BAFTA-winning actor and star of “3 Body Problem” and “Game of Thrones,” Liam Cunningham proudly identifies as a “nepo daddy” due to his son, Len Cunningham, who works as a game developer.
In August, Blumhouse Games launched the cooperative Gothic horror game “Eyes of Hellfire” in early access. This game, developed by Len Cunningham’s indie studio Gambrinous in Dublin, draws inspiration from Irish folklore.
According to Blumhouse, “In ‘Eyes of Hellfire,’ each player harbors a hidden curse that distorts their abilities and motives while they navigate the ever-changing rooms of the lodge. With a dynamic card-management system that varies each turn, players must carefully strategize, share findings, and merge their strengths to tackle cryptic puzzles while unfolding disturbing lore and surviving the dire threats lurking in the manor.”
Adding to the complexity is the nefarious Host character, voiced by Liam Cunningham, who creates chaos in the players’ reality.
“My dad used to host a tabletop role-playing murder mystery party during my childhood where he took on the role of the host and orchestrated various scenarios,” shared Len Cunningham, who serves as the lead writer and narrative designer at Gambrinous, during an interview with Variety alongside his father, Liam.
“In costume!” Liam Cunningham, recognized for his part as Davos Seaworth in HBO’s “Game of Thrones,” chimed in.
“In full costume, complete with voices and everything!” Len laughed, recalling those moments.
“For your birthday!” Liam added.
“For my birthday and Halloween; I have always loved Halloween, I’m getting excited just talking about it now!” Len said. “That experience was part of what convinced me that the host character would work perfectly for him.”
“I’m officially claiming the title of the world’s first nepo daddy,” Liam joked, elaborating: “I’m quite particular about my roles. I often turn down 90% of the projects I’m offered; I’m grateful for the opportunities, but I only want to engage with projects where I contribute positively to the outcome. When this was brought to me, it was impossible to decline. The character is entertaining—annoyingly so—and I enjoy portraying a character you love to despise. He’s this Machiavellian presence that thrives on the players’ suffering, and that’s great fun. It’s an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.”
Len explains that during the initial phases of developing “Eyes of Hellfire” for Blumhouse Games, there wasn’t meant to be a villain at all.
“Initially, we envisioned the ruins in Dublin as the ‘villain’ element, as the game centers around a real set of ruins that loom over the city in the Dublin mountains. But then I realized how much I enjoy crafting a villain, so we conceived the character of the host, who acts as a game master, narrator, and antagonist. He is whimsical, unnerving, and enjoys playfully mocking the players, issuing challenges at every turn,” Len explained.
“And turns them against each other!” Liam interjected.
“When I wrote this idea down, I remembered my experiences during those birthday parties where dad hosted, and he immediately came to mind as the perfect fit for this role,” Len recