The actors who voiced iconic characters in Grand Theft Auto 5 and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas have offered advice to the yet-to-be-announced actors who will portray Jason and Lucia, the protagonists of Grand Theft Auto 6. With the game's release date set for November 19, the anticipation is reaching a fever pitch.
Speaking at MCM Comic Con, the cast shared their thoughts on what it takes to embody a character in Rockstar's hugely popular franchise. Young Maylay, the voice of CJ from San Andreas, simply advised, "Have fun." Shawn ‘Solo’ Fonteno, who played Franklin Clinton in GTA 5, urged the future actors to trust Rockstar's direction. "They’re gonna lead you in the right direction," Fonteno said. "But get ready. That’s all I can say, is get ready. It’s a ride that they’re gonna be on for a while."
Young Maylay also commented on the enduring multigenerational appeal of the Grand Theft Auto series. "We’ll always be the characters that we are, and for the generation of kids who are coming up, you’re gonna have certain brackets," he explained. "Right now, I got all the OGs. Everybody coming in my line — you catch some youngsters, but you got guys with the grey hair coming in saying, ‘Hey man! You’re the guy, CJ!’ And they have all the youngsters right now. So, during this time period, you’re gonna grow with your fanbase. It’s not like everything’s gonna get shut down by you guys… we’ll always be those characters, and you can’t take that from us."
Ned Luke, the voice of Michael De Santa in GTA 5, emphasized the importance of genuine appreciation for the fanbase. "Just make sure that you appreciate the fans. Let the fans know… fake appreciation, they can smell it. You have to really appreciate them, genuinely, because what we have is because of them. If you don’t have the fans, you don’t got nothin'. They’re the game, and that’s the bottom line," Luke imparted.
These sentiments stand in contrast to Steven Ogg, who portrayed Trevor Philips. Ogg previously stated he felt "nothing inside" regarding GTA 6, citing his lack of personal gaming experience. However, he did suggest that Trevor's character could be killed off at the beginning of GTA 6 as a symbolic "passing of the torch" to the new era. "I think that would be cool, because it also acknowledges the fans of like, ‘Hey, thank you.' Pass the torch, stomp Trevor's head in, and sort of put an end to that and allow a new generation to take over," Ogg mused in 2025.
While the actors for Jason and Lucia remain officially unannounced, fans widely suspect Manni L. Perez is playing Lucia due to her vocal similarities and physical resemblance to the character. Perez has reportedly been careful to adhere to any non-disclosure agreements.
The hype surrounding Grand Theft Auto 6 continues to grow, with Rockstar actively promoting the game through a Vice City-themed marketing campaign in Miami. This includes prominent signage and a partnership with the Miami Heat basketball team, who will wear Vice City-themed uniforms for a game against the Milwaukee Bucks on November 18. Additionally, attendees at the game will have the opportunity to dine at a real-life rendition of the in-game fast-food establishment, Burger Shot, at the Kaseya Center.