There Will Be a Lot of Fighting - Interview with Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Rivals' Rich Keeble

Audio transcription

"I think it's safe to say, Rich, and I hope you don't mind me saying that, I hope you don't find this too forward, that you have a very lovely voice, and I'm sure you've been told a lot in your life that you must have the voice, you must try and do voiceover work, you must try and do voice acting work, and lo and behold, here we are. Did you have like a moment in your life where you thought, okay, I'll give this a go now, and at what time did you realise that that could be your sort of like full-time gig as well? Because obviously we know you from TV as well as games, but I guess people especially from like Clare Obscure and things like that might be more familiar with your voice work first."

"Yes, well, it's very kind of you to say so, thank you very much.
Anytime, anytime.
People have said a number of times in my life that I've got a good voice or a deep voice or whatever, and I should try and get into voiceovers. And to be honest, I did think about getting into voice things early on, before I actually thought about being an actor."

"I mean, that's sort of, yeah, that's true and it isn't, I suppose. I've had a bit of a mixed idea of what I wanted to do since I was young. But yeah, it's sort of, I did actually do a couple of voiceovers in my 20s before I was an actor, because in my 20s, I was trying to be a rock star, and that didn't really work out. But I wanted to be an actor when I was a kid, because, you know, the age I am, I would grow up watching British studio sitcoms like Bottom or Blackadder, or the sketch shows like French and Saunders or Fry and Laurie, or even like repeats of Dad's Army or, I don't know, A Low, A Low or something."

"You know, that was a big thing, having these studio sitcoms in the 80s and 90s that we don't do so much anymore. And I really wanted to do that. But I kind of, because I learned the piano and the drums and the guitar when I was at school, I kind of thought music would be my thing. So I went into that. And it was only until I was about 29, 30 when I'd been touring with this band, and it had been a bit of a disaster. We hadn't made any money and we all hated the drummer. And it just kind of fizzled out that I thought, Oh, well, you know, maybe I'll try to do something else. It's really hard to get into. But at that point, when I thought I'll try and become an actor, and I started doing comedy things like stand up and sketches and things, I think I had done a couple of corporate voiceovers actually at one point, because I thought, well, you know, maybe I could be a voiceover artist. Yeah. But you know what, I did actually, I phoned up some voice agents, actually, I think in my 20s. And yeah, I just remembered this. I had a, I had a demo reel done by some guy in North London who did like a course, right. And I ended up with it. This shows how long ago it was. But I ended up with this cassette, which was like a demo. I mean, it must have been in the 2000s. But yeah, it was a cassette that I think I sent out to some people. And I rang up a voice agent who I genuinely can't remember who it was. And they said, Oh, well, you know, voiceovers is really for actors when they're sort of between jobs. And I was like, Oh, okay, then. Okay. Thanks very much. Thanks for your time."

"And I didn't really pursue it until I then started to get into the acting. And, and yeah, it's just kind of gone in a weird way, really. And I started off doing bits of telly and commercials and live comedy. And then I got into doing voiceovers and audiobooks and games somewhere along the way. And it's, you know, here we are now. There's that thing about having a face for radio, isn't there? Yeah. I guess that's why I wanted to avoid that saying that in the nicest way. Well, you know, I was like, I have to say it's a nice voice."

"I can't say you're suited for this, you know, because even though you are, it's it's very, it's a tightrope to walk, isn't it? I guess. But yeah, people do. It is. I mean, you know, yeah. It's one of those things. Sorry, go on. I talked over you there. But yeah, I mean, you know, having a Korean voice is it gives you that flexibility, you know? Yeah. Because obviously, a lot of on camera stuff is based on, you know, how you look. Yeah. And, you know, I used to do commercials and things based on that kind of 30 something lad living in a flat share with other people. And I sort of aged out of that. Yeah. And now I just, you know, play middle aged, bald men on TV. I guess. I mean, I'll do anything."

"Do you find that in the voices as well? Do you find that like now that you're known as this sort of like that deep voice, you know, guy is that is that something that comes up with typecast as well? Are you getting phone calls of like, we need someone with a really, you know, really rich voice really this that and the other or like, we need a guy for two. Well, I mean, for Lego Batman, we never recall it. Yeah."

