Note: This article contains significant story spoilers for Destiny 2: The Edge of Fate. It is highly recommended to complete the campaign before proceeding.
Destiny 2 frequently expands its narrative by introducing fresh characters and developing their backgrounds. The Edge of Fate, the inaugural chapter of Bungie`s “Fate Saga,” introduces Lodi—a truly unique addition to the game`s roster. Serving as the primary contact on the expansion`s new destination, Kepler, Lodi boasts a mysterious and profound history that enriches Destiny 2`s existing lore and storyline with many novel elements.
Lodi is revealed to be a time traveler, snatched from the 1960s and propelled across centuries by an enigmatic force. This origin sets him apart from typical Destiny 2 characters; his perspective is far more akin to that of the players than the game`s immortal Guardians. He stands out as a distinctly “regular” individual compared to any character previously explored in Destiny 2, making him a fascinating anomaly within its fantastical universe.
Brian Villalobos, new to the Destiny 2 universe, lends his voice and performance to Lodi in The Edge of Fate. Since joining the cast, Villalobos has deepened his engagement with the game, even starting his own Twitch streams (his brother, Michael, is the renowned Dark Souls streamer LobosJr). We recently corresponded with Villalobos to discuss his journey portraying Lodi and how he uncovered the character`s human essence amidst the game`s cosmic elements.
On Familiarity and Character Immersion
Q: You`ve been streaming Destiny 2 recently. How familiar were you with the game and its lore before taking on the role of Lodi? Can you describe your process for inhabiting the character and establishing his presence in the Destiny universe, and how your prior knowledge (or lack thereof) influenced that?
BV: My familiarity was quite limited. I`m not a huge gamer, though my younger brother, a well-known Dark Souls streamer, did introduce me to that `beautiful nightmare` for a while. He had played Destiny, but I never had. When I got the casting notification about a year ago, I recognized Destiny as a massive, established franchise with a dedicated player base, but I primarily perceived it as just another `space shooter` where you team up with friends to blast robots and aliens. (I might have also vaguely recalled Nathan Fillion`s involvement, haha.)
What genuinely astounded me as I delved deeper was the incredible depth and scope of its storytelling, characters, and lore. It possesses an entire cosmology—complete with space magic, distinct space `religions,` coexisting civilizations, a complex military history, and even Eldritch interdimensional interference. It immediately felt as vast and profound as franchises like Star Wars or The Lord of the Rings. This deep narrative aspect, which was my initial point of engagement and what I truly fell in love with as an actor preparing for the role, was entirely new to me. Curiously, this unfamiliarity perfectly aligned with my preparation for Lodi. One of the many fortunate aspects of playing him is that he embodies the quintessential `Timelost, Stranger in a Strange Land` archetype.
My preparation involved playing the game, absorbing numerous lore videos and Destiny storylines, and undertaking general background research. However, much of Lodi`s essence was, firstly, wonderfully clear and present in the script, and secondly, grounded in the concept of: `Welcome to Destiny; you`re playing this incredibly ordinary guy, perpetually overwhelmed and confused by everything, yet utterly fascinated by this vast, pre-existing futuristic world he`s been thrust into. He has little idea what`s happening, is clearly in over his head, and desperately wants to avoid messing things up, but he`s doing his absolute best.` I thought, `Yep. That, I can completely relate to.`
Capturing Lodi`s Emotional Depth
Q: Lodi faces immense challenges: alien abduction, time displacement into the future, and mental manipulation. Your portrayal effectively conveys significant anguish at several points. Could you elaborate on the difficulties of capturing such a broad emotional spectrum? How do you distill the profound, unknown strangeness of his situation into a relatable human performance?
BV: Honestly, it was an immense pleasure, truly so much fun! Despite the vast scale of the weirdness, this role was a dream come true. While I can`t reveal spoilers, I`ve had opportunities playing Lodi that I never, ever would have imagined achieving as an actor, seriously, never, ever! Haha. The stakes are monumental, with cosmic implications for existence itself. Yet, at his core, Lodi is just an ordinary man navigating it all. He`s intelligent, adaptable, kind, and open—all incredibly valuable traits. But then, the very fabric of reality and spacetime has been upended for him, and he must process, survive, and integrate it all without betraying his inner turmoil. As an actor, you always have the script, the character`s thoughts, emotions, and experiences as your guide.
If you`re fortunate, you also have the interaction with other actors. For the cinematic segments, I was incredibly lucky: we conducted performance capture in Stockholm with fantastic teams, including two remarkably talented Destiny veterans, Allyson Kulavis and Richard Sloniker. Beyond voicing characters, they`ve provided physical and facial performances for many figures throughout the series, making my task significantly easier. Starting with performance capture was brilliant; Allyson and Richard acted as scene partners (and patient, expert PCap mentors, as it was my first time) to help ground the performance. All I had to do was immerse myself in Lodi`s imagined thoughts and feelings, observe their reactions, and I was fully present. Later, during the booth-recording sessions over the past year, that week in Sweden with the team provided an invaluable foundation, especially since you`re typically alone in a booth, relying solely on imagination.
