Splinter Cell fans may be waiting a while for the Splinter Cell remake to hit PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S, but Sam Fisher will be returning in some form much, much sooner. If you tune in to BBC Radio 4 next month, you’ll hear The Archers actor Anthony Adonis’ doing his best Sam Fisher in a new eight-part radio drama. (Thanks, GamesIndusty.biz.)
The predominantly British cast features some well-known names from the radio world, including Daisy Head who will portray Sam Fisher’s daughter, Sarah Fisher. There’s a bit of Hollywood about the radio production, too, with Will Poulter, best known among audiences for his roles in We’re The Millers, The Maze Runner, and Black Mirror: Bandersnatch, also taking an unspecified role in the series. In fact, the British actor has had a lot to say about the upcoming adaptation, “I really hope fans of the Splinter Cell game enjoy this, as not only does it have all the action, tension and excitement that the game is famous for, but it also has more elements – there is a lot of comedy, the drama is expanded and horizons broadened by the characters and what they get up to. It is taking the best of Splinter Cell and building on that to make something really well-rounded.”
The limited series will see (or not see? Hear?) Sam Fisher teaming up with his daughter, Sarah Fisher, who has followed in her old man’s silent footsteps by joining Fourth Echelon. The basic premise is that the team is on a mission to recruit some new operatives for the super secret agency, but when a long-dead enemy of Sam Fisher reappears, things go awry, and it’s up to the daddy-daughter duo to save the day, with the help of their colleagues in the earpiece, of course.
It’s a departure from the video game series, for sure, and a radio drama probably isn’t the first thing that fans would want in terms of new Splinter Cell material. But, given that the Splinter Cell remake is still some way off from release, fans will have to make do with whatever they can get. And, who knows; it might actually be decent. It’ll be interesting to see (hear…) the series in a new medium without the trademark striking visuals that helped make the series a revered name in the stealth genre.
The series will consist of eight 30-minute episodes and as the drama was recorded with 3D binaural audio, the BBC recommends listening in with headphones for the most immersive experience. If you’re interested in tuning in, Splinter Cell: Firewall will be broadcast each Friday at 2:15pm GMT on BBC Radio 4, starting December 2nd. However, if you want to binge the lot in one go, the series will be available in its entirety on BBC Sounds in the Limelight podcast channel, also available from December 2nd.
