Fostering Foster: Working With Jason Flemyng to Evolve the Classic Character
He’s been cutting through countless hordes of zeds since 2010. He’s as dapper as he is dangerous. Quick-witted and slim-fitted. Ladies and gents, it’s time to talk about the return of the iconic trader-turned-merc-turned-Horzine-clone: Foster.
Perhaps the best way to introduce you to Killing Floor 3’s Foster is through his codex entry:
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Foster Birthplace: UK DOB: 5/3/2049 Blood Type: B- Horzine clone of the early 21st Century mercenary known as Mr. Foster. His Horzine handlers grew tired of his sardonic temperament and disobedience, resolving to "eliminate the defective subject and try again." Foster eventually escaped to work for various private security firms before finally joining Nightfall.
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One of the first questions we asked when first developing Killing Floor 3 was, “How do we bring back Mr. Foster?” He’s been a cornerstone of the series’ identity for the past fifteen years. But with the introduction of a new near-future dystopian setting, how could we include him in a way that made logical narrative sense without losing the core elements of the character?
Similar to an identical twin, Foster shares the same DNA as Mr. Foster, but the two are still distinct individuals. When we meet him in Killing Floor 3, he’s fully stepped out of his genetic progenitor’s shadow to become his own brand of wisecracking, zed-killing Brit. This version of the character adheres closer to Tripwire founder Alan Wilson’s original vision for the character. 2091’s Foster is a bit more working class, a LOT more profane, and an equally capable soldier in the field.
Breathing life into Foster required a performer who could really add authenticity to the role, which is why we enlisted veteran English actor, Jason Flemyng. Over the years, he’s delivered amazing performances in X-Men: First Class, Black Mirror, and Love, Death, & Robots. But the credits that really convinced us was his work in Guy Ritchie’s British crime classics Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch—two films that were cornerstone inspirations for the original Mr. Foster persona. Add to that notable horror credits like Seed of Chucky and Deep Rising, and Jason was a natural fit for the role.
Here’s what Killing Floor 3’s Lead Writer had to say about working with Flemyng:
“We knew Jason's work from a variety of movies, and we instinctively sensed that he was our Foster. So we gave him an offer—no audition, which can be risky—and within five minutes, our instincts were proven right. He just brought so much energy. He locked into the character almost immediately, and was ad-libbing, throwing out extra lines (some of which would've possibly given us an AO rating), he's just such a generous performer. We shaped the character along with him, and after the first session, every script was tailored to Jason's distinctively British comic sensibility.”
- Matt Entin, Lead Writer, Killing Floor 3
This would ultimately become our approach with the voice actors for the other five members of Nightfall. Each character represents a collaborative effort between the Tripwire team and the performer, something we feel makes KF3’s characters so much better realized as a result.
Thanks for stopping by for another installment of Nightfall News!
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