Free Guy is a uniquely engaging action-comedy, which finds a way to balance the overt comedy of an eternally smiling Ryan Reynolds character with some genuinely introspective questions about videogame culture and humanity. As part of the film's central conceit, the game that the titular Guy (Ryan Reynolds) exists within is a global success for gamers. To further sell this element, the filmmakers enlisted several hugely popular live-streamers and professional gamers to appear as themselves in the film, including Ninja.
During an exclusive interview with CBR, Richard Tyler Blevins -- aka professional gamer Ninja -- spoke about his excitement in joining the cast of Free Guy. He also discussed how he thinks modern audiences have evolved their perception of gaming culture and which videogame movies he believes best represent the medium and its players.
CBR: You've had so much attention paid to you through your gaming experience and with Twitch. What was it like to see that reflected in a major motion picture like Free Guy, which itself has such global reach?
NINJA: One of the things I love about the movie is how much they got right about gaming. From talking about skins in-game, the lingo, the way the gamers talked to each other, it was all spot on. I think it was smart on their part to reflect gaming culture by including streamers as well. I'm glad they felt like I needed to be a part of that as Ninja.
The film has a lot to say about the development of artificial intelligence and the way we'd interact with it. As someone who frequently finds himself in a digital landscape, what intrigued you the most about Free City as a concept?
I think the really interesting concept is one you can't really get into without spoiling the film... The reveal, that type of thing could really happen -- not the video game coming alive part -- but those that have seen the movie will know what I mean. I can say this without spoiling too much: I think the movie has a lot to say about taking ownership of what you create.
How has the film affected how you perceive not just other players in games, but the NPCs you might encounter along the way?
I just wrote a piece for WikiHow that addresses the treatment of NPCs actually, though in a tongue-in-cheek way. In short, the idea is you don't have to be a jerk to NPCs. When it comes to other players, I think everyone knows I can get a little… Intense while playing certain games, but that's just because I take the competition and gameplay so seriously.
So -- you've officially been in a Disney film! For someone who got their start playing Halo 3, that's a wild arc to go through in just over a decade. What did it mean to you as a content creator to be on a stage that big?
There was this moment when we were looking at the offer where it was just like, there's no way. Ryan Reynolds -- my man-crush by the way -- and Shawn Levy. The pedigree. It's amazing to be a part of a movie like this. I've always really been interested in going beyond gaming. I'm doing some voiceover stuff now that I can't talk about yet, so this is just the beginning of that.
You've played for some of the biggest names in eSports. What excites you the most about gaming and the way it's evolved in the public sphere in the last couple of years?
When I started, it wasn't like it is now where people know what streaming is, or what a streamer does. I started out going to Halo competitions, playing, winning and then streaming grew out of that. Then I got to the point where I was making a living as a gamer.
Now I'm thinking beyond that, of course, but it started with wanting to get paid to do what I love. That's a real thing for kids now. It's exciting that I get to be such a big part of that. I made a huge commitment to the Boys and Girls Club of Southern Michigan, for an all-new gaming lounge, which I was very proud to have been asked to be a part of alongside the Pistons, Big Sean, and my team, the Lions. It's such an interesting and exciting time, I think, to be coming up in the world with all the possibilities of gaming.
As a gamer, what do you hope non-gamers take away/learn about gaming from watching Free Guy?
Ryan Reynolds is dreamy, and I and the other streamers featured should have bigger parts in the sequel. Especially me.
Seriously though, going back to what I was talking about with the reveal. Without ruining anything, there's clearly a lesson that has real-world applications. Be careful who you share your creations with -- but that's a little pessimistic. Focusing on the positive, it's about the power of gaming communities, how we will really rally to support one another or a cause. There are so many charity streams for good causes. I don't think a lot of people outside gaming know how much good gamers and streamers really do.
What do you think makes film adaptations of video games such a difficult beast, and how did Free Guy impress you in that regard?
In the end, a video game really can be a playable movie, so you're going backward by removing the play element. But they can still be exciting. The new Uncharted looks good. I like Tom Holland, so I'm excited for that. Some of my favorite video game movies are ones that deal with the world of gaming but aren't necessarily based on a game. Ready Player One, really gets it. Wreck-it Ralph is great too. And Free Guy. What they all have in common is that they feel authentic to gaming and gamers. The people behind the movies really get it. I think that's the missing piece when making a video game movie. You have to love games and gaming to really make a good one. That's why I was glad to be a part of Free Guy. They got it, and I think it really shows.
Free Guy is available now on Digital, Blu-ray, and 4K Ultra HD