"We know, we know, we need someone who's really two faced in real life.
Someone with you know, yeah, anyway. Funnily enough, I was gonna say something about, you know, facial, you know, issues. Yeah. When I mean, you make up your own mind. Now I'm sure I am. To be honest, I used to get those things before. I mean, I suppose I'm getting more opportunities now I'm getting, you know, I'm getting asked to be in things I'm getting offers to audition for things that I, I don't think I would have done before. People who didn't necessarily know who I am. Yeah. And I am now I'm working with studios in London that I wasn't working with before. Because they're fans of expedition and fans of my work in there, which is really great. That's what we want. At the end of the day, we know we need to pay our rent and put food on the table. It's great to be sort of working off the back of something. Yeah. But I was getting those kind of things before. I mean, when I started doing games, I was doing like beasts and demons and all sorts of unhuman creatures like in the Warhammer world, right?
Okay. And that was that was a thing that I was going down. You know, I think one of my first one of my first games was Total War Warhammer. And I was playing literally beast men."

"And then I did. I've done some bloodthirsters and other sorts of warriors and things like that. And a lot of shouting and yeah, deep voice stuff. But I wanted to kind of get away from that and get into more narrative stuff. And yeah, I just sort of, like, I did a game called Strange Brigades, nearly 10 years ago, where I played this soldier called Frank Fairburn, who is related to Carl Fairburn from the Sniper Elite franchise. And he was very gruff and all this. Yeah. And I thought, you know, I, you know, I'd never do this on camera, but I can play, you know, cool, good looking soldiers in games. You know, this is great. And yeah, I would get a lot of deep voice and breakthrough breakdowns come through. And Monaco was x in a in a in a series of many, really. And it was, I think, lucky that it was, it came through after I'd done a load of them, because they wanted a rich, deep, booming voice. And, you know, and I'd done those in loads of, you know, that sort of voice down there I'd done in a lot of things, whether games or auditions for things. So I was used to doing that voice. It's like one of the deepest voices I can do."

"So I think that helped. And, you know, the comedy in the script, my comedy background can help with that really. So yeah, yeah, I mean, I'm happy to do deep voice things. But funnily enough, I've been doing a lot more things in just more of a more my normal range, I think, as well. So that's, that's good. Doesn't strain the voice. Do you ever find yourself getting locked into a voice?
I don't know if you ever like parrot something for ages and ages, I imagine with like, because there must be hours and hours of voice work with in the booth, do you find yourself ever like stuck into like a twang or anything like that? Well, I mean, I have found myself, some friends of mine who I've known for, you know, 20 odd years who knew me before I was this sort of micro celebrity or whatever I am. I've got this friend who jokes that, you know, sometimes I will, I will be talking in a kind of a voiceover voice."

"And yeah, I don't know. It's like, I think someone said, you know, it's hard to sometimes know where Rich Keeble ends and Rich Keeble begins. The Rich Keeble persona and the real Rich Keeble. Yeah. Sometimes there can be a lot of overlap. Yeah. Yeah. And you've done a lot of roles in video games yourself. I'm actually very impressed with the fact that you can remember all the titles and all the names of the characters that you've got through as well. That's very impressive. Are you much of like a gamer yourself? Well, I think I don't remember a lot of them. I do forget a lot of things. Carl Fairbairn or was it Steve Fairbairn?
I've even forgotten just now. And you've held on. Oh, yeah. Well. Oh, yeah. Well, Carl Fairbairn is the sniper elite guy. Yeah. Yeah. So I played Frank Fairbairn, who is a relative. Sorry. A relative. But yeah, I mean, it depends. I mean, I spent quite a lot of hours doing Frank Fairbairn on in Strange Brigade, who saw it all like that, you know, sort of sort of army guy. Yeah. But yeah, I remember the ones that I spend a lot of time with, like, you know, I'm never going to forget Monaco and various other things in Expedition."

"But I will probably forget, you know, small NPC characters I did in certain games like I did.
One of my early roles was in Elite Dangerous Horizons. And I couldn't I couldn't tell you anything I did on that game, to be honest. I just can't remember. I don't get a chance to play games, unfortunately. I mean, like today, I've been quite busy, for example, doing some well, I agreed to do an audio book that I would edit myself foolishly. So I'm kind of doing that."

