The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion had its cast highlighted by such successful actors as Patrick Stewart and Sean Bean, and today Bethesda Softworks revealed that The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim will also feature award-winning performers. The latest installment in the long-running RPG series will star Christopher Plummer ("The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo," "The Insider"), Max Von Sydow ("The Exorcist," "Minority Report"), and Joan Allen ("The Contender," "The Bourne Ultimatum").
Plummer, a two-time Emmy Award winner, two-time Tony Award winner and Academy Award nominee, will play powerful Greybeard elder Arngeir. Greybeards are "an order of philosopher monks who are masters of the Way of the Voice" and reside in seclusion from the top of Skyrim’s tallest mountain.
Sydow, another Academy Award nominee, tackles the role of Esbern, an agent and chronicler of the ancient warrior society once sworn to protect the Emperor known as the Blades. Esbern has survived in hiding and will teach the player how to confront the return of the dragon Alduin, The World Eater, a subject he has been long obsessed with.
A three-time Academy Award nominee and Tony winner, Allen will star as Delphine, another surviving member of the Blades who is trying to unravel the mysteries behind the dragons’ return.
Other significant roles in the game will be Imperial General Tullius played by Michael Hogan ("Battlestar Galactica"), Ulfric Stormcloak, Jarl of Windhelm and charismatic leader of the Stormcloaks, voiced by Vladimir Kulich ("The 13th Warrior," "Smoking Aces"), and General Tulius’ chief lieutenant Legate Rikke, portrayed by Claudia Christian ("Babylon 5"). Minor roles are also being filled by notable actors and actresses such as Diane Louise Salinger ("Carnivale"), Renee Victor ("Weeds"), and Saturday Night Live-alum George Coe ("Transformers: Dark of the Moon").
The group are but a small portion of what Bethesda boasts as a massive undertaking of voice work. Skyrim will feature over 70 different actors in total with more than 60,000 lines of dialogue.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim will release for the PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 on November 11.