Unknown 9: Awakeninghas been many years in the making, first being announced during Gamescom Opening Night Live in 2020. The title comes from Reflector Entertainment, a studio owned by Bandai Namco Europe, and stars actress Anya Chalotra - known for playing Yennefer in Netflix’sThe Witcherseries - in the role of protagonist Haroona. Thegame is part of a largerUnknown 9narrative universe that spans several different mediums, a project spearheaded atReflector by co-founder Alexander Amancio, the former Ubisoft Montreal Creative and Artistic Director.
Haroona is a Quaestor - someone born with the ability to navigate The Fold, a mysterious other dimension that’s hidden from most people. As she begins honing her skills, Haroona attracts attention from a group called the Ascendants, who want to use her power for their own gain. To defend herself,Haroona can briefly jump into her enemies and control them. Thisunique magic systemgivesUnknown 9: Awakeninga sort of tactical twist, making players think about not only what Haroona will do, but what they should make opponents do as well.Screen Rantinterviewed Anya Chalotra to discuss her first foray into video game acting, the next season ofThe Witcher, and who would win in a fight between Haroona and Yennefer.
Chalotra’s First Video Game Acting Experience Allowed Her To “Be A Fool”
A Look Behind The Scenes Of Unknown 9: Awakening’s Recording Process
Screen Rant: You’ve played a character on-screen before who also exists in a video game, but this marks your debut as acting in a game yourself. Was it what you expected it to be like? Did it differ a lot from acting on the stage and screen?
Anya Chalotra: Surprisingly, it wasn’t that different, I think because I trained in theater, so I know what it feels like, or I was taught there to feel comfortable in the uncomfortable, in the unknown. I can be a fool, and I think that helped me when I stepped into the Volume, which is the space that motion capture exists in.
You step into the Volume and you feel so naked. You’ve got no make-up on your face, you’ve got a onesie on with dots, and then loads of Velcro sticks to everything, and a camera on your head. It’s very unusual, and you can either choose for it to inhibit or you can choose for it to allow. It really did, for me, it felt like being a child, and from that place I can access so much more emotion than, maybe if I’m on TV, or film, or even in theater.
Can you talk a bit about how you came to this role in the first place?
Anya Chalotra: Yeah, the opportunity came to me and I grabbed it. I wasn’t going to let it go becauseit was something that I knew I’d learn so much from, and I really have. I’ve always wanted to do motion capture, I’m a very physical performer. I enjoy working with my body. I feel before I think, and motion capture excited me because of that. I knew that I would connect to it and I did.
10 Biggest Ways Yennefer Is Different In The Witcher Show vs. The Books
Netflix’s The Witcher has made a couple of changes to Yennefer of Vengerberg, and not all of them have been for the benefit of the character.
Can you talk a little bit more about what the recording process was like? Did you get to work with your fellow actors at all when you were doing it?
Anya Chalotra: Yeah, I did. It was like any other rehearsal period, or rather, it was a combination of theater and TV. Because you didn’t get the chance to rehearse, but you were working it out in the space that you were doing it, doing the scene. It was a combination of both, and having actors around you, working it out, and constantly challenging your own version of the scene is so helpful.
In what areas would you say you’re most similar to Haroona, and how are you different, if you are different at all?
Anya Chalotra: Similar - I think I’ve brought my own culture to this character, and I could understand in Haroona what that means for her character: a sense of being rooted in something bigger than yourself, a community, a force. For Haroona, she is very aware of being powerful, and I tried - I don’t have supernatural powers, but I definitely feel empowered by my family, and the thought of that. I don’t really need to think of it, I just know that they’re behind me.
I think it’s so freeing; as free as you feel playing the game is as free as I felt doing the work. - Anya Chalotra
You mentioned that element of power, and I feel like fans have really gotten used to seeing you in these really powerful women roles like Yennefer and Haroona. Can you tell us a bit about what it’s like stepping into the shoes of really powerful women in a lot of the roles that you take on?
Anya Chalotra: Yeah, I’m just really lucky that I play characters that have been incredibly considered, and they’ve been thought through, and they’re complex, andthere’s enough information about them in every role I play that brings the audience into that complexity. I’m lucky to play those characters.
Do you consider yourself a fan of video games at all? Do you play them in your spare time?
Anya Chalotra: I used to as a kid, and The Witcher, being part of The Witcher World, I picked that up again with that game. I’m sure I will again with this game, but I wouldn’t call myself a gamer. I’m firmly in the gaming world, but I need to try harder.
What did you enjoy playing when you were kid?
Anya Chalotra: Mario Kart. That was what I used to play with my family.
Who would you drive as?
Anya Chalotra: I think it was Luigi.
Now that you’ve experienced it, you mentioned enjoying the mo-cap elements and that sort of thing. Would you say, in general, video game acting is now something you’d really like to pursue more of in the future?
Anya Chalotra: Yeah, 100%. I don’t know why I hesitated. I love video. I love the world. I think it’s so freeing; as free as you feel playing the game is as free as I felt doing the work.
Chalotra Thinks Unknown 9’s Haroona & The Witcher’s Yennefer Wouldn’t Get Along
Looking Forward To The Game’s Release & The Witcher’s Next Season
I’m curious - in a fight between Yennefer and Haroona, who do you think would win?
Anya Chalotra: Oh, that’s so hard. Have you played the game yet, Unknown 9?
No, I haven’t yet.
Anya Chalotra: I was going to ask you the question, because I’d love to know who you think could win. I can’t possibly say, it’s such a difficult question. It would be a meeting of incredibly powerful people and I think it would stop there, and I think Yennefer might win with fury, to be honest.
Do you think outside of a possible fighting context, would those two characters get along, if they just happened upon each other?
Anya Chalotra: No.Haroona would think Yennefer is ridiculous, I’m sure. Haroona is so honest and seeks truth, and Yennefer would always be jealous or envious of: “How on earth is Haroona this authentic and brilliant? How can she walk through the world so confidently? How does she know so much?”
Maybe they would get on, but it would take time, and I’m sure it would take a fight for them to recognize or them to respect each other.
I haven’t gotten a chance to play this game. Have you played it a lot since you’ve started the process working on it?
Anya Chalotra: No, I haven’t played it at all - can’t wait. I’ll play it when it comes out with everyone else.
Of course, I would be remiss if I didn’t ask if you can give fans any insight into the next season ofThe Witcher?
Anya Chalotra: Yeah, we’re following the books; everyone knows we’re following the books as best we can.Yennefer is stepping up after Tissaia’s death, and she is having to take from Tissaia’s good and bad qualities of being a mentor, and a mother, and figure out what her version of that is, and what the best version for the continent is.
Obviously without too many spoilers, but I’m curious if there are any scenes in this game that you are especially excited for players to finally encounter when the game is out?
Anya Chalotra: I think the scenes within the Fold - have I given too much information away, spoiled anything? The Fold, it’s another dimension. Why wouldn’t you want to go in there and see what it’s capable of? I’m excited for fans, gamers, to be in the Fold with Haroona.
Unknown 9: Awakeningwill release October 18 for PlayStation consoles, Xbox consoles, and PC.
