When Crime Boss: Rockay City was announced for the first time during The Game Awards 2022, not many were expecting the glamorous cast of characters, which so far consists almost entirely of famous actors. Players will be able to play as and recruit several movie stars into their crew as they attempt to overthrow the criminal hierarchy of Rockay City, Florida. While this retro take on the ever-growing genre is already an interesting concept on its own, each famous actor also looks to be playing characters that reference their previous roles.
Crime Boss: Rockay City, which is in development by Ingame Studios, will be an action-heavy first-person shooter. Set to release on March 28, 2023, on the Epic Games store (followed by Xbox and PlayStation versions later in the year), it could potentially rival the long-awaited GTA 6, which will likely release in 2024. With only a few months before it's available to play, fans might not receive much more than a glimpse at gameplay before then - but the announcement trailer (uploaded to YouTube by publisher 505 Games), which features the following legends, was enough to build up some major excitement surrounding the title.
Michael Madsen Will Play The Main Role In Crime Boss: Rockay City
Players will get the chance to truly embody the 90s in Crime Boss: Rockay City, thanks to Michael Madsen's starring role as the game's protagonist. Starting at the bottom of the food chain, Travis Baker must carefully work his way up in the crime world by leading gang wars, robberies, and other various heists. As the game is likely to adapt an open-world sandbox format, the player will be spending plenty of time with Baker (and Madsen) as they explore Rockay City, which so far looks comparable to the great map design of GTA: San Andreas.
Chuck Norris Is Himself In Crime Boss: Rockay City
Chuck Norris is recognized across America for his iconic movie roles, and it seems like Rockay City will only bolster this. The renowned martial artist and actor will take on the role of a sheriff in Crime Boss: Rockay City - which should fit like a glove, as Chuck Norris appears to be playing none other than himself. This is confirmed by the name tag on his police vest, which reads "Norris," but if that wasn't evidence enough, the spinning kick that ends his brief cameo in the trailer solidifies the theory.
Crime Boss: Rockay City Features Danny Trejo As "The Dragon"
Danny Trejo's appearance in Crime Boss: Rockay City isn't the most surprising, but it's certainly welcome. As a famous actor who has starred in many movies, but also in GTA: Vice City, among other games, Danny Trejo's performance as Umberto earned him iconic status within the community - which makes his role as The Dragon in the upcoming title all the more exciting. The trailer depicts his character as a powerful man with expensive taste, and so many fans can't wait to see how he fits into this particular crime-sim.
Crime Boss: Rockay City's "Gloves" Is Danny Glover
The Rockay City trailer also features a dapper character by the name of Gloves, played by none other than the eponymous Danny Glover. The renowned American actor looks right at home in the retro environment provided by Crime Boss: Rockay City. His short introduction in the trailer doesn't give away much about Gloves' identity, but a display of poker cards and an evidence board insinuate he is an intelligent and strategic character, most likely working in law enforcement; a clear nod to Glover's most famous role as Murtaugh in Lethal Weapon.
Michael Rooker Is Likely The Villain In Crime Boss: Rockay City
Michael Rooker's character Touchdown could rival GTA 5's demonic protagonist, Travis, in Crime Boss: Rockay City. Rooker has played the villain many times across movies and television, and the trailer seems to paint his video game counterpart in a negative light, too. Although there's little context, Touchdown can be seen pushing the player out of a vehicle, mocking their aspiration to become a criminal. Especially with him being the first character revealed to viewers, a significant (if not altogether antagonistic) role of some sort likely belongs to Rooker.
"Casey" Played By Kim Basinger In Crime Boss: Rockay City
As the only lead female character featured thus far, Kim Basinger brings a familiar face to Crime Boss: Rockay City. The American actress, who has also dabbled in music and fashion modeling, will now debut in the video game industry as Casey. Although the trailer doesn't reveal much about her role, chaotic imagery of an exploding skyscraper and a violent yacht trip suggest that she will be a dangerous character, like GTA 6's rumored female protagonist.
Vanilla Ice's "Hielo" In Crime Boss: Rockay City Is Priceless
Although he's most known for his classic 90s rap hits, Vanilla Ice has also made his mark in the movie and television industries over the years. Even so, his appearance in Crime Boss: Rockay City is an unexpected surprise. Donning an over-the-top purple tracksuit and chain, Hielo looks to be a perfect digital version of his real-life counterpart, perfectly stylized for Rockay City's retro theme. His character even looks to be a musician in-game, as he can be spotted in a room full of sound equipment. It's unknown how he will tie into the crime sim's story, but players are likely in for a wild ride with Vanilla Ice's Hielo.
"Nasara" Is Portrayed By Damion Poitier In Crime Boss: Rockay City
This isn't Damion Poitier's first time being featured in a video game. He previously played Avery Johnson in an expansion to The Master Chief Collection, Halo 2 Anniversary. His role in the game is a bit different, however as Poitier's character, Nasara, looks to be a man of utmost wealth and connections. His sleek, dark style and the surrounding imagery of technologically advanced vehicles make him look like someone players should avoid double-crossing in their playthroughs of Crime Boss: Rockay City .
Sources: 505 Games/YouTube, PlayStation/YouTube