The Callisto Protocol’s narrative underpinnings are being kept secret still. Knowing how things turned out in Dead Space, it would not be difficult for fans to assume that a comparable origin for the biophage mutation has taken root within The Callisto Protocol’s Black Iron Prison. But one of the game’s other mysteries is who each character will be. This puts a prominent question mark over the head of actor Sam Witwer, who has been confirmed for The Callisto Protocol, but whose character has not been revealed.
The Callisto Protocol’s playable protagonist Jacob Lee, played by Josh Duhamel, was the only character revealed for a long while, and how or why he has come aboard Black Iron Prison as an inmate is still unknown. But in The Callisto Protocol’s most recent story trailer, Karen Fukuhara’s Dani Nakamura has now been announced too. Sam Witwer’s character has been heard, but kept a secret otherwise. It is unknown what his character’s role will be in the story, but it would be exciting to see Witwer in an antagonist role.
Sam Witwer is a Head Guard in The Callisto Protocol
Witwer most popularly played Galen Marek’s Starkiller in the Star Wars: The Force Unleashed franchise, and most recently played Deacon St. John in Days Gone. His talent is well-known, making his casting in The Callisto Protocol compelling, especially if he is to play a full-fledged antagonist this time around.
There are tiny details that have come out about Witwer’s character, though they still leave a lot up to speculation. It was previously announced in an interview with Glen Schofield that Witwer plays a head guard at Black Iron Prison, but even more interesting is Schofield’s confession that it is Witwer narrating The Callisto Protocol’s PlayStation State of Play trailer.
This monologue narration has explicit undertones of cruel, malicious intent. The character is seemingly speaking to Jacob, who is a new inmate incarcerated at the penitentiary, and gruffly reminding him that he belongs to his world now. Therefore, it is more than likely that The Callisto Protocol is using the age-old trope of corrupt security guards at a maximum security prison.
In this case, Witwer would be a head guard who enjoys tormenting inmates and exercising his authority against them. This could be his entire role, with his involvement in gameplay being an obstacle that players encounter early on as inmates.
Sam Witwer Could Be an Antagonist and Boss in The Callisto Protocol
However, the character’s trailer narration also clearly teases his involvement in the biophage mutation, for which he could be wholly responsible. Witwer’s unnamed character explicitly references the biophages’ “rebirth,” and could be an antagonist who has a hand in Black Iron Prison inmates’ reanimation.
More about why The Callisto Protocol’s antagonists are attempting to achieve this grotesque form of rebirth is anyone’s estimate at this point, but Witwer’s character seems excited about its potential. It would also be fascinating to see Witwer’s character become an antagonist who players legitimately encounter in a boss fight if he is willing and eager to undergo the rebirth mutation, where tentacles could sprout from his stomach and mutate him into a colossal atrocity.
The Callisto Protocol’s gameplay has not given any indication that it could feature traditional bosses, though that would not be outside the realm of possibility. Either way, Witwer’s talent makes his character’s potential look promising, regardless of what role or character type he is set to play.
The Callisto Protocol is scheduled to release on December 2, 2022, for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.