A Casting Tradition May Stop Roger Clark from Playing His Character in Red Dead Redemption TV Series

Red Dead Redemption 2 is, without a doubt, one of the greatest games ever made, but it is also one of the few video games that could’ve been released in the format of other prestige media, and very few would’ve batted an eye.

Now, even if a TV Show based on Rockstar’s IP were to come out today, it’d be just as much of a success as something like HBO’s The Last of Us. But it just wouldn’t be the same either. As for Roger Clark, the voice of Arthur Morgan, a particular tradition might prevent him from ever stepping into his most iconic role in live-action, no matter how perfect he may be for it.

Hollywood’s Misconceptions Will Prevent Roger Clark From Playing His Role in a Red Dead Redemption 2 TV Show

With its thoughtfully crafted narrative, emotionally charged performances for the game’s characters, and unprecedented level of detail Rockstar has invested in the game’s world, Red Dead Redemption 2 stands out as a prime candidate for adaptation as a TV Show or a film.

But as Roger Clark, the actor behind Arthur Morgan, recently pointed out, there’s a strong possibility he won’t be asked to reprise his role, explaining how:

Four or five years ago, I would have said yes, absolutely. But now, my opinion about it is a little more complicated.

He further elaborated on this, sharing how Hollywood’s tradition of overlooking original video game actors for live-action adaptations has plagued the industry for years, all of it due to a single reason, they just don’t understand how mocap works:

One of the reasons [is] because of the misconception that it’s voice acting. If [movie and TV producers] had a better understanding of how much these videogame actors physically inhabit the roles, I think that may change their attitudes about it.

Actors like Clark are the best choice for truly bringing these characters to life, especially considering how they understand their characters better than anyone else, giving nuanced performances that extend well beyond voice work.

Unfortunately, despite their deep connection to the characters, they are and most likely will be bypassed for a long time by more familiar faces of Hollywood.

Roger Clark’s Story Isn’t a Unique One, as Most Video Game Adaptations Suffer From the Same Problem

The reality of these adaptations is that the contributions of many of the original actors in a video game often go unrecognized when adaptations are brought to life.

But what’s worse is that most of these adaptations suffer due to the lack of involvement of the original actors or developers—people who understand the source material better than anyone else on the planet.

In rare cases, we see creators get it right—like Craig Mazin’s approach to HBO’s The Last of Us, where not only did the producers remain faithful to the original story, but even the original voice actors, Troy Baker and Ashley Johnson, were given meaningful cameos in the show.

At the end of the day, though, it’s a rare case when something like that happens. With more video game adaptations on the horizon, it will, unfortunately, remain uncertain whether we’ll be stuck with more soulless adaptations until the end of time.

With all that said, what are your thoughts on Roger Clark playing the role of Arthur in a Red Dead Redemption 2 TV adaptation? Are there other actors you feel could truly embody the character? Let us know in the comments below.