Before landing the lead role in Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag, star Matt Ryan actually thought he was auditioning for a pirate TV show

Actor Matt Ryan is returning to voice Edward Kenway in Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced, a remake of the 2013 pirate-themed action game that marked Ryan’s only video game role to date. When originally auditioning for the part over a decade ago, Ryan believed he was trying out for a pirate-themed television series rather than a video game—a confusion that ultimately led to his casting.

Black Flag Resynced, releasing July 9 across PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, will include newly written story content and missions with newly recorded performances from Ryan. The remake features character-driven missions alongside an expanded main narrative. Ryan described his return to the role as “a strange and wonderful and nostalgic and beautiful experience,” noting that despite his voice having changed slightly over the years, his actor training made it easy to slip back into Kenway’s character.

The original Black Flag, set in the West Indies, was released in 2013 and became a standout entry in the Assassin’s Creed franchise. Ryan emphasized that the new story content in Resynced is substantial rather than filler, with the reworked pacing addressing fan concerns about the original game’s structure. His return and enthusiasm for the new material suggests meaningful additions to the game’s narrative for returning players.

Before landing the lead role in Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag, star Matt Ryan actually thought he was auditioning for a pirate TV show

Sources