Login to Continue Learning
Four years ago, reports suggested that Amazon was finalizing a deal with EA and BioWare to produce a Mass Effect TV series. Now, we know the deal went through, Daniel Casey was chosen as the show’s writer, and Doug Jung was appointed as the showrunner. Additionally, it has been confirmed that the same production team responsible for Fallout will be working on Mass Effect.
This still leaves many unanswered questions, but recent leaks might begin to address one of the most significant: which Shepard will appear in the series?
Spotted by Eurogamer and entertainment insider Daniel Richtman, casting calls for Amazon’s Mass Effect TV series indicate a preference for Male Shepard. The calls list roles such as “a young Colin Farrell-type male (30-39) with open ethnicity,” “a female co-lead alien character requiring prosthetics (34-39),” “a female human providing a parallel narrative from Earth,” and “a Doug Jones-type male villain (40-60).” The final role, described as “a male wrestler-type soldier (30-49),” may be James Vega or Saren Arterius. Liara T’Soni is likely the female co-lead alien character, while Emily Wong, Ashley Williams’ reworked version, or a twin Shepard could fill the remaining female role.
The most contentious casting call involves Commander Shepard, with fans speculating that it points to Mark Meer’s Male Shepard over Jennifer Hale’s FemShep. When Casey discussed the Fallout production team joining Mass Effect earlier this year, he confirmed that the writer’s room had been active since early 2025. Deciding which Shepard to use was likely one of their earliest decisions.
While some fans favor FemShep as the canon choice, others will likely be disappointed by the decision. However, David Gaider predicted three years ago that such decisions could alienate fans from the series.
As we learn more about the adaptation, it will be interesting to see if it needs to win back fan support rather than generating excitement for what’s to come.