"Yeah. And my kids just came home. We're here chatting. Yeah, catching up on whatever you should be honest. I'm I'm absolutely sick of doing the audio book. So this is a welcome break. Yeah. But I find because I'm lucky to be working and, you know, and also I've got two kids.
And you know, I try and as I get more into middle age, I try and keep fit. I don't have a lot of time to play the games. But I really do. I mean, I really must get into doing Expedition. I really want to play Lego Batman as well. Yeah. If you've got kids, I don't know if they have the game playing age yet, but it's the it's a family friendly, like, you know, Lego beat him up, I'd say. Very fun. Yeah, I think it's it's gone down really, really well. And yeah, it looks great. And my kids, my kids are seven and nearly 10. And I've got this Xbox, which Xbox infamously gave me. And I've also got a PS3 that an old neighbor gave me. Yeah."

"So I do have some stuff to get on with. Yeah. And I would love my kids to kind of experience you know, some of this stuff that you know, there's a there's a huge Monaco shrine just off camera here. Yeah. And you know, I've got a collection of two face Lego figures as well. You know, we're kind of we're building on it. And the kids sort of understand how important this stuff is. But also, you know, I don't want them to be in front of screens too much because you know, they're of the age now where they've never known an age where you don't have some sort of swipable device. Yeah. But but yeah, I will. I will hopefully sit down and play with them at some point. And we've talked a bit about Clemson, we've sort of like mentioned it in passing quite a few times, I think. But it is sort of the game, I would say that like, it feels like the game of the past like few years in a lot of ways that people are identifying if there's if there's a game that anyone's talking about, it's always been in Clare obscure. Did you have an inkling how big that would be when you were sort of like doing it? Because I remember myself, I got to see the game before it came out in I think, like, August 2024. And I was famously in disbelief that I was like, I don't think this is gonna I don't know if it seems so ambitious that I was like, I'm a bit of a bit of a skeptic on these things. So I think, oh, well, if they can pull it off amazingly, it'll go well. But I've seen loads of these and I don't think they will. And then I was, you know, backhanded proved wrong. And that's often I'm actually you think I'd know better, but I really don't. Did you have an idea of sort of how good it was going to be from that behind the scenes perspective? Well, I mean, no, I suppose is I mean, I've, I've said in several interviews before how I thought my Lord of the Rings Gollum game would do really well. And I so I'm good friends with Dave Jones, who plays Halcyon in Baldur's Gate three, we were we were made about around sort of mid 2023. We were messaging and he was like, Oh, I think my games looking pretty good. You know, it's doing well in early access. I think my game is going to do pretty well. And I was like, well, my Lord of the Rings game. You know, do you wait? Yeah, yeah, Lord of the Rings heard of it, you know, that'll do well. And of course, I don't need to say any more about that. But so yeah, I obviously didn't didn't make that call. But then I've also famously said a few times that I met up with Ben Starr for a coffee a week or two before the game came out."

"Yeah, because I was getting a bit worried, getting a bit panicky about the amount of attention.
Well, yes, possibly. Yeah. So it was like, Kepler were releasing all these trailers, and they were getting doing big numbers. Yeah, you know, I was watching the social media accounts go up and people going, Oh, this game looks amazing. Oh, but wait till it's out. Yeah. Oh, my God, this is either way. There felt like a lot more pressure. Yes. And I met up with Ben and I met up with Jack from Kepler. And they both said similar things, which was like, I think it's going to do all right. Yeah, you know, there's a few things in there that are a bit rough around the edges. Maybe that would knock it down. But you know, it'd be 80 something Metacritic, you know, um, you know, it'll do all right. But you know, I think Ben did say, you know, lightning doesn't strike twice, it's not gonna be another bg three. And, you know, we've since done panels together where I've told that story. And he's just said, I was wrong. Yeah. Because I remember the day I think I was in the I think I was in the table read for the right for rivals series two, I was looking at the reviews. And I was like, my God, it was like nines and 10s. Metacritic 92 or 93, whatever it was at the time. You know, my jaw was hitting the floor. And it was it was when I went to when they took us to IGN live in LA in June, and we had all these people kind of coming up to us and wanting us to sign things. And just the the turnout and just, you know, that was when I sort of realized, oh, this game is actually is actually a good one. Yeah, he's doing all right. And, and, you know, the fact that we're still talking about it now, and people are still coming up to me and saying it's their game of the decade and showing me their tattoos. Someone has literally just invited me and others to their wedding. Wow. Okay, that's well, I've just had an email forwarded on from Sanford. I don't know. It's weird, isn't it? If I tell you a wedding, you'll have to make sure that everyone else is going as well. Because if it's if it's just if it's anyone, I feel like if it's just the one, then it's like you're sort of like sneaking in for the free booze and free food, maybe, but they'll be glad. They'll definitely be glad. It's just, I know, if it's just me, it's like, oh, Keeble, of course he's turned up. He's turned up for a free meal. Yeah, of course he has."

