Tim Russ, the actor best known for playing Tuvok in Star Trek, has been confirmed as the voice actor for Sylens in LEGO Horizon Adventures following the sad passing of Lance Reddick, the original voice for the character. It is not known yet whether Russ will be playing the role permanently for the eventual third Horizon title, but Guerrilla Games did previously say the character would be recast starting with the LEGO spin-off.
As well as appearing in Star Trek: Voyager and the more recent Star Trek: Picard as Tuvok aboard the famous starship, Russ has lent his voice to numerous other video game characters, and is not actually even a complete stranger to the Horizon series. He voiced Jetakka in Horizon Forbidden West, a member of the Tenakth tribe who Aloy meets in a few different side quests. Russ has also appeared in a few Bethesda RPGs (Fallout 4, Starfield) and The Last of Us Part II.
Following the very sad passing of Lance Reddick last year, Guerrilla Games paid tribute to him with a memorial found in the Burning Shores expansion for Horizon Forbidden West. Lance also voiced Commander Zavala in the Destiny titles, and he has been succeeded by Keith David in that role.
[source videogameschronicle.com]
Comments 17
I was hoping they'd go with Keith David but I'll reserve judgment until I've heard this guy as Sylens. Speaking of David I think he would be a good choice to replace the late great Tony Todd as the voice of Insomniverse Venom
I love Tim Russ! Tuvok for the win! He's a pretty prolific voice actor too, so I think this is a great fit.
Tim Russ seems like a smart choice. His voice seems closer to Lance's than Keith David's is, but no one quite has the same intonation as Lance, but it's hard to judge without hearing it. It's a tough position, and I wish him well in the role.
So is Sylens playable in Lego Horizon then? I read the review earlier and it said there were only 4 playable characters, which is absurdly low for a Lego game. Glad they didn’t leave him out entirely but still should be playable, along with at least a dozen other characters. Maybe they’re waiting for Forbidden West paid dlc? 🤑
Tim went from bein the principal of the school, to the spaceship captain, all da way to bein a real bonfide lego-man boy. Words can express how proud of you I am, Tim Russ. May your conscience be your guide as you continue to be the voice of all of our favorite characters as time goes on.
Running into the voice of Tuvok himself was one of the nicest surprises in Starfield. Especially since he plays one half of a duo in the game, and the person who voices the other half is also a hoot! I am looking forward to hearing Mr. Russ in this game when I eventually play.
I am still so sad about all of the great performances we are not going to get from Lance Reddick. And now Tony Todd. What losses.
I approve this casting and can see it working in Horizon 3, but he will always be Tuvok so it will still take some getting used to. Although let's be honest, anyone taking on the role will take some time to get used to as well. Reddick was just that well suited to the role.
Tim Russ is an excellent actor. I’m sure he’ll do a great job.
RIP Lance Reddick.
David Harewood would be my first choice but im sure Tim will do a great job.
That is a good decision. I think he will make an excellent replacement.
If they had chosen Keith David, although he is undoubtedly a great actor, I would always be reminded of Admiral Anderson (the character he voiced in Mass Effect). For me that would be far too distracting.
Although, I feel that trying to imitate or replicate Reddick’s rather unique voice is going to be difficult indeed.
I am rather hoping that Sylens’ appearance and character models do not alter as well. Hopefully, the family shall still give permission for Reddick’s likeness to be used?
@Matthewnh Horizon is performance captured, but Aloy is modelled after someone who isn't Ashley Burch so it shouldn't be a problem pending likeness rights.
It's difficult to know if work had even started on H3 for performance capture but I imagine he was either explicitly signed up for it given the end of HFW or there was something regarding future games.
Either way I would imagine the family wouldn't get in the way of a project he was already involved with and enthusiastic about.
Awwww man, I'm conflicted. I hated the idea of continuing the Sylens character without Lance, because the Sylens character is Lance and it just feels completely wrong to have anyone else try to do it with how unique his voice was. But, yet, I love Tim Russ! I might be able to tolerate the change with him. But it's also going to gnaw at me because Lance was Lance and that voice can't be swapped.
I think this is a good choice. As a huge fan of ST: Voyager, Tim has a great sci-fi actor voice, and I believe he'd be able to emulate Lance's vocals well.
@chasimus @Matthewnh I'm actually kind of hoping he doesn't try to imitate Reddick and just finds his own way based on the character on the page. It would also be a pretty ballsy move to change the appearance to more closely match Russ's. I get that Sylens was modelled after Reddick and his mannerisms are tied in there, but if you can't replace him, then why try? It certainly wouldn't be the first time an actor was replaced after a death and then the character was altered to more closely align with the new one. I'm thinking Dumbledore in the HP movies, as an example.
To me, it's more problematic to leave the appearance of Sylens unaltered. It would feel like Sony was pulling a bait-and-switch and unintentionally insinuating that we don't actually need Lance Reddick to have Lance Reddick in a game.
Not heard Tim Russ's portrayal so can't judge and it's going to be very different to Lance's due to the tone difference between this and the main games.
Going forward for main series id go with David Harewood
Comb the desert..
“We ain’t found sh*t”
Peak Russ.
He wasn't on the list of people we thought of, but it seems like it will be a solid choice.
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