Hold onto your tricorn hats, pirates - Matt Ryan, the voice behind fan-favourite scallywag Edward Kenway, is returning to the role that made us all want to shanty our way through the Caribbean. The actor, who first breathed life into the charismatic Welsh pirate back in 2013, is back for Ubisoft's upcoming remake, Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced.
Speaking to GamesRadar, Ryan described the experience of stepping back into Edward's boots as something genuinely moving. The actor said it "becomes quite nostalgic and a little bit emotional," which honestly tracks - this is one of the most beloved entries in the entire Assassin's Creed franchise, and a lot of us grew up watching this fictional pirate dad make increasingly questionable life decisions.
Ryan also told GamesRadar he feels "humbled" by Ubisoft's decision to bring Black Flag back in remake form - and honestly, same. After the mixed reception of some recent AC entries, seeing Ubisoft dig into the vault and polish up one of the series' crown jewels feels like a developer acknowledging that yes, we did indeed have something special back then.
Why this actually matters
Black Flag wasn't just a good Assassin's Creed game - it was practically a different genre. Part open-world pirate sim, part naval combat spectacle, and part surprisingly touching story about a man who stumbles into a war between secret societies while mostly just trying to get paid. It had no business going that hard, and yet here we are, still humming Drunken Sailor a decade later.
Having Ryan back in the role instead of recasting is a smart move from Ubisoft. Voice continuity matters more than people give it credit for, and Edward Kenway's charm was very much a collaborative effort between the writing and Ryan's performance. Swapping that out would have been a critical hit to the nostalgia buff.
No release date has been confirmed yet for Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, but with Ryan already back in the recording booth and the hype meter climbing, Ubisoft better not keep us waiting too long. We have a ship to crew and a sea to conquer - and this time, in much shinier graphics.
