'Brütal Legend' Creator Explains Why RONNIE JAMES DIO Is No Longer Involved With Game

June 16, 2009

Double Fine studio head and Brütal Legend game creator Tim Schafer has confirmed that the legendary heavy metal vocalist Ronnie James Dio (HEAVEN & HELL, BLACK SABBATH, RAINBOW, DIO) has been cut out of the game's voice cast and has been replaced with Tim Curry, a movie actor best known for his role in "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" (as BLABBERMOUTH.NETfirst reported on June 14).

"Ronnie James Dio is an amazing singer and truly one of the great figures of metal, but as the character of Doviculus evolved, we realized that Tim Curry was a better fit for the part," Schafer told GameSpot. "Anyone who has seen his amazing performance as the Lord of Darkness in the movie 'Legend' knows why we cast him in the role of Doviculus, Emperor of the Tainted Coil."

A new trailer for the upcoming Brütal Legend game, featuring the voice and likeness of BLACK SABBATH vocalist Ozzy Osbourne as The Guardian Of Metal, can be viewed below.

At EA's E3 press conference, Tim Schafer announced (see video below) that Osbourne would join a cast that includes metal greats like Rob Halford (JUDAS PRIEST),Lemmy Kilmister (MOTÖRHEAD) and Lita Ford.

Brütal Legend will be available for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system and the PlayStation computer entertainment system on October 13 in North America and on October 16 in Europe.

Brütal Legend is a third-person action game rich in combat, imagery and storytelling, delivering lighter-flicking fun sure to melt your face off.

Those ready to rock can start by visiting the newly re-launched Brütal Legend web site (www.brutallegend.com),the best source online for all things Brütal Legend, from trailers to screenshots, concept art to exclusive blogs from the Double Fine studio team, epic polls and more! Over time, the site and its content will evolve and grow, so remember to check in whenever you feel the Metal Gods calling you. Sign up for exclusive updates through the Brütal Legend newsletter, or follow Brütal Legend on Twitter for intimate access and new information nearly every day.

Brütal Legend tells the tale of Eddie Riggs, played by Jack Black. The ultimate roadie, Eddie is the first person anyone calls when they need guitars tuned or stages rigged, and has a love for hot rods and a photographic memory for every heavy metal album cover, and the lyrics those albums contained. One night, a stage accident knocks Eddie unconscious, and he awakens in a world that looks very strange yet oddly familiar, a world where every heavy metal album cover and lyric Eddie knows has come to life, and where the evil emperor Doviculus and his demon army, The Tainted Coil, have enslaved the last remaining humans. When an oppressed people request Eddie's knowledge of modern warfare, he pulls from his own experience in the only occupation he's ever had, a roadie for a heavy metal band, and under his command, this barbaric force of hot-rods, Marshall stacks, leather, and chrome will bring this ancient world into the age of metal.

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