Charlie Cox Teases Comeback in ‘Clair Obscur’ Film: Will He Return?

The much-anticipated film adaptation of Clair Obscur is making waves, and its original star is discussing the possibility of his involvement in the project.

The role-playing game Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, released in April 2025 by Sandfall Interactive, revolves around a diverse group of adventurers on a mission to defeat the Paintress, a villain responsible for numerous deaths at a yearly festival. Following the game’s success, a film adaptation is now in the works.

During an interview with Radio Times Gaming, Charlie Cox, the voice actor from the game, shared his thoughts on potentially reprising his role in the upcoming Clair Obscur film. Cox mentioned he has “heard rumors” and expressed interest in returning as Gustave. He also acknowledged hearing about Glen Powell’s interest in the role, suggesting that Powell might be the preferred choice for financiers. Cox humorously proposed that he might take on a smaller part, possibly as a townsfolk or a character who meets an early demise in the film. He playfully suggested that Robert Pattinson should play Gustave, with Cox lending his voice to the character, to faithfully recreate the game’s protagonist:

I heard rumors, I didn’t know they were real. Yeah [I’d be interested to play Gustave], but I heard Glen Powell wants it, in which case I think the financiers might prefer Glen. Maybe I could have a smaller role. [Laughs] What are the small roles? I don’t know, I haven’t finished the game yet. Maybe I could be one of the townsfolk waving him goodbye as he leaves. Yeah, maybe I get Gommaged at the beginning. I’d be honored to be there. Here’s what I think should happen. They should cast Robert Pattinson as Gustave, because he looks like him, and then I should do the voice. And then we can recreate the exact Gustave from the game. I wonder how Rob would feel about me voicing him. [Chuckles] But we can cross that bridge when we get to it.

The announcement of the Clair Obscur live-action movie came in early 2025, even before the game had its widespread release in April of the same year. The studio’s confidence in the game’s potential success is evident from this early commitment to a film adaptation.

The success of the movie will depend partly on fans of the game, who might be eager to see Cox portray Gustave once more. However, the broader audience will ultimately determine the film’s performance at the box office. Similar adaptations, like the TV adaptation of The Last of Us, have garnered attention from both gamers and non-gamers alike, thanks to strong casting and production values. On the other hand, films with less prominent casts, such as Until Dawn, have not fared as well.

Glen Powell, having gained popularity through roles in successful films such as Top Gun: Maverick and the romantic comedy Anyone But You, which grossed $220 million globally, is certainly an attractive option for studios.

Cox discussed alternative scenarios in which he could still participate in the film, including a cameo or an early exit — “Gommaged” — from the plot. This approach would pay homage to the original game while still featuring a well-known actor in the lead role.

Although Cox joked about the possibility of Robert Pattinson leading the film with Cox as the voice, Pattinson himself could be a compelling choice for the role, especially considering his recent success in the A24 film The Drama, which surpassed $100 million at the global box office.

As anticipation builds, the film industry and fans alike await the final casting decisions for the Clair Obscur movie. The choice between a big-name actor and the beloved voice actor remains to be seen.