
clamour_kid
Gary Oldman was in one of my favourite roles as Lee Harvey Oswald in the film JFK.
BlackWidowShirt
Just looked ’em up and i’ve seen a couple films with them in and the batman films that the third guy directed.
BlackWidowShirt
oops, he didn’t direct but he did something /facepalm
aphex187
You obviously don’t watch many films then eh ;P
bunimomike
How old are you, BWS? With a comment about not knowing Gary Oldman or Ed Harris (by name) I’m guessing young or perhaps you’re logging in from the North Pole where you’ve been for several years with your PS3 and a life-sized Kelly Brook pillow to keep you company. Go look her up too. She’s well worth Googling.
BlackWidowShirt
Don’t really watch to many modern films tbh. I guess i’m just not one of these people who watches crap like big brother and reads garbage magazines and ‘news’papers about celebrities on the toilet for titilation.
BlackWidowShirt
and frankly, it’s none of your business how old I am.
Cadabena
There’s a difference between liking good films and watching reality TV y’know. A big difference. And both of these guys have been around long enough, since before the rise of celebrity gossip you oddly mention. I wholeheartedly recommend The Fifth Element – he might have a deep south accent, but Gary Oldman plays a fantastic part as Zorg.
skibadee
one film you need to watch LEON.
bunimomike
You only had to tell me you didn’t want to discuss your age. No need to get defensive!
I cannot stand the likes of Big Brother or the utter drivel that passes for celebrity gossip/magazines. They actually anger me! However, I was curious about your age to see if that’s the factor behind not hearing of Oldman or Harris. I’m 37 and they’re top of their respective game.
Seeing as I’ve appeared to have annoyed you, please ignore all further discussion from myself. :-)
Armonster9000
I’ve never heard of any of them, and no, I don’t live in the North Pole.
Daywalker
Gary Oldman is is also Serious Black in Harry Potter, if you’re younger ;). I’m not too old, but I know him. Great actor. I want him to play Gordon Freeman in the Half Life film (If they make one). :D
ShovellyJoe
That’s what i know him from!
rht992
that is perfect. . . kind of. he’d have to you know. . . get younger first
E8_BALL_
ed harris: german sniper in enemy of the gate
unfortunately hes now typecasted in my head as a german soldier
yogdog
good to see gary oldman in there :)
superjag86
That’s great news. Gary Oldman’s voice work was one of the highlights of CoD:WaW. This is kind of making me want to get Black Ops, but only if there’s a cheap deal on somewhere when it launches like MW2.
stonyk
I agree. Will buy this if it comes Cheap on day 1 like MW2. Otherwise it’s a Lovefilm only.
BlackWidowShirt
I kinda want to play it too, but wouldn’t buy it; Luckily my bro’s getting it so i’ll just nab his :)
scavenga
Gary Oldman FTW
Severn2j
And they complain that games cost so much to make… I didnt actually notice Gary Oldman in COD:WaW, although I did spot Jack Bauer as the all-american heero. Didnt really add much to the game tho, so imo, not worth the money.
hazelam
yeah and companies like ea moan about preowned sales, yet they’re still willing to pay cheating douchebags like rooney and tiger woods a fortune to star in their games, rooney while his wife was pregnant.
get phil cornwell in, he could do gary oldman, for a lot less i bet.
PoorPaddy89
I like it when I hear a voice in a game and its recognisable as a certain actor, but it’s not something I’d look out for. For example, it was great having Liam Neeson in Fallout 3, but it didn’t make or break the game. I don’t think Hollywood has had that kind of influence on games – gaming has it’s own icons. For example I’d bet most hardcore gamers would be more willing to purchase a game whose main character is Nolan North than one voiced by a Hollywood A-lister. Voice acting is a very different skill from stage/screen acting.
lewis815
Goyer? The FlashForward Co-Creator? “Some of Hollywoods finest talents”?
*Does not compute*
Cjdamon042
I was probably one of the very few people that liked FlashForward lol…Admittedly some parts were a bit iffy, but I enjoyed it. Will never know what happens now though since it was cancelled *sigh*
hazelam
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Flash-Forward-Robert-J-Sawyer/dp/0812580346
they changed a few things but this is the book the series was based on.
i quite liked the series too, i just kept missing the episodes after they mid season break though so i have no idea how it ended.
lewis815
I watched the whole series too, its a shame it got cancelled it was starting to pick up pace nearer the end :( Just a shame it started off so.. blah..
hazelam
goyer co-wrote batman begins and worked on the story for the dark knight with nolan.
sesameseed
Go and watch Leon, Oldman’s great in that… during his alcoholic phase!
Also stars Jean Reno of Onimusha 2 (or was it 3?) fame, which showed how Hollywood and games really could work together!
colmshan1990
He was unbelievably good in Leon.
Best villian ever. The way he acted it, wow!
Severn2j
Best. Movie. Ever. I love that movie, definitely in my top three and possibly favourite.. I even named my cat after him. Seriously.
.
I think’s also Natalie Portman’s first film. And her best performance, imo..
jayboy31
Yes he was great in LEON but if you haven’t seen True Romance, check him out in that, he plays a rastafarian pimp, superb.
And no-one seems to be mentioning Ed Harris? He was in the Rock and also played the main baddie in A History of Violence, oh and the lead in The Abyss. I’d say he’s one of me faves.
Severn2j
Yeah, True Romance is a movie everyone should see.. Gary Oldman almost stole the movie and he was only in it for five minutes! I say ‘almost’, because the best part of that film was the Dennis Hopper / Christopher Walken “Sicilian History” scene.. Cinematic gold. :)
beeje13
if your getting them from batman films why not get morgan freeman, or even christian bale?
r.i.p. heath ledger
Jumping Monks
Honestly… I don’t care. As long as the story is good, who cares about voice actors. As long as they aren’t terrible it doesn’t bother me who it is.
DrNate86
I personally refuse to buy anything that isn’t voiced by Nolan North.
yogdog
well, you must be bankrup then :P
tonycawley
Why? He didn’t say he buys every game he does voice acting in. Just that he wont buy a game if he’s not in it. Which means in all honesty he buys very very few games.