In an alternate reality, Matt Ryan might have spent his career navigating the gritty waters of the acclaimed series Black Sails. Instead, he landed the iconic lead role in the 2013 hit Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, marking his first and only major video game credit to date.

The Secret Audition for Assassin's Creed: Black Flag

The journey to portraying Edward Kenway was far from conventional. In a recent interview with PC Gamer, Ryan revealed that the project was intentionally disguised as a live-action television series to protect the secrecy surrounding the upcoming Ubisoft title.

"It was pitched to me via my agent as a pirate TV show," Ryan recalled. After he was brought into the room by UK casting director Amy Hubbard, the production team eventually decided to be honest about the true nature of the project.

Once the truth was revealed, Ryan’s interest shifted from simple curiosity to genuine excitement for several reasons:

  • He was already a dedicated fan of the original Assassin's Creed game.
  • The revelation that it was a video game adaptation did not deter his interest.
  • He was surprised and thrilled to discover the role utilized motion capture (mocap) technology.

"I didn't think it was mocap—so when it was mocp, I was over the moon," he said. "I get to be the character, in the body, you know?"

Connecting with the Assassin's Creed Fandom

During the development phase, Ryan spent a significant amount of time traveling between the UK and Montreal. While he eventually achieved massive fame as John Constantine in the DC Universe, he quickly realized the profound impact his performance in Assassin's Creed: Black Flag had on the gaming community.

The sheer scale of Edward Kenway's popularity became undeniable during convention circuits. Ryan noted that while many fans arrived dressed as Constantine, there was an equally massive presence of dedicated cosplayers portraying Kenway. He expressed deep respect for the craftsmanship involved, noting that some fans spend an entire year constructing a single costume.

The Longevity of Video Game Performances

For Ryan, the primary distinction between traditional acting and gaming is the duration of the audience's engagement. While stage plays are fleeting and movies are viewed a finite number of times, video games foster a unique, long-term connection with the player.

"With a videogame, they spend a lot of time with you," Ryan explained. He noted that being invited to revisit the role all these years later is a true testament to how deeply the character has resonated with players across the globe.