Konami revealed the English voice cast for Castlevania: Belmont's Curse on August 24, and the headline name is one Netflix built an entire audience around: Graham McTavish returns as Dracula, reprising the role he played in Netflix's acclaimed Castlevania animated series (Push Square). Abby Trott voices protagonist Rose Belmont, daughter of Trevor Belmont, while Liam O'Brien returns as Isaac — a role he first played more than 20 years ago in Castlevania: Curse of Darkness (Gematsu). Alejandra Reynoso also returns as Sypha Belnades, another performer carrying her role directly over from the Netflix show. Konami is also giving the game its first public playable demo at Gamescom 2026, running August 26–30 in Cologne — the Japanese press release specifically calls it the world's first hands-on opportunity for the game ahead of its October 15 launch (Saiga NAK).
That overlap in casting is worth sitting with. The Netflix Castlevania series ran for four seasons between 2017 and 2021 and is widely credited with introducing a much broader audience to the franchise's mythology than the games alone ever reached. Bringing McTavish and Reynoso back for Belmont's Curse isn't just stunt casting — Konami is creating an unmistakable bridge for players who discovered these characters through the animated series, even as the game itself stays firmly rooted in the established game timeline rather than Netflix's continuity.
A New Belmont, an Old Voice
Belmont's Curse is set in Paris in 1499, 23 years after the events of Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse and, notably, after the Netflix show's own timeline as well (The Outerhaven). Rose Belmont, the new protagonist, inherits the Vampire Killer whip from her father Trevor — voiced by JB Blanc — as Paris burns and monstrous creatures spill into the streets from Dracula's castle. Confirmed bosses include Death, Medusa, Carmilla, and Joan of Arc, while the newly announced cast also includes Ray Chase as the mysterious Fallen (PlayStation LifeStyle).
Why McTavish Matters More Than a Normal Casting Note
For a franchise that spent over a decade without a new mainline console entry — Belmont's Curse is the first traditional new Castlevania since Lords of Shadow 2 in 2014 — reconnecting with the Netflix show's cast is a low-risk, high-reward move. The animated series built genuine crossover appeal outside the core gaming audience, and McTavish's Dracula in particular became one of the show's most memorable performances. Having him return doesn't retcon the games into being a direct continuation of Netflix's story, but it does give newer fans who found Castlevania through the show an immediate reason to recognize a face — or in this case, a voice — they already know.
Not a Roguelike, Despite the Pedigree
It's worth noting who's actually building the game underneath that voice cast: developer Evil Empire, working with advisory studio Motion Twin, both best known for Dead Cells. Konami communications head Tommy Williams has said directly: "It is not a roguelike or roguelite game." Konami instead describes it as a nonlinear 2D action-exploration game built around handcrafted maps, equipment, upgrades, and opening new routes as players progress (GameSpot). Konami has also confirmed weapons spanning seven categories, collectible Relics, and a boss system where defeated bosses become Arcana cards granting new abilities — concrete systems that signal the studio isn't importing Dead Cells' run-based structure wholesale, even with the same team attached.
The Gamescom Demo Is the Real Test
Voice casting and trailers can only do so much — the actual proof point is Gamescom's playable demo, the first time the public gets hands-on time with Belmont's Curse before its October 15 release across PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, and PC. Konami is also bringing the game to PAX West the following week, running September 4–7 in Seattle, another major hands-on promotional opportunity ahead of launch. For a franchise trying to prove it can still function as a traditional action game after over a decade away from consoles, letting people actually put a controller in their hands may end up mattering more than any single celebrity voice reveal.
