{"id":626857,"date":"2026-06-08T02:21:25","date_gmt":"2026-06-08T02:21:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/626857\/"},"modified":"2026-06-08T02:21:25","modified_gmt":"2026-06-08T02:21:25","slug":"fable-meet-the-incredible-cast-including-the-villain-played-by-hayley-atwell","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/626857\/","title":{"rendered":"Fable: Meet the Incredible Cast – Including the Villain Played by Hayley Atwell"},"content":{"rendered":"

Fable just revealed a new story trailer during XBOX Games Showcase, showing off new gameplay, characters, a sense of the story beyond our Hero, and a lot of action, from facing down a Balverine to, well, putting a giant toad face-down (with a dose of magic). Oh, and quite a lot of swearing.<\/p>\n

Anchoring the entire thing was an ominous speech by Isabel, the game\u2019s villain, played by Hayley Atwell (Marvel Cinematic Universe, Mission: Impossible). Of course, in time-honored Fable fashion, Atwell is far from the only famous name on the cast list. We\u2019re now able to reveal many of the actors and actresses bringing their talents to the game. From Hollywood stars to British comedy gems, this is a cast that leans on the Fable series\u2019 near-unique history of bringing the best of British acting into the gaming world.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

With the help of Fable Associate Narrative Director, Craig Owens, let us break down eleven of the major roles in the game, who\u2019s playing them, and why they were the perfect fit for their character:<\/p>\n

Hayley Atwell, playing Isabel<\/p>\n

\"Headshot<\/p>\n

Hayley Atwell is an award-winning British-American actor whose career spans film, television, theatre and voice work \u2013 and is able to turn her hand to playing the beloved Peggy Carter in the Marvel Cinematic universe, taking center stage in the most recent \u2018Mission: Impossible\u2019 movies, leading period dramas like \u2018Howards End\u2019, \u2018The Duchess\u2019, and \u2018Pillars of the Earth\u2019, the most recent series of \u2018Rivals\u2019 on Disney+ or starring in \u2018Much Ado About Nothing\u2019, onstage in the West End and Broadway. You get the sense that she\u2019ll be bringing all of her experience to Albion, as she takes on the role of Fable\u2019s main villain.<\/p>\n

Explaining the character: \u201cIsabel is a driven, powerful Hero on a quest to make right a tragic injustice. Driven by grief, Isabel has turned her pain into determination and focus that sets her at odds with The Hero of Briar Hill and Humphry, her one-time guardian. Isabel\u2019s conviction that she\u2019s not just doing the right thing, but she\u2019ll be able to make right any harm she causes along the way makes her a powerful, dangerous enemy.\u201d \u2013 Owens<\/p>\n

Why Atwell was cast: \u201cHayley\u2019s ability to combine vulnerability with strength made her the perfect person to play Isabel, and working with her was a real pleasure. \u00a0Her desire to really dig into the character and deliver the best possible performance in every scene blew us all away, not just on the performance capture stage but in the voice recording booth, where her classical training was on full display. Hayley brought a dedication, seriousness and grit to the role that, in many ways, mirrors the character\u2019s own.\u201d \u2013 Owens<\/p>\n

\"Fable<\/p>\n

Lily Nichol and Ukweli Roach, playing the Hero of Briar Hill<\/p>\n

\"Headshots<\/p>\n

Nichol is making her gaming debut in Fable after appearing on stage and screen for the last decade. After making her TV bow in Sky Atlantic\u2019s \u2018I Hate Suzie\u2019, she\u2019s since appeared in Netflix\u2019s \u2018Lockwood & Co.\u2019 and \u2018Renegade Nell\u2019 on Disney+ among other projects.<\/p>\n

Beginning his career on stage, Roach has since become a fixture on UK TV across multiple genres, with recurring roles in cult sci-fi show \u2018Humans\u2019 to a recent comedic turn in Channel 4\u2019s \u2018Big Mood\u2019. He brings video game experience after appearances in Assassin\u2019s Creed Valhalla and Horizon Forbidden West.<\/p>\n

