Years back, when the creators of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle began sketching the game’s foundational elements, I can’t help but wonder if they truly grasped the complexity of their task. Opting for a character that not only embodies Indiana Jones but is a spitting image of Harrison Ford’s iconic portrayal from the 1980s movies was no small feat. They aimed to capture Indy at his adventurous best, not as he appeared in the recent films as an older man.
The completion of any game is a remarkable achievement, but MachineGames hit it out of the park with this ambitious goal. It was largely thanks to Troy Baker, whose voice acting prowess is renowned, having delivered unforgettable performances as Joel in The Last of Us and Sam Drake in Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End. Indiana Jones, however, is on a pedestal of its own in popular culture, and nailing Ford’s voice was crucial.
A recently released BAFTA video offers a behind-the-scenes glimpse into how Baker achieved this daunting task. He kicked off the project with a bit of method acting: during the first script reading, conducted over Microsoft Teams due to the pandemic, he embraced the role fully. Baker even logged in as “Indiana Jones” and appeared donning Indy’s signature fedora and bullwhip, shared cinematic producer Mitra Ashkan Far.
Both Mitra and voice-over designer Emily Hesler commend performance director Tom Keegan for his exceptional ability to immerse actors into their roles. Known for his work on numerous Wolfenstein and Star Wars projects, Keegan’s expertise was instrumental. Hesler, at around seven minutes into the 27-minute video, shares snippets of Baker voicing Indy’s grunts — quick expressions during combat. These nuances amplify the authenticity of his portrayal, making it uncannily Ford-like.
Laughing with admiration, Hesler remarks on Bakers’ capability to infuse “so much personality” into what could merely have been mundane sound effects. She notes that Baker’s portrayal doesn’t just capture frustration but embodies Indy’s strength and resilience, ensuring he’s no victim, but someone who’s ready to retaliate.
Hesler emphasizes, "It has to have some, like, breathiness. There’s a tone, something that makes him sound a bit annoyed — it’s all attitude and personality. And Troy nails it perfectly."
Having spent countless hours navigating through Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, I’m continually in awe of Baker’s portrayal of Indy. His exceptional performance earned him part of the 2025 DICE Award for Outstanding Achievement in Character. Fans can anticipate the game’s release on PlayStation 5 this spring.
