Why Dishonored 2's Paolo Sounds So Familiar
Set 15 years after the events of the original, "Dishonored 2" dishes up the ultimate revenge story. Players can choose to experience the game from the perspective of Empress Emily Kaldwin or Royal Protector Corvo Attano, both deadly supernatural assassins, as they embark on an emotional journey to reclaim the throne from the latest usurper. Whether you proceed by stealth, force, or a combination of the two, "Dishonored 2" offers a rich and deadly array of environments to explore populated by a dynamic and memorable collection of characters.
Developer Arkane worked with several talented voice actors to bring the diverse personalities of "Dishonored 2" to life. You'll find more than one film and TV star on the cast list, including Rosario Dawson ("Daredevil," "The Mandalorian") and Vincent D'Onofrio ("Daredevil," "Hawkeye") as Duke Luka Abele. While Dawson's portrayal of Captain Meagan Foster is hard to miss, another celebrity performance may have flown under the radar: Pedro Pascal in the role of supporting NPC Paolo. As the leader of Karnaca's Howlers, the player can choose to make an enemy or ally of the would-be revolutionist during the "Dust District" mission. If you're a fan of character-driven, high stakes dramas, you've likely encountered Pascal before.
Pascal broke hearts as Game of Thrones' favorite doomed prince
Though his extensive acting credits range all the way back to 1999, Pascal appeared on three major television shows between 2013-2014 that propelled him into the public eye. He portrayed a member of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in both "Graceland" and "The Mentalist" as Agent Juan Badillo and Agent Marcus Pike, respectively. Badillo met a tragic end in "Graceland" Season 1, while Pike served as a love interest for Agent Teresa Lisbon during Seasons 6 and 7 of "The Mentalist."
Pascal broke away from the FBI for "Game of Thrones" Season 4, in which he played Prince Oberyn of House Martell. A skilled fighter and lover, the Red Viper captured the hearts of men and women alike while working to undermine the Lannisters for the part they played in the murder of his sister. Though fans of the source material, "A Song of Ice and Fire," knew Oberyn was doomed from the moment he appeared on screen, his grisly demise at the hands of the Mountain stuck out as one of the most stunning and memorable "Game of Thrones" moments. It also helped Pascal's career reach new heights.
"[Oberyn] was such a tricky role to cast," showrunner David Benioff told Variety. "We were looking for an actor with charisma, sexual energy, physical menace and depth ... Once we saw the entire season there was no doubt Pedro was going to be a star."
Pascal toppled drug kingpins in Narcos
The year after his stand out performance in "Game of Thrones," Pascal debuted as part of the main cast of Netflix original "Narcos." Set in Columbia, "Narcos" follows the rise and fall of Pablo Escobar and his cocaine empire from the late 1970s to early '90s. Pascal played Javier Peña, one of the key U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents sent to Columbia to take Escobar down.
"Narcos" spanned three seasons, earning higher marks with each new drop and an average Tomatometer score of 89% on Rotten Tomatoes. Despite its success, Pascal did not return for "Narcos: Mexico," the companion series that explores the early years of the Mexican drug war. According to showrunner Eric Newman, this "was a part of the plan as early as season two," a detail Pascal knew about while filming the original show (via The Hollywood Reporter). "He alternated between asking us to kill off his character at one point and then wondering, 'Hey, maybe he can come back,'" said Newman. "I'd like to think that he still hasn't made up his mind about whether he wants to come back."
Pascal is The Mandalorian
Two years after "Narcos" came to a close, Pascal joined perhaps his most high profile project to-date, taking on the titular role in "The Mandalorian." The Disney+ series takes place five years after the 1983 film "Return of the Jedi," spinning a new tale about a lone bounty hunter and his struggle to protect the young Grogu (a.k.a. Baby Yoda) from those who would misuse his immense power. The mix of fresh and returning faces from the "Star Wars" universe captured the attention (and hearts) of viewers, leading to multiple seasons and at least two spinoff series: "The Book of Boba Fett" and "Ashoka." The latter features Rosario Dawson, another member of the supporting cast of "Dishonored 2."
According to Variety, showrunner and executive producer Jon Favreau wanted Pascal to take on the central role in "The Mandalorian" before the actor even knew the show existed. "When he walked in, it must have felt a little surreal," Favreau said. "Most of your experiences as an actor, people are kicking the tires to see if it's a good fit. But in this case, everything was locked and loaded." Despite conflicting commitments, Pascal dove into the Season 1 production schedule with some help from stunt doubles who stepped in when he couldn't make it on set. The move made him one of the key figures in the "Star Wars" franchise and helped establish Disney+ as a streaming powerhouse in a relatively short period of time.
Pascal took on Diana Prince in Wonder Woman 1984
While filming "The Mandalorian," Pascal worked on another major title: "Wonder Woman 1984." The sequel follows Diana as she attempts to stop Maxwell Lord (played by Pascal), an oil tycoon who brings the world to the brink of destruction after stealing a magical, wish-granting artifact. This marked a return to DC for the actor, as he also portrayed police inspector Ed Indelicato in the 2011 "Wonder Woman" TV pilot.
"Wonder Woman 1984" received a much more mixed reception than its predecessor, scoring a 58% on Rotten Tomatoes compared to the original's 93%. Many reviewers felt it fell short of the first entry in the franchise, pointing to underwhelming action, messy narrative and character choices, and a failure to deliver on its core concepts. Others appreciated the film for its light-hearted jaunt through the '80s and emphasis on hope, which offers a fun, if occasionally tiresome, escape from reality.
Following "Wonder Woman 1984" and "The Mandalorian," Pascal scored the lead role in a TV show based on a video game franchise dear to many players: "The Last of Us." Pascal plays Joel in the live-action adaptation from HBO, with Season 1 focusing on the events of the first title.