\"Fable<\/p>\n

Explaining the character: \u201cRaised in the sleepy, forest-bounded village of Briar Hill, our Hero is an ordinary person made extraordinary by fate. Whether they\u2019re kind or cruel, generous or selfish, honourable or a complete arsehole is all down to the player to decide. But one thing that\u2019s always true about our Hero is their wry, composed nature in the face of Albion\u2019s mysteries, dangers, and eccentric populace.\u201d \u2013 Owens<\/p>\n

Why they were cast: \u201cBoth Lily and Ukweli had exactly what we needed to give voice to the Hero of Briar Hill: great range paired with natural charisma. Both our Hero actors have effortlessly risen to any challenge we\u2019ve thrown at them, ensuring that the Hero feels both like a part of Albion and an extension of the player.\u201d \u2013 Owens<\/p>\n

\"Fable<\/p>\n

Matt King, playing Humphry<\/p>\n

\"Headshot<\/p>\n

Matt King is a bona fide British comedy legend thanks to his 12-year stint as Super Hans in \u2018Peep Show\u2019 \u2013 a character whose quotes still live in my head more than 20 years after I first heard them. On the big screen, he\u2019s made appearances in \u2018Paddington\u2019, \u2018Bronson\u2019 (alongside Tom Hardy), \u2018Dolittle\u2019 with Robert Downey Jr. and more. He\u2019s brought a unique sensibility to every role he\u2019s been in, and from our looks at Humphry so far, that\u2019s set to continue.<\/p>\n

Explaining the character: \u201cArrogant, charming and equally happy with a mace or pint in his hand, Humphry is Albion\u2019s greatest Hero. Or at least he was. Over the course of the game, people will come to understand the man behind the legend, and why the swaggering champion of the Heroes\u2019 Guild has spent the last few years of his life hidden away in the otherwise empty halls of the Guild.\u201d \u2013 Owens<\/p>\n

Why they were cast: \u201cMatt brought a lot of Super Hans\u2019 dark charm to his performance as Humphry. But he also brought a real emotional depth and dignity. We\u2019re not sure anyone else could have blended those two elements so perfectly.\u201d \u2013 Owens<\/p>\n

\"Fable<\/p>\n

Susan Wokoma, playing Arden the Cobbler<\/p>\n

\"Headshot<\/p>\n

An actress, writer, and director, Wokoma has become a mainstay of British TV in the last decade. From appearances in \u2018Chewing Gum\u2019 and \u2018Enola Holmes\u2019, to working in the writers room of Netflix\u2019s \u2018Sex Education\u2019, to an appearance in the 16th season of the iconic game show \u2018Taskmaster\u2019, Wokoma\u2019s proven her ability to take on a multitude of roles both on and offscreen. She\u2019s even got previous experience in gaming, playing Princess Talanji in World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth.<\/p>\n

Explaining the character: \u201cArden\u2019s a Hero who doesn\u2019t believe in Heroes, haunted by a painful past and a grave mistake. Arden\u2019s humble perspective on what it means to be a Hero contrasts many of the other characters in our story. She doesn\u2019t want to be a celebrity. She doesn\u2019t want to be worshipped. She just wants to make shoes for a living.\u201d \u2013 Owens<\/p>\n

Why they were cast: \u201cSusan can put so much emotional depth into a single syllable, and she does so repeatedly as Arden. Her performance takes a stoic, standoffish character in Arden and makes her wryly funny and warm, without losing the distance that\u2019s crucial to her relationship with the Hero.\u201d \u2013 Owens<\/p>\n

\"Fable<\/p>\n

Richard Ayoade, playing Dave the Giant<\/p>\n

\"Headshot<\/p>\n

A comedian, actor, author, presenter, director and, let\u2019s face it, true polymath, Ayoade became known for his one-off, deadpan comedy style in the likes of \u2018The IT Crowd\u2019, \u2018Garth Marenghi\u2019s Darkplace\u2019, and \u2018The Mighty Boosh\u2019 \u2013 but he\u2019s since written and directed movies (\u2018Submarine\u2019, \u2018The Double\u2019), become an accomplished author, performed voice work for \u2018The Mandalorian\u2019 and \u2018The Lego Movie 2\u2019, created music videos for everyone from Vampire Weekend to Arctic Monkeys, and even had time to become a TV presenting mainstay.<\/p>\n

