For Pragmata to live up to all the hype surrounding it, Capcom had to ensure that Hugh and Diana’s relationship shone through. Not only did they manage to do that, but they also added much-needed quirks and nuances, and the voice actors did their utmost to make the characters shine (check out Hugh and Diana’s antics in the Shelter after you have unlocked certain REMs). The end product is a set of characters who are some of the best Capcom has ever created.
So when I got the opportunity to talk with David Menkin, the veteran voice actor who brought Hugh Williams to life, I had plenty to ask. The conversation covers his inspiration for bringing Hugh to life, the relationship between Hugh and Diana, and his advice for those looking to break into video game voice acting.
Also Read: Project Hail Mary x Pragmata: Space, curiosity, and unlikely bonds
David Menkin on playing Hugh, Pragmata, and video game voice acting
While Pragmata was first announced in 2020, the game faced quite a few delays. When did you join the project and did the delays impact you?
David: I joined in 2024. I vaguely remember having seen the famous ‘sorry’ trailer, so something made me look back through the history of the game as soon as I knew what we were working on. I got so excited! But the delays didn’t impact me at all; Hugh and Diana’s relationship was always first on our minds during my sessions.
What is your favorite moment playing Hugh in the entire story?
David: I have so many. But there’s this one moment when I knew that the team trusted me: In the New York section, a massive ‘creature’ lands in front of us, and Hugh runs for cover while Diana hacks a keypad to close a door behind them. I said that heroes always run away in a butch, controlled way, while a real person would freak out! So, I asked if I could infuse some panic into my escape…and they said YES. I was SO pleased when the moment made it into one of the trailers!
Were you aware of the game’s ending when you started capturing for Pragmata? What did you think of the ending and Hugh’s fate?
David: SPOILER ALERT! My fate became clear after a few months on the project, and as far as I’m concerned, it made sense – you don’t become space dad without being willing to make the ultimate sacrifice.
Also Read: Does Hugh die in Pragmata?
You have a storied list of characters that you have voiced in video games over the years. Did you draw inspiration from any of them to bring Hugh to life?
David: I play a lot of villains and loudmouths, so Hugh brought new challenges: how do you make the ‘everyman’ interesting while also letting the player feel like they are ‘him’? So, I pulled from Harrison Ford and Ryan Gosling, mainly.
Actually, now that you mention it, Preston Marlowe from Battlefield Bad Company is one of those everyman heroes, but he was the first major games character I ever played. I should go back and listen to him and see if he and Hugh are similar!
Piggybacking on the previous question, where will you rank Hugh among the list of video game characters you have portrayed?
David: Oh, Hugh is up there with Malos, Luke, Barnabas, and Preston! But there’s no way I’m going to rank my babies.
What did you think about Hugh and Diana’s relationship? What would you hope players feel from the bond between the two?
David: In games, it’s almost expected that complicated characters should have complicated relationships, but Hugh and Diana genuinely care about each other, full stop. There’s no front to tear down, nothing hidden beneath the surface…just trust.
Their bond was clear from our first table read, so I hope that comes across to the players. And that it resonates in some way.
In bringing Hugh to life, you had to showcase the anguish of someone who lost his comrades, the frustration of being trapped in the place, and the acceptance of the final sacrifice, while also tempering all of that as Hugh has to communicate with Diana, who is unaware and a child. How was that experience, and how did you prepare for it?
David: I don’t have kids of my own, but I do have a mug with the honour ‘Best Uncle in the World’ in my kitchen cupboard. I have answered practical, difficult, and existential questions around the dinner table for over twenty years, and that certainly informed Hugh’s way of dealing with Diana’s big and small queries.
I’ve also experienced loss in big, small, painful, embarrassing, and educational ways. But, to tell you the truth, my performance is thanks to the narrative team at Capcom, as well as the performance directors Holly Reddaway and Frances Effie Loy. They helped me dig deep and find the truth in every moment.
In addition to being the main protagonist of Pragmata, this is far from your first experience in gaming voice acting. You were also Barnabas Tharmr, one of the primary antagonists for Final Fantasy XVI and Malos from Xenoblade Chronicles 2. As an actor, how does your approach change between being a villain and a hero?
David: Man, I love a villain! Barnabas and Malos were always right, always sure of themselves, always resolute. Hugh..? Not so much. But he has hope! And hope is what keeps a hero going, despite everything that gets thrown their way. Also, villains don’t need to grow, while a hero will die if they don’t evolve.
But at its core, my job as an actor is to make the character feel rounded and real, no matter how fantastical they may be. What makes them tick? What makes them happy, sad, angry, frustrated, etc? Those questions can be posed to any hero, any villain.
What will your advice be to someone who is trying to crack into the voice acting role in the video game industry, especially in the current turbulent times?
David: Don’t worry about getting the best equipment! Start by looking at YouTube videos about setting up a home studio, so you can create a quiet space to record. Look at USB mics that won’t break the bank, something you can use for work and for gaming online with your friends. Borrow someone’s gaming mic for a few days if you don’t have the cash. Practice, practice, practice.
Be brave, be humble, get out of your comfort zone, forget that the word ‘cringe’ exists. Find out what’s expected of voice actors and get used to all the terms we use (barks, emotes, etc.). Do some research and find online groups, so you can learn and practice with like-minded people. And if you really, really like it, you can consider paying a professional for some training. There are a lot of people out there who prey on those who want to learn, so research, research, research, and ask others for their opinions.
If you finally decide to do this for a living, be prepared to hear the word ‘no’ a lot. And sometimes, all you’ll hear is silence. But that won’t matter, because you love it. And when you do your first professional job, please send me a DM so I know I didn’t yell just this into an empty void.
Any light you can shed on what you are working on next?
David: I’m in Hellraiser: Revival and I can’t say much, but know that our sessions in the studio were intense! I’ll be turning up on your TV and cinema screens in a few things soon, including Pawel Pawlikowski’s ‘Fatherland’. Everything else is secret. Exciting, but secret. So, watch this space!
If you have made it this far and are struggling with finding the game’s true ending, check out our Pragmata ending explained (and true ending unlock guide).
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Edited by Angshuman Dutta