"But yeah, what a wonderful, what a wonderful thing to be a part of. You know, it's ticked all the boxes, isn't it? You know, the gameplay, the story, the art, the acting, the sound design, the soundtrack. Yeah, the acting again, just in case anyone, you know, the acting I've heard is really good in that game. Yeah, well, you know, that's down to the writing, isn't it? We're just, you know, but yeah, I still can't believe it. I still can't believe I'm here talking to you and I'm just to my left and I've got all these Monocos and artwork that people have given me in person and sent to me. It's a wonderful thing. Yeah. Is it something as well that you said there about like going to panels and stuff like that? Is that a nice and sort of, I'd imagine, quite a rare thing where you get to interact with the cast a lot more after you finish a video game? Because usually from what I know from video game actors and voice actors, it's a lot of it is alone. Some of it is motion capture, performance capture and things like that, but a lot of the voice recording is alone in a booth. You'll have maybe someone else's voice if they recorded first, but I imagine it's quite rare to have this where you basically go on like a success tour almost of like, you know, hey, we've done it. We've sold so many millions. Come, come see us and we'll talk about our experiences. Yeah, no, you're absolutely right. And I mean, normally you do record on your own and they feed in the lines that someone else has recorded or someone else reads in."

"Yeah. So it is a fair, and you often don't know who's in it until, you know, you might catch a glimpse of their name on the, on the spreadsheet in front of you, you know, or you find out afterwards. And I mean, even Lego Batman was pretty secretive. I mean, I knew that Shai was Batman. I mean, he was announced, but I literally, because I've known Shai for a while and I was going into a session as he was coming out and I was just like, oh, are you two in here? You are?
Okay. But didn't know anyone else. And I think Shai himself actually was pretty forward in getting the actors announced in the way that he did. But yeah, Expedition was a very unusual example because they arranged for a few of us to go out for dinner before we'd recorded. So I actually met Ben and Kirsty before we'd recorded. And that really helped because, you know, my first scenes were recording with Ben. So it was nice to kind of get the, you know, a feel for what he's like as a person and an actor. That was really cool. And then when we wrapped, we went out for dinner again. So it was, yeah, it was me, Ben, Jen, Kirsty, Sharla and Maxence as well, who I've met by that, at that point as well. So yeah, we've always just had this kind of inclusive kind of thing going on. And they took all of us to LA. And then the, you know, we've had, we've had the concerts, you know, they've given us tickets for those where appropriate. You know, again, I saw Ben, Jen, Kirsty and Sharla. Yes, I think at the London one at Hammersmith, where I sort of barged my way onto the stage. And yeah, we've sort of had these, we've had these nice little social things. I bumped into Ben at MCM London just now. I mean, neither of us were officially there, I don't think. I think he was doing his natural sex thing on the Friday, but I saw him in the green room. I was just turning out with Shai, just sort of, I don't know, throwing our weight around a bit. Yeah. And still, still know who's the boss. Yeah."

"Making sure people still know who's boss around. Yeah. And yeah, we've just sort of had all these, these excuses to kind of get together really. So I mean, yeah, there's there's various more fan conventions in the in the calendar. Most of which I probably can't talk about yet. But like, you know, a few of us are going to Warsaw, I think in July, that's been announced. And yeah, there's more stuff coming up in the year with various combinations of us. So yeah, it's really nice. Yeah. I mean, they're all a great bunch. And it's nice to hang out and chat and just sort of bask in the glory, really. And it's still lovely to meet people. Yeah, it's just great when people come up to you and they tell you how the game has affected them, or they've enjoyed it and show you their art and things and they're all dressed up. Yeah, it's it's it's really fantastic."