Explaining the character: \u201cEven before he accidentally turns himself into a giant, Dave thinks of himself as a towering intellectual, surrounded by idiots. Dave is the ultimate British curmudgeon \u2013 set in his ways, convinced he\u2019s right, and willing to go to any length (or height) to prove it.\u201d \u2013 Owens<\/p>\n

Why they were cast: \u201cEveryone already knows that Richard is a hilarious, unique comic talent, so it stood to reason that people would enjoy a giant version of him. On-set, Richard\u2019s improvisations in rehearsal frequently made their way into the final script, as he took the character of Dave and made him undeniably his own.\u201d \u2013 Owens<\/p>\n

\"Fable<\/p>\n

Natasia Demetriou, playing Jenny<\/p>\n

\"Headshot<\/p>\n

Perhaps now best-known for her incredible, award-winning work playing Nadja in FX\u2019s \u2018What We Do In the Shadows\u2019, Demetriou has been making waves for years \u2013 from onstage sketch comedy at the Edinburgh festival, working alongside the legendary Alan Partridge, to modern cult-classic \u2018Stath Lets Flats\u2019 or Netflix movie \u2018Eurovision\u2019 alongside Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams, and even (personal pick here) the best episodes of The Adam Buxton Podcast, she\u2019s now an indelible part of the UK comedy scene.<\/p>\n

Explaining the character: \u201cBrutal, crude, and shameless, Jenny is one of the two feuding heirs to the city of Bloodstone. She embodies Bloodstone as it is \u2013 proud, defiant, and dangerous. And, if she gets her way, how it always will be.\u201d \u2013 Owens<\/p>\n

Why they were cast: \u201cNatasia brings all of her comedy talent to her portrayal of Jenny, bringing an almost chaotic energy to the role and her scenes with Nathan Foad, her on-screen brother.\u00a0She plays Jenny with an unapologetic ferocity and a deep commitment to ad-libbed swearing.\u201d \u2013 Owens<\/p>\n

\"Fable<\/p>\n

Nathan Foad, playing Jacob<\/p>\n

\"Headshot<\/p>\n

A comic writer currently working on Saturday Night Live UK, Foad made his name onscreen playing Lucius in the beloved \u2018Our Flag Means Death\u2019 alongside Rhys Darby and Taika Waititi, alongside appearances in \u2018Mandy\u2019, \u2018Bloods\u2019, \u2019Newark, Newark\u2019, \u2018Death Valley\u2019 and the iconic \u2018Don\u2019t Hug Me I\u2019m Scared\u2019.<\/p>\n

Explaining the character: \u201cJacob is Jenny\u2019s rival and brother. The other heir to the city of Bloodstone, he hopes to reinvent the city as a cosmopolitan rival to Bowerstone. A refined and more classy type of cutthroat than his sister, Jacob plans to plot and strategize his way to victory.\u201d \u2013 Owens<\/p>\n

Why they were cast: \u201cNathan\u2019s great at playing characters who appear composed, witty, and self-aware, all the while betraying the insecurity and anxieties beneath their surface. He brought all this to Jacob, making him the perfect comedic foil to Jenny in his scenes with Natasia.\u201d \u2013 Owens<\/p>\n

\"Fable<\/p>\n

Kwame Augustine, playing Connor<\/p>\n

\"Headshot<\/p>\n

An actor, producer, director, and writer, Augustine made his name by writing \u2018Johnny\u2019 a stage play that became an award-winning mini-series, and is currently in pre-production on his debut feature film, \u2018Uncle\u2019.<\/p>\n

Explaining the character: \u201cThe player\u2019s brave, popular and capable adoptive brother, Connor always dreamed that one day he\u2019d be the one who grew into a Hero. How he responds to simply being a normal person in a world where extraordinary people exist is the driving force of his story.\u201d \u2013 Owens<\/p>\n

