Video game adaptations for film and television are a major trend in Hollywood right now. However, according to Aliona Baranova, the performance director and voice actress (known for voicing Corinna the Squirrel) for Baldur`s Gate 3, not enough is being done to involve video game actors in these projects. This is particularly frustrating given how much fan dedication drives the success of such adaptations.
Speaking at FanX`s Tampa Bay Comic Convention (as reported by Collider), Baranova expressed her disappointment, stating it`s “a shame that the video game audience is being overlooked when it comes to screen projects. We see how dedicated you, the fans, are… and I feel like that`s currently being neglected by filmmakers and studios.”
She further highlighted how fan dedication, especially from queer communities, can significantly boost a film or show. Baranova recounted, “I participated in a medical drama in the UK called Maternal. I`ve seen my scenes translated into Chinese, uploaded to Bilibili, and watched thousands of times.” She also noted the immense support other Baldur`s Gate 3 actors receive, such as Jennifer English, the voice of Shadowheart, whose short film premiere at the BFI saw 60 people travel last minute to support her after she posted about it on Instagram.
Considering the massive support fans provide to video game actors across various projects, Baranova finds it perplexing why they are ignored. She cited Ashley Johnson becoming “the number-one-most-looked-up person on IMDb” after her appearance in The Last of Us live-action adaptation. “Why isn`t more of this happening? Why wasn`t Doug Cockle in The Witcher TV series? Why aren`t we considered for video game adaptations? Even animated adaptations like Arcane—we would love to be a part of those.”
It`s worth noting that The Witcher live-action series is an adaptation of the books, though its existence might arguably be tied to the success of the games. Nevertheless, the core argument remains: game adaptations frequently omit the talent that contributed to their original creation. As Baranova put it, “it`s a shame that they are undervalued. They are simply being slept on.”