Harrison Ford has showered Troy Baker with praise for his role in “Indiana Jones and the Great Circle,” highlighting that there’s no need for AI to imitate iconic voices. Troy Baker’s seamless impression of Ford in the game not only won over fans but also earned accolades from Ford himself at The Game Awards 2024. In an industry buzzing with debates about AI replacing voice actors, this acknowledgment underscores a significant perspective.
Once again, Harrison Ford commended Troy Baker for his portrayal in “Indiana Jones and the Great Circle,” insisting that the actor’s performance counters the necessity for AI to mimic renowned voices. Baker, a seasoned voice actor, took on the role of Dr. Henry “Indiana” Jones in the game, which became available for Xbox Series X/S and PC in December 2024. Initially, Baker’s hiring faced hurdles as Bethesda’s head, Todd Howard, needed time to be convinced by a series of blind tests conducted by the development team.
Despite the initial doubts, Troy Baker managed to bring the legendary treasure hunter to life in “Indiana Jones and the Great Circle,” delivering a performance so close to perfection that it even impressed Harrison Ford at The Game Awards 2024. During the event, Ford, joined by Todd Howard and Troy Baker, announced the award for Best Performance. Although Baker wasn’t among the nominees, his outstanding portrayal left a lasting impression on the audience.
In a recent chat with The Wall Street Journal, Ford praised Baker’s work as “brilliant,” reinforcing his stance that AI is not required to re-create a voice like his. A snippet from Culture Crave revealed Ford’s sentiment: “You don’t need artificial intelligence to steal my soul. You can truly achieve amazing things with creativity and talent. Troy did a great job without the crutch of AI.”
Ford’s remarks tap into a broader concern within the acting community about AI’s role in video games. Esteemed voice actors like Jennifer Hale and David Hayter have previously voiced their opposition to generative AI emulating their voices. This issue even contributed to SAG-AFTRA’s strike against several major developers last summer.
With Ford soon stepping into the Marvel Cinematic Universe as President Thunderbolt Ross/Red Hulk in “Captain America: Brave New World,” audiences can look forward to another iconic performance. Meanwhile, for those who missed “Indiana Jones and the Great Circle” on Xbox and PC, there’s good news. The game is slated for a PlayStation 5 release in the first half of 2025, offering another chance to hear Baker’s take on the fedora-donning adventurer famously portrayed by Ford in films.
