Voicing the Galaxy: Dee Bradley Baker & Jay Rincon on Star Wars Outlaws, Droids with Style, and Clone Nostalgia

Alright, buckle up, space cowboys and scoundrels! As we cruise through 2026, I still can't get over the absolute blast that was Star Wars Outlaws. It wasn't just another game; it was a ticket to the grimy, glorious underworld of the galaxy far, far away, set in that sweet spot between Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. And let me tell you, chatting with the voices behind some of its most iconic characters—the legendary Dee Bradley Baker and the fantastic Jay Rincon—was like getting a backstage pass to Mos Eisley Cantina. Their passion? Contagious. Their stories? Pure gold. Or should I say, pure Beskar.

Dee Bradley Baker: From Fanboy to Galactic Voice Master

Talking to Dee Bradley Baker is like having a conversation with the living, breathing soul of Star Wars aliens. This guy isn't just a voice actor; he's a fan who made it big, and the excitement hasn't dimmed one bit. He took me on a nostalgia trip back to Greedo in A New Hope. "That was one of my favorite moments," he reminisced, his voice lighting up. "The shock of seeing an alien creature talk... with subtitles! It was a revelation. 'Oh, this isn't just English speaking. They've got languages!'" He even confessed to drawing his own cantina scene as a kid, dreaming of sending it to George Lucas. Talk about goals!

Fast forward a few decades, and here he is, not just voicing characters but defining them in Star Wars Outlaws. His roles are a masterclass in non-verbal storytelling:

• Nix: Kay Vess's furry, loyal sidekick. Dee describes him as "almost a cross between a Wookie and a droid." He makes sounds that are a language all their own, but Kay understands every chirp and growl. It's all about finding the specific meaning and emotion behind each utterance.

• Jabba the Hutt: Voicing this iconic crime lord was a "thrilling" challenge. Speaking in Huttese, a fully realized language, is a world away from Nix's creature sounds, yet both require conveying clear intent and personality without traditional dialogue.

For Dee, the magic of Outlaws is how it drops you into that corrupt, crime-ridden era where tyranny is on the rise. "It plays out like a vast movie that you can just jump into and play along with," he said, perfectly capturing the game's immersive, open-world feel. It's the sandbox he dreamed of as a kid, now brought to life.

Jay Rincon: Stepping into the Spotlight (and a Duster Coat)

If Dee is the seasoned veteran, Jay Rincon is the wide-eyed newcomer who just hit the jackpot. Landing the role of ND-5 was, in his words, "a dream come true." He walked me through the nerve-wracking audition process, which involved multiple rounds and a chemistry read. The kicker? "About halfway through this chemistry read day, they came out and said, 'Oh, by the way, I don't think you know yet, but you have the part and this is Star Wars.'" Cue the internal freak-out! "When you hear those two words... that whole galaxy just opens up."

His character, ND-5, is an instant classic. A veteran BX-series commando droid from the Clone Wars, now sporting a trench coat and a serious attitude. Jay lit up describing him: "He's effectively a western character, an old war dog who fought for the losing side... that image of this droid with this trench coat blowing in the wind. He's this kind of brooding force." 😎

The biggest surprise and joy for Jay was "bringing the humanity to a droid." While Star Wars has complex droids, ND-5's battle-hardened, surly demeanor required a grounded, personal touch. "I wanted to try and keep it as natural as possible," he explained, though he laughed about times the directors had to reel him in for being "too human or too aggressive." He proudly declared ND-5 might be "the first droid with style," and honestly, who can argue? That coat is iconic.

Clone Wars Reunions & Hypothetical Hangouts

Of course, you can't talk to Dee Bradley Baker without diving into clone territory. I had to ask: How would Captain Rex, one of Dee's most beloved roles, get along with a scoundrel like Kay Vess from Outlaws?

Dee thinks they'd vibe perfectly. By this point in the timeline, Rex has evolved from a "buttoned-down soldier" to a freelance problem-solver, much more improvisational. He referenced the pivotal Clone Wars episode "The Deserter" as a turning point. "I think by the time we're [at the point of Star Wars Outlaws], he'd do quite well with them," Dee mused. Imagine the team-up! Kay, Nix, ND-5, and Rex causing chaos. Somebody make this DLC happen!

And what about the future? If he could revisit any clones, Dee's wishlist is chef's kiss: "I would love to see Rex, Gregor, Echo, and Wolffe, and maybe even Cody... What do these rogue clones now do once the events... in Bad Batch have played out?" He highlighted the beauty of the Star Wars timeline: "You don't have to take everything forward in a linear path, you can go sideways and you can go backwards." The stories are endless, and the fans (including me!) are hungry for them.

Why Outlaws Hits Different: Freedom, Fun, and Personal Journeys

So, what makes Star Wars Outlaws in 2026 still feel so fresh and exciting? According to our dynamic voice duo, it's all about scope and personal agency.

For Jay, it's about childhood dreams realized. "I think of myself playing with toys when I was a child... in my imagination, I'm there. With this open-world aspect, you're going to be there as well." He sees players creating their "own personal version" of this iconic era, with Kay and ND-5 as their avatars. "When you get to get hands on the Trailblazer and fly through the galaxy... that's still your own personal journey."

Dee echoed this, marveling at "how natural and real this full-fledged open-world feels." He's most excited for players to experience the freedom: "To not only have the adventure and the missions... but also to have these worlds open to explore, to interact with the creatures and the characters. To even go into cantinas and play casual gaming. You can do all these different variations of living in this world. It's whatever you want."

That's the real magic they helped create. It's not just a linear story; it's your story. You're not just watching Han Solo make the Kessel Run; you're plotting your own heist, bargaining with Jabba (courtesy of Dee's iconic voice), and riding shotgun with a droid who's seen it all (brought to life by Jay's nuanced performance).

In the end, talking to Dee and Jay wasn't just about a game. It was a reminder of why we love Star Wars. It's a universe built on passion, from the kids drawing cantinas to the actors giving soul to droids and aliens. Star Wars Outlaws captures that spirit perfectly—a little bit dangerous, a whole lot of fun, and utterly, uniquely yours. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a date with my speeder and a galaxy to explore. May the Force be with you, always!