Jennifer English, who gained fame for her portrayal of Shadowheart in Baldur's Gate 3 and then won a BAFTA award for best performer in a leading role for Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, has announced that she is withdrawing from the role of Gwendolyn in the upcoming Tides of Annihilation in order to "properly look after [her] mental and physical health."
Revealed in 2025, Tides of Annihilation struck me as an Arthurian Elden Ring set in modern-day London: Gwendolyn, the only survivor of the "Outworld invasion" that's shattered London, can summon the spirits of the Knights of the Round Table to help her do battle with the "demi-gods of Avalon." As videogames go, I'd say it sure looks very videogame-y.
No points for originality there, but it's among the 50 most wishlisted games on Steam, and that's not nothing. But the game suffered a blow when developer Eclipse Glow Games announced that English was stepping down.
"Earlier in June, Jennifer informed us that she would no longer be able to continue in the role," the studio wrote on X. "While we were, of course, saddened by her decision, we completely understood and respected Jennifer in prioritizing her well-being. We are also deeply grateful for the care and responsibility she showed throughout this process.
"During this transition, Jennifer remained incredibly supportive and, together with other members of our voice cast, helped us identify and connect with talented performers who could carry Gwendolyn forward while staying true to the character."
English offered some insight into her decision in an Instagram story that was subsequently shared on Reddit, saying that she needs to "slow down and reassess the commitments" she's taken on.
"After careful thought, I've realized I need to take time to rest and properly look after my mental and physical health," English wrote. "With that in mind, I've made the difficult—yet personally necessary—decision to step away from [Tides of Annihilation] as it moves into its next phase.
"During this transition, I was pleased to help introduce the Tides of Annihilation team to a very talented actor who I believe is a wonderful fit for Gwen. Having seen her passion, talent, and care for the craft, I'm excited for players to hear her interpretation of the role and can't wait for players to experience what she brings to Gwen."
English added that she is "happy to remain involved with Tides of Annihilation as an advisor."
Eclipse Glow has selected a new actor for the role of Gwendolyn, who is now recording the English performance for the Tides of Annihilation hands-on demo that will be playable at Gamescom. Neither the studio nor English divulged the name of the new actor, however—I'm guessing that will be revealed when the demo debuts in August.
