Dead Take Confirms Star-Studded Cast, Blending FMV Horror with Hollywood Drama

Dead Take (Image Credit: Surgent Studios)

Surgent Studios has officially unveiled the full cast lineup for its upcoming psychological horror game Dead Take, which is set to launch on July 31, 2025, for PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store.

Led by Final Fantasy XVI’s Ben Starr and Baldur’s Gate 3’s Neil Newbon, Dead Take features a strong ensemble of industry veterans and recognizable voices from gaming and anime.

Full Cast of Dead Take and Their Notable Roles

• Ben Starr

  • Clive Rosfield in Final Fantasy XVI

  • Captain James Hawdon in Dickensian

  • Dr. Christopher Priestley in Jamestown

  • Voice work in Company of Heroes 2, Quantum Break, A Way Out

• Neil Newbon

  • Astarion in Baldur’s Gate 3

  • Karl Heisenberg in Resident Evil Village

  • Roles in Detroit: Become Human, Fallout: London (mod project)

• Jane Perry

  • Diana Burnwood in Hitman series

  • Selene in Returnal (BAFTA-winning performance)

  • Jaina Proudmoore in World of Warcraft (2024)

  • Roles in Alien: Isolation, Control (AWE DLC), Dreamfall Chapters

• Matthew Mercer

  • Cole Cassidy in Overwatch

  • Leon S. Kennedy in Resident Evil 6

  • Jack Cooper in Titanfall 2

  • Trafalgar Law in One Piece, Yusuke Kitagawa in Persona 5

  • Dungeon Master of Critical Role

• Laura Bailey

  • Abby Anderson in The Last of Us Part II (BAFTA winner)

  • Kait Diaz in Gears of War franchise

  • Jaina Proudmoore in World of Warcraft

  • Diana Burnwood in Hitman (2016–2021)

  • Rise Kujikawa in Persona 4

• Sam Lake

  • Writer/director of Max Payne and Max Payne 2

  • Creative director of Alan Wake, Alan Wake II, Control, Quantum Break

  • Face model for the original Max Payne

• Alanah Pearce

  • Writer on God of War Ragnarok and other Santa Monica Studio games

  • Voice roles in Cyberpunk 2077, Gears 5, Afterparty

  • Live-action appearance in V/H/S/Beyond

• Travis Willingham

  • Roy Mustang in Fullmetal Alchemist

  • Thor in Avengers Assemble, Guardians of the Galaxy (TV)

  • Grog Strongjaw in Critical Role

  • Knuckles in Sonic Boom

• CDawgVA (Connor Marc Colquhoun)

  • Reiss Vulfe in Seirei Gensouki: Spirit Chronicles

  • Voices in PopUp Dungeon, TOME: Terrain of Magical Expertise, Honkai: Star Rail

Dead Take All cast - Ben Starr, Neil Newbon, Jane Perry, Laura Bailey, CDawgVA, Alanah Pearce, Matt Mercer, Sam Lake, Travis Willingham (Image Credit: game_watch)

Creative director Abubakar Salim emphasized the importance of authenticity in casting. “Dead Take is about actors. So we needed actors who've lived it,” Salim explained in a recent developer note. “It’s a game about ambition, deception, and the monsters we become chasing fame. Everyone in this cast understands that pressure—it was time to bleed it out on screen.”

Along with the cast announcement, Surgent Studios released a new gameplay trailer that showcases the game’s innovative “splicing” mechanic, which allows players to merge live-action clips to uncover narrative clues. The visual style and FMV approach mark a distinct departure from Surgent’s previous work on Tales of Kenzera: Zau, leaning instead into cinematic horror with a sharp focus on psychological tension.

Dead Take full cast reveal and splicing mechanic details (via YouTube)

Set in a lavish yet isolated mansion in the Hollywood Hills, Dead Take puts players in the role of Chase Lowry, played by Newbon, who is searching for his missing friend Vinny Monroe (played by Ben Starr) following an extravagant party. The gameplay mixes escape-room puzzles with investigative video splicing, as players unravel a twisted mystery lurking behind the glitter of the entertainment world.

Published by Pocketpair Publishing—best known for Palworld—the game signals a broader effort by indie studios to experiment with hybrid storytelling formats. And with a cast list that reads like a who's who of modern gaming, Dead Take is already drawing attention ahead of its late July release.