"Yeah. And yeah, I guess it must be the same being in Baldur's Gate as well. Yeah.
Um, you know, hanging out with the actors in a way that you you wouldn't normally. Yeah.
Gosh, poor Jen, she must be, you know, swept off the feed during both the Shadowheart and the Mael and... I know, she must be exhausted. I mean, that's why I think she does sort of disappear a little bit. I mean, she's, you know, she takes takes breaks from social media and the like, which I probably should do as well. But we all should, I think. Yeah. Yeah. I think we all should. But yeah, it is it's kind of exhausting in a good way. You know, I mean, what, you know, what an amazing, you know, what an amazing job to be able to do this and be part of something that's affected so many people. As you said yourself, Alex, it's the game. The game. Yeah, it feels like it's the game. Yeah, it does feel like that. And it's got like the cast as well, as you were saying before, like it's got your good self, of course, and it's got like a very star-studded cast, I think, of voice actors. You said before that you've worked with Sharon, like a Batman and things like that. You've, you know, you've kind of been hitting it all for a while now, as you said, from Total War as well. Is there anyone on your sort of like voice acting or maybe just like acting bucket list, I guess, in general, but you've not yet had the chance to sort of share a credit with or share like a sort of game with?
Well, you know what? I mean, that's, that's tricky, isn't it? You know what? I mean, I've been very lucky because some, you know, big voice actors who I've met and haven't worked with directly, I've still ended up in some games with them. Right. Yeah. Like I was in this mouse PI for hire game, which is, which has got Troy Baker all over it. And, you know, so we've got some interactions in the game, which is insane, rich. Yeah, I guess it is. Yeah. Because I met Roger Clark and, and, and Robert Milan Games Week last year and the Red Dead guys, and they were really nice. And I ended up in a marathon with Roger Clark, and with Ben and Jen, and Sam Bayer. And actually, we did a thing together recently as well, separate little thing. Yeah. So yeah, I guess, you know, I'd really love to work with, who I've already worked with is actually my friend Dave Jones, from Baldur's Gate 3, because we did a game called Astrologaster together years ago, but I'd love to do something else with him. Dream Project, maybe? Yeah. That would be good. And you know what else I'd actually quite like? Of course, Neil Newman's in Marathon as well, isn't he? So I guess, yes, yeah, it really is a big crossover. I'd love to do something with Tim Downey."

"Because I've known Tim for a while, because we we did Good Omens series two together. Yes, of course. Yeah. And we chat a lot. And yeah, I think we're going to be in Warsaw together as well.
And we were in Switzerland together recently. Yeah, we haven't, we definitely haven't been in a game together. And I think that'd be fun. Because Monaco likes feet. Gale likes shoes."

"Yeah, I believe so. You know, maybe there could be something there. Yeah. Maybe someone could create a game based on Monaco and Gale. Yeah. That'd be a lot of fun. Yeah, you've got it's not just Monaco, though, that a lot of people and I was I wasn't privy to this, actually, at first. And for that, I'll hold up my hands with shame. But you've played you've had 12 other roles in in Claire Obscure. Did you have like a favourite that isn't Monaco? That was like, ah, well, good question. Um, well, I mean, to be fair, you know, me and you don't need to hold your hands up. It's not the only credit for me is actually Francois in the game as well as Monaco."

"But yeah, all the other stuff I've just been shouting about. I guess I mean, Monaco is the favourite. I did really enjoy how Francois turned out. I really liked how the Masked Keeper turned out. I really liked how the Trash Can Man turned out. Yeah. You know, I did all the I did these other characters in the prologue didn't I did the ones I've mentioned did Nicholas the painter, Maxime the drunk, Florian the painter's worshipper. I did Simon, of course. And I did. I did some journals, including Expedition 60. I tell you, yeah, I am a big fan of the Trash Can Man. Because you know, I wore it. I wore a trash can to the Game Awards last year. And I am a big fan of Expedition 60. Because I have there's been a lot of love for Expedition 60. Is that the one where they do the swimming where they all took their kit off and went swimming? Or is that? Yeah."