Why they were cast: \u201cKwame\u2019s charisma pairs with an easygoing warmth, making him a great fit for Connor. In a game filled with magically powered Heroes and big personalities, Connor holds his own whenever he\u2019s on screen thanks to Kwame\u2019s relatable, human performance.\u201d \u2013 Owens<\/p>\n

\"Fable<\/p>\n

Nina Wadia, playing Grandma<\/p>\n

\"Headshot<\/p>\n

Wadia hasn\u2019t just been a well-known face on UK TV for the last three decades, but a truly groundbreaking figure. Coming to prominence as part of \u2018Goodness Gracious Me\u2019, the hilarious, award-winning British-Asian sketch show, she\u2019s since appeared in over 400 episodes of long-running soap opera \u2018Eastenders\u2019, and made dozens of onstage, TV and movie appearances besides, from \u2018The Sandman\u2019 on Netflix to Disney\u2019s \u2018Aladdin\u2019.<\/p>\n

Explaining the character: \u201cSamira is the player and Connor\u2019s adoptive grandmother, having found them both abandoned in the woods, years apart. She\u2019s also landlady of the Rose & Thorn, Briar Hill\u2019s local. Despite her kind, generous nature, Samira commands respect amongst the villagers of Briar Hill and has little patience for misbehaving kids, or adults who fail to pay their tab.\u201d \u2013 Owens<\/p>\n

Why they were cast: \u201cNina\u2019s effortless ability to move from tender to steely made her the perfect person to play a parent and landlady. She makes the village of Briar Hill, and the Rose & Thorn pub within it, feel like home.\u201d \u2013 Owens<\/p>\n

\"Fable<\/p>\n

Robert Whitelock, playing Nigel the Sheriff<\/p>\n

\"Headshot<\/p>\n

A hugely experienced actor and performance capture artist, Whitelock has made appearances across multiple mediums \u2013 from over thirty \u2018Doctor Who\u2019audio dramas, to huge games like Dragon\u2019s Dogma II, to the award-winning \u2018The End of the F**king World\u2019 and \u2018Misfits\u2019.<\/p>\n

Explaining the character: \u201cThe well-meaning Sheriff of Silverbrook is a man eternally out of his depth. Bumbling and socially anxious, he struggles to deal with all the magical threats Albion can muster alongside the villagers\u2019 disregard for him.\u201d \u2013 Owens<\/p>\n

Why they were cast: \u201cWe sought out Robert to play our hapless sheriff due to his natural ability to give humanity and depth to a character like Nigel. We knew that with Robert playing him, Nigel would never just be the butt of the joke.\u201d \u2013 Owens<\/p>\n

\"Fable<\/p>\n

Fable arrives February 23, 2027, with early access for the Premium Edition beginning February 18. It will be available on XBOX Series X|S, XBOX on PC, cloud, and included with Game Pass. Play it on both console and PC at no additional cost with XBOX Play Anywhere. Also available on Steam and PlayStation 5. Find out more and pre-order now at www.fablethegame.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\t\t
\n\t\t\t\"Fable
\n\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\tFable Premium Edition<\/p>\n

Xbox Game Studios<\/p>\n


\n\t\t\t\u2606\u2606\u2606\u2606\u2606 \n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n


\n\t\t\t\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605 \n\t\t<\/p>\n


\n\t\t\t\t$99.99 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n


\n\t\tPre-order Fable now to receive the Pre-Order Content Pack, featuring the questionably heroic Chicken Suit and a collection of charming in-game Gifts: a Wild Flower Bouquet, a Toy Chicken, and a Scones & Jam Picnic Hamper. Use them to build your reputation and shape how Albion sees your Hero.*<\/p>\n

Fable Premium Edition includes the full game with Early Access, letting you play up to 5 days before launch, and Premium Edition Content Pack (featuring Splendid Armour, Bastard Armour, and in-game gifts), Fable Digital Artbook & Soundtrack, and the Fable: Order of the Hero expansion coming post-launch.<\/p>\n

Become the Hero you want to be in an immersive open-world action RPG where each choice shapes your journey, reputation is everything, and fairytale endings are never guaranteed.<\/p>\n