Regarding humanity: the humanity is profoundly embedded in the writing. The narrative team for Edge of Fate is exceptional (and incredibly kind!). They not only crafted a character that I instantly connected with but were also incredibly supportive. While they had a clear vision and a meticulously scripted direction, they also gave me immense freedom to infuse Lodi with my natural cadences, pauses, vocal quirks, and truly, my entire personality.
From the outset, I recognized the monumental scope of this story—it involves almost unfathomable cosmic elements, interstellar time travel, enigmatic space deities, space wizards, and the potential end of existence. Furthermore, being Destiny, there`s over a decade of incredible performances, rich storytelling, a passionate community, and a powerful tradition. I could have easily felt pressured to live up to all that. However, I`ll give myself credit for instinctively understanding that approaching it that way wasn`t my job. My job was to focus on this character, on what he`s thinking and feeling. What he *says* is already provided. The key was to be open, trust the material, avoid adding any judgment or unnecessary baggage, and simply step into the unknown. Just trust. Much like Lodi himself.
Balancing Authority and Being a `Fish Out of Water`
Q: Lodi truly stands out in Destiny 2 as arguably the ultimate `fish out of water` character. Yet, he must also exhibit authority, guiding players through the narrative. How did you approach balancing these seemingly contradictory aspects of his personality?
BV: It`s quite similar to the acting profession itself, or really, any new job an actor undertakes. As Bungie`s brilliant and kind narrative director, Alison Lührs, aptly puts it, Lodi is a fish out of water, but he`s also the *most qualified* fish from that specific pond. As an actor, you bring your own experiences, skills, and unique perspective, which offers a degree of confidence. There`s an inherent comfort in knowing that you`re here because the story`s creators saw something in you that aligned with their vision, suggesting you`re `right` for the role in some capacity. (Unless, of course, the first choice wasn`t available, haha.)
So, you`re chosen for a specific purpose; you`re `qualified.` But then, this particular role is distinctive, enormous, and peculiar, with high stakes. What`s the natural response? You do what Lodi does: he’s the ultimate `fake-it-’til-you-make-it` champion. Don`t we all, in a way, do something similar? Or rather, not `fake it,` but `trust it.` To put a more positive spin on it: `Trust-it-’til-you-bust-it.`
The Most Compelling Aspects of Lodi
Q: What aspect of playing Lodi did you find most interesting or compelling? What initially drew you to the role?
BV: Frankly, everything—which I know isn`t a very articulate answer, but it`s the truth. Every single detail about Lodi resonated as interesting and compelling to me. We even share an almost uncanny number of similarities on paper. Both of us love languages and people, are pacifists at heart, and prioritize communication and connection. We`re both part-Latino and speak Spanish, yet can easily pass for typical white guys. We`re peacemakers to a fault—it`s almost comical. I even loved ceviche before becoming a vegetarian (though I suppose I still technically love it). We even bear a physical resemblance!
One particular element of the character and narrative that I especially enjoyed was the significant situational comedy stemming from his predicament as a `guy from the `60s thrust into a space-magic future.` There were genuinely hilarious moments playing Lodi as he became utterly disoriented while trying to maintain his composure and blend in with people living centuries beyond his understanding. He`s the quintessential `How do you do, fellow kids?` type, which, funnily enough, is another trait we share. I often feel like I`ve been functionally 40 since I was 17 (minus all the adult responsibilities and financial literacy, of course).
Inspirations for Lodi`s Portrayal
Q: Did any specific films, performances, or other inspirations guide your portrayal of Lodi?
BV: I received a light comparison to Kyle MacLachlan`s Dale Cooper, which caused me to squeal quite audibly in the booth, as I`m a huge fan of Lynch and Twin Peaks. There was also perhaps a slight mention of The X-Files. But truthfully, and it might sound unexciting, my primary guide, my “North Star,” was the script itself and Lodi`s character. Some truly fascinating and enjoyable references came up when discussing how to approach Lodi`s other—shall we say `personalities,` to avoid spoilers?—but I`m honestly not at liberty to disclose those. Heh. Man, that`s precisely why this character is so incredible. I genuinely had the opportunity to do so much with him that I never anticipated.
The JFK Assassination Theory
Q: Are you familiar with the fan theory suggesting Lodi assassinated JFK? If so, did he? Or do you have an alternative `headcanon` theory you`d be willing to share?
BV: Oh, excuse me. I think I`m getting a call. I probably should answer that.