Although the original Watch Dogs launched to mixed impressions, its sequel, Watch Dogs 2, received a good deal of critical praise and is considered an open-world cult classic. There are many reasons why it's so well regarded, but the most common one has to do with its fantastic cast of characters – especially Watch Dogs 2 lead Marcus Holloway.
Even though fans were pleased to hear about Aiden and Wrench’s return for Watch Dogs: Legion’s Bloodline DLC, many were hoping that Marcus would feature in some way. To the surprise of many, Marcus actually does make several cameo voice appearances throughout the expansion and plays a prominent role in Wrench’s character arc.
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After hearing him in Bloodline, I reached out to Marcus Holloway’s actor Ruffin Prentiss to discuss what it was like returning to the character, what the future could hold for Watch Dogs, and why he thinks Marcus is still so beloved by fans.
“Just the fact that this question is being asked brings a smile to my face,” Prentiss explains. “Honestly, Watch Dogs 2 was a huge tone shift from the first game. I think, from top to bottom, Ubisoft focused on making a core group of characters that functioned as a family. The writing, storyline, directing, and casting of the San Francisco Dedsec group was done perfectly. Every actor I worked with gave their all and we really became a family. There was such a sense of collaboration and play as we filmed that I believe it was felt in our performances and felt by the player as they explored the game. I think that was the key to the lasting impression.”
Although Marcus doesn’t make an appearance as part of the main game and doesn’t appear in person during Bloodline, he does show up through audio logs and plays a significant role in Wrench’s final mission. Prentiss wasn’t aware that Marcus would be making a return until late into the expansion’s development.
“It was a while before I found out I would get to make a cameo in the DLC,” Prentiss says. “I think Wrench and Aiden were announced last fall and I didn’t find out about the cameo until maybe late February or early March of this year. It kind of came out of nowhere, but I was super excited to get to step into the shoes of Marcus again.
“Marcus Holloway is one of my favourite roles I have had a chance to play in my career, and the community of fans that came with the work is simply the best. Coming back to Marcus after six years was nothing short of a dream come true. I was so excited to see how Marcus had grown and changed since we left him at the end of Watch Dogs 2.”
Although Marcus develops during Bloodline, his story is left purposefully vague compared to Wrench and Aiden. Prentiss offers his own idea of what the character might have been up to in the time between Watch Dogs 2 and Bloodline. “I’m sure Marcus has new goals in terms of protecting society for the greater good,” he says. “In my mind, I also would like to imagine that Marcus has travelled a little bit – maybe connected with other Dedsec members in other cities, seeing where he can help out while also expanding his lens and experience of the world. I think he’s wiser, and yet still the same fun-loving, passionate guy from Watch Dogs 2.”
Throughout Watch Dogs 2, Marcus experiences the systemic racism of a near-future America, being judged by all-seeing Big Brother surveillance system CTOS because of the colour of his skin. When asked about what it was like to be at the forefront of these topics Prentiss says, “As a black man, to play a character in a video game that was brave enough to tackle such tough topics, I was blown away by what Ubi was willing to explore. When it came to the missions that dealt with racism, the writers and directors really sought out my input and allowed me to approach the scenes from my truth. It was an amazing experience.”
A key focus of both Watch Dogs 2 and Watch Dogs: Legion Bloodline is the relationship between Marcus and Wrench. The two share an incredibly close friendship in Watch Dogs 2, and Marcus is one of the key parts of Wrench’s character arc in Bloodline. Some fans have even taken their relationship to be romantic, which Prentiss is happy to hear.
“The one word I would use to define their bromance is ‘unconditional’,” he says. “No matter the circumstances, no matter how much time has passed, they will always have each other’s backs. I believe they would drop anything else they had going on to help one another out. For Wrench and Marcus to fall on that list as a shippable relationship is super exciting. I think it speaks to the fun and care they show to one another. It also speaks to the writers and creators of the game as well as how fun it is to work with Shawn Baichoo. When I am reading Marcus’ dialogue with Wrench, I can imagine how Shawn said Wrench’s lines and it brings a smile to my face. He is such a fun scene partner and I think that’s why people love to see Wrench and Marcus together: in-game and also shipped.”
The ending of Bloodline leaves things incredibly vague for the future of Watch Dogs. Whether it’ll go in the direction of a more traditional title like Watch Dogs 2, or branch out into the “play as anyone” mechanic from Legion isn’t clear, but Prentiss is hopeful that Marcus will make a proper return in whatever comes next.
“Without question, if they asked, I would be there,” he reveals. “As far as Marcus returning for a more leading role, I think anything is possible. I think Bloodline really is a great demonstration of the fans’ love for both Aiden and Wrench. And with that said, diving deeper into these characters and storylines would be fun and well worth exploring. With Marcus’ skillset, he is able to keep his finger on the pulse of what is happening around the world and I definitely could see him in a different place taking on the next person or company plotting to harm or take advantage of others.”
Prentiss has some ideas on what that future could look like, too: “I think the options are endless. It would be cool to see a storyline that maybe takes our protagonist or protagonists to multiple locations in one game. Or maybe like Bloodline, bringing some of the characters from the first three games together to begin to form an Avengers-like coalition. Anything is possible.”
Next: Watch Dogs: Legion Bloodline Proves The Series Needs Characters To Continue