A NEW BEGINNING FOR A LEGENDARY FRANCHISE
\nFable returns in a stunning reboot of a beloved franchise. As the first Hero in a generation, explore a living Albion filled with peculiar characters, dark humour, and chickens\u2026 lots of chickens. This isn\u2019t just nostalgia \u2014 it\u2019s a new beginning set in a beautifully vibrant open world.<\/p>\n

BE THE HERO YOU WANT TO BE
\nCustomize your Hero\u2019s appearance and wield powerful weapons as you weave melee, ranged, and magical combat. Take on bandits, beasts, and creatures \u2014 including brand-new enemies and fan-favorites like Hobbes, Balverines, and Trolls. Your power grows right alongside your reputation.<\/p>\n

BUILD AN EXTRAORDINARY LIFE
\nBeyond all the combat lies a living world where you can carve your own identity. Get filthy rich as a landlord or blacksmith, romance a villager (or three), have a bunch of kids, and watch as your reputation precedes you. Being a Hero is a bit like being a celebrity\u2026 if celebrities carried swords and occasionally battled giant fire-breathing chickens.<\/p>\n

YOUR CHOICES CHANGE THE WORLD
\nIn Albion, a Hero\u2019s reputation is everything. Your noble deeds and questionable decisions affect your relationship with each villager and can even shape the world around you. Whose opinion matters most? The choice is yours\u2026 and so are the consequences. It\u2019s up to you to decide what it means to be a Hero.<\/p>\n

Fairytale Ending Not Guaranteed.<\/p>\n

*Pre-order offer ends at official game launch date. Limit 1 per person\/account.\t<\/p>\n

\t\t
\n\t\t\t\"Fable\"
\n\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Xbox<\/p>\n

\tFable<\/p>\n

Xbox Game Studios<\/p>\n


\n\t\t\t\u2606\u2606\u2606\u2606\u2606 \n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n


\n\t\t\t\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605\u2605 \n\t\t<\/p>\n


\n\t\tBecome the Hero you want to be in an immersive open-world action-RPG where each choice shapes your journey, reputation is everything, and fairytale endings are never guaranteed. <\/p>\n

A NEW BEGINNING FOR A LEGENDARY FRANCHISE
\nFable returns in a stunning reboot of a beloved franchise. As the first Hero in a generation, explore a living Albion filled with peculiar characters, dark humour, and chickens\u2026 lots of chickens. This isn\u2019t just nostalgia \u2014 it\u2019s a new beginning set in a beautifully vibrant open world. <\/p>\n

BE THE HERO YOU WANT TO BE
\nCustomize your Hero\u2019s appearance and wield powerful weapons as you weave melee, ranged, and magical combat. Take on bandits, beasts, and creatures \u2014 including brand-new enemies and fan-favorites like Hobbes, Balverines, and Trolls. Your power grows right alongside your reputation. <\/p>\n

BUILD AN EXTRAORDINARY LIFE
\nBeyond all the combat lies a living world where you can carve your own identity. Get filthy rich as a landlord or blacksmith, romance a villager (or three), have a bunch of kids, and watch as your reputation precedes you. Being a Hero is a bit like being a celebrity\u2026 if celebrities carried swords and occasionally battled giant fire-breathing chickens. <\/p>\n

YOUR CHOICES CHANGE THE WORLD
\nIn Albion, a Hero\u2019s reputation is everything. Your noble deeds and questionable decisions affect your relationship with each villager and can even shape the world around you. Whose opinion matters most? The choice is yours\u2026 and so are the consequences. It\u2019s up to you to decide what it means to be a Hero. <\/p>\n

Fairytale Ending Not Guaranteed. \t<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Fable just revealed a new story trailer during XBOX Games Showcase, showing off new gameplay, characters, a sense…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":626858,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[20886,83211,59,1180,112,3121,86,56,54,55,183,177820,203515,58826],"class_list":["post-626857","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-technology","tag-fable","tag-game-pass","tag-gb","tag-pc","tag-ps5","tag-steam","tag-technology","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom","tag-xbox","tag-xbox-games-showcase","tag-xbox-games-showcase-2026","tag-xbox-series-xs"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/626857","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=626857"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/626857\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/626858"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=626857"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=626857"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=626857"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}