Jennifer Hale, the renowned voice actress behind the iconic Commander Shepard, has publicly stated her immense eagerness to return for Mass Effect 5. While she hasn’t yet been contacted by BioWare for the role, she affirmed she would accept “before they finish the sentence” if approached.
During a recent interview, Hale, who famously portrayed the female Commander Shepard (“FemShep”) throughout the original Mass Effect trilogy, emphasized her deep desire to revisit what many consider her most beloved character.
Interestingly, her enthusiasm extends beyond just reprising Commander Shepard. Hale conveyed that simply being able to contribute to the Mass Effect universe in any capacity would be enough to draw her back.
When directly asked if her return would *have* to be as Shepard, Hale responded with a resounding “Anyone. I love that universe. I’m ready. Anytime.” This opens up exciting possibilities for her to voice other beloved alien races like Krogan, Salarian, or Turian characters.
While BioWare has not yet contacted Hale regarding Mass Effect 5, fans shouldn’t lose hope. Hale directly appealed to the fanbase, encouraging them to convey their desire for Shepard’s return to BioWare. She believes the developers could creatively bridge the centuries-long gap in the timeline, perhaps even by featuring Commander Shepard as a historical holographic display in a future museum.
As Hale put it, “Everyone out there, the more you tell them what you want, maybe the likelier it is that it’ll happen.” It’s a call to action that Mass Effect fans, accustomed to following Commander Shepard’s lead, might find hard to ignore.
An official N7 Day teaser trailer for Mass Effect was embedded here.
This news comes at a dynamic period for both BioWare and its parent company, EA. Earlier in the year, reports indicated that BioWare underwent a significant internal restructuring, reportedly shifting its entire focus to Mass Effect after the reception to Dragon Age: The Veilguard.
Furthermore, EA recently transitioned to private ownership in a monumental $55 billion deal involving a consortium of investors. The full impact of this change on ongoing projects like the new Mass Effect remains to be seen.
While official details about BioWare’s next installment in the legendary sci-fi RPG series are scarce, director Michael Gamble has humorously confirmed one returning feature: plenty of lens flare. In related news, Amazon is reportedly set to begin filming its own Mass Effect TV series by late 2026.
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A slideshow featuring key characters and moments from the Mass Effect trilogy, essential for a successful TV adaptation, was embedded here.
Over time, BioWare has consistently hinted at the future of Mass Effect through various teasers, including concept art brimming with Easter eggs that suggest the direction of Mass Effect 5‘s story. The studio has indicated that the next game will take place centuries after the original trilogy, weaving a narrative that encompasses both the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies, connecting storylines from previous installments.
Given all this, how do you feel about Jennifer Hale potentially returning as Commander Shepard in the next Mass Effect? Share your thoughts in the comments!
This article was written by Simon Cardy, a Senior Editor who enjoys open-world games and various forms of entertainment.