Rockstar Games co-founder Dan Hauser has announced the first voice cast for the upcoming TV and video game series Absurdaverse, ahead of officially unveiling the project’s first look at next month’s Netflix Is A Joke Festival.
Described as an “interconnected comedic satire world of an untitled animated series and an untitled original AAA story-driven open-world video game project currently in development,” Absurdaverse will star Rachel Dratch, Dan Sauder, Ali Matti, Annie Lederman, Yamanika Sanders, and Steph Tref in multiple projects.
Additional actors (the Absurdaverse is expected to boast a cast of “hundreds” of animated series and video game projects) will be announced at a later date. This initial lineup of comedy veterans and stand-up stars is part of who will star in “Absurdaverse,” an animated short that will be screened at an exclusive live comedy event as part of the Netflix Is A Joke Festival on May 7th at The Hollywood Improv in Los Angeles.
As Hauser’s media company, Absurd Ventures, explains: “In these original shorts, event participants will play the roles of a chief human resources officer (voiced by Dan Sauder) who treats his job like a resident DJ, a chain-smoking sovereign citizen podcaster (voiced by Rachel Dratch), and a crazy MMA fighter (voiced by an up-and-coming actor). The event will feature live stand-up from Patton Oswalt and Absurdaverse cast members Dan Sauder, Ali Matti, Yamaneika Sanders, and Steph Trev, as well as host Annie Lederman.
Absurd Ventures plans to reveal release dates and platform partners for both the untitled animated series and AAA open-world action-adventure game at a later date.
Dan Hauser, Jeffrey “Laslow” Jones/Courtesy of Absurd Ventures
The “Asburdverse” project, created by Hauser and his longtime writing partner Jeffrey “Laslow” Jones, was first announced last year as a major focus of Absurd Ventures, the media company Hauser launched after leaving Rockstar Games in 2020.
Hauser and Jones have worked closely together at Rockstar on projects across the Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption series. Some of Hauser’s most beloved works in the world of GTA include fan-favorite satirical animated television shows and cartoons featured within the game’s universe, including Princess Robot Bubblegum, Kung Fu Rainbow Laser Force, Republican Space Ranger, and Britain’s Loneliest Robot.
The “Absurdaverse” animated short is produced by Dave Newberg (“#1 Happy Family USA”), with character designs by Kendra Melton (“Rick and Morty,” “The Venture Brothers”) and animation by Cutting Class Media.
“Since our early days working together, Dan and I have focused on storytelling with an emphasis on comedy, satire, and creating immersive media worlds through in-world radio, animated television shows, and visitable comedy clubs,” Laslow said. “We’ve always loved making animated shows, starting with GTA4 and extending to every game since. Absurdaverse is an evolution of that tradition, partnering with comedians to bring these ridiculous characters to life with stories that move between animation and open-world games.”
“Over the years, Laslow and I have worked together to bring to life all kinds of characters that inhabit our world,” Hauser added. “We’re excited to introduce the latest group of geeks from the next world in this first set of animated shorts. We’re proud to partner with Netflix Is A Joke Festival to present this first look.”