"No, you're absolutely right. Yeah. They're buff. And I've actually got Expedition 60 bit of artwork on my wall as well. So yeah, that's that's one that's close to my heart as well. Yeah.
So it might be. I'm sorry, go on. No, no, no, I was just I'm aware that we have your time. But if you've got time for something else, then I'll stop talking and let you say it. Yeah, bit of time. It might be a bit of a serious switch up. But we're seeing like more and more. And this is something that a couple of people that you've mentioned before that Neil Newburn have talked about is sort of like the AI and voice acting thing. And I just wanted to get sort of like your thoughts on it, I guess, because I think we're seeing a lot of different people try and talk about it, but not as many people who it's actually their livelihoods depend on it. You know what I mean? There's a lot of saying we can use it or we can use that, but they're not the actors."

"They're not the people who are going to be one telling the stories in the way that gamers want to see them and to getting paid and making their livelihoods up at the end of the day.
Yeah, I mean, obviously, I don't want to lose my job to AI. I don't want artists or anyone else or musicians to lose their jobs to AI. I think at the moment, it is pretty contentious. And I think there is a lot of backlash against AI. I mean, maybe I'm living in a vacuum, but my feed is very much like people are anti AI, which I am. I mean, you know, obviously, AI is in lots of things. It has been for years. But this whole generative AI thing and the slop thing. Yeah, I'm not a fan of it at all. I don't like the way that AI voices sound. I don't I'm sick of the way AI art is looking. Yeah. And I just think, you know, it's all about connection, isn't it? And process in terms of art, I think what's good. I hope is good with Baldur's Gate three, opening the door to kind of shining a light on who the actors actually are and an expedition opening the door a little bit further. I hope that people enjoy actually having a connection to a human actor doing these things in the games that you just won't get from an AI voice. And, yeah, I just kind of hope the backlash continues and people just realize that we want to see humans in things, you know, we don't want to see. I don't really understand. I don't think it will take over, you know, touch wood, because, you know, you want to see actors, you know, in things, don't you?
And that's aside from the whole thing that, you know, you can obviously direct us and we can give nuanced performances that AI can't do. Yeah, I mean, I'm hopeful, I think, that won't get rid of us. But yeah, I will. Yeah, I will continue to be anti-gen AI, I suppose, and encourage everyone else to do the same. Not just me, but the artists, you know, support real artists, real musicians."

"I don't want to listen to an AI. I mean, I like electronica, but I don't listen to AI music.
You know, I need something that's got a bit of a human touch to it, whatever it is.
And perhaps one, I realize I'm running out of time, but perhaps one final quick question.
I think if there's anyone who's got an advantage to be in the Claire Obscure movie, which has been announced and revealed, I think it might be you, because Minako doesn't have a face. So we're clearly gonna have a voice. Would you be up for coming back in the future? I would be up for doing anything Minako related whatsoever, whether it's this game with Gale, or the Expedition movie. I have said actually on a few panels that I think people should boycott that film, unless I can voice Minako. Because, yeah, sure, I mean, you know, none of us are going to play the parts. It's all going to be, you know, especially in this climate, it's all going to be famous people. But now with actors, as you say, people are getting from the voice acting industry, getting more and more well known. And there's outcries almost for, it's the same with the Mario movie, I think. So if we can get this boycott going, Rich, I think we've got a chance."

"Yes, exactly. Let's get this boycott going. You know, he's going to be mocap or CGI, isn't he, Minako? Just get this voice in there, please. You know, don't give it to Jack Black, give it to me. Please. Please. Thank you. Thank you. Yeah, no worries if not, that's what you're supposed to say, isn't it? I would love to do anything Minako related. I'm in. Yeah."

"I think there might be some fighting. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Oh, yeah, that's true.
Count me in then. There will be a lot of fighting. Count me in then.
That line got me. So that line, I think, was the line that decided that I was like, OK, Klebski was the game for me. So thank you very much for that."

"Yeah, that's it. No, thank you, Alex. Thank you so much."