In a recent interview, actor Giancarlo Esposito was discussing processes for acting in motion capture for The Mandalorian. During that portion of the discussion, Esposito specifically mentions a "huge" video game he's working on that he can't discuss. Rumors flew for a while until a new report seemingly confirmed that game was Far Cry 6. The article has since been taken down so it may be false, but it's impossible not to wonder what Esposito could bring to the table as a villain in the insane franchise.
Since the humble beginnings of the franchise, varying degrees of insanity have been prevalent throughout each Far Cry game. Far Cry 3 took this even further with its iconic villain Vaas, placing a pivotal and charismatic character as the source of the game's unpredictability. Subsequent Far Cry games have turned this into a staple for the series, and for good reason. Assuming the former Breaking Bad star is to become the villain for Far Cry 6, here's what he could bring to the table.
Esposito's Acting Chops
For starters, Esposito has already depicted several iconic villains on both TV and film previously, ranging from Moff Gideon in The Mandalorian to Gustavo Fring in Breaking Bad. Fans recognize Esposito for his calm and collected demeanor based on his iconic Breaking Bad character Gus Fring, but he's taken on other roles that reflect a more charismatic side of Esposito that's not often recognized. One particular example is his clever and boisterous character Buggin' Out from Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing.
Where Gus Fring was a calculated and intelligent character, Buggin' Out was an energetic and outspoken character. Esposito embodied a character in Do the Right Thing, which came out in 1989, that represented a polar opposite of Gustavo Fring. His brashness and argumentative nature was what made Buggin' Out's character so endearing, using his wit to challenge what he saw as wrong. Esposito has the potential to craft characters that vary far beyond his most recent work, and is something he could certainly draw from should he take on a villainous role in Far Cry 6.
Far Cry Villains: Innovative Unpredictability
Villains in the Far Cry series have seen plenty of variety over the years, with a Gus Fring-like caricature in the Jackal from Far Cry 2. There's also been characters like Michael Mando's Vaas, easily the most popular Far Cry villain in the series thus far who embodied the iconic insanity fans have come to love. Troy Baker's Pagan Min from Far Cry 4 represents a charismatic middle-ground between these two, borrowing the explosive anger from Vaas' personality and mixing it in with a bubbly attitude. Far Cry 5's brothers and sisters of the Seed family each embody different arms of a totalitarian religious cult, ranging from militaristic warmonger to a prophetic savior complex.
Far Cry has experimented with a variety of different villain archetypes, each with a unique twinge of derangement. These villains continuously poke and jab at the player in different ways, shocking and surprising fans with their unpredictability. While a lot of these roles have fallen victim to stereotypes, like how Vaas' villainy is undercut by Hoyt Volker's second act and Jason Brody's own insanity, each role has served as a breakout performance. Fans enjoy recent Far Cry games because of the spotlight shone on the villains and their caricatures, and the actors who embody them so well.
Embodying a Far Cry Villain
This is a big reason why Giancarlo Esposito would be an apt pick for Far Cry 6's villain, if true. Esposito has the breadth of experience as an actor and the pedigree to show for it with characters like Moff Gideon or Gus Fring. He's even played a character in a video game before with his appearance as "The Dentist" in Payday 2 back in 2013. Esposito's work with character curation has resulted in some of his most fantastic roles, and with Far Cry villains typically embodying emotional extremes, Esposito is absolutely capable of taking on a villain's role in the series in several potential forms.
He could borrow from similar roles like Gustavo Fring and Moff Gideon and portray a character who operates under unpredictability and extremes. Alternatively he could inject aspects of charisma from personalities like Buggin' Out but in a much more sinister role akin to that of Vaas or Pagan Min. Esposito is well known for grounding and fleshing out his characters well, embodying each performance with impressive vigor. There's plenty of options for a potential Far Cry villain depicted by Giancarlo Esposito, and it'd be interesting to see how that character is written and portrayed by him. He could represent a strong evolution to what Far Cry has successfully built upon over the last few years.
Far Cry 6 is reportedly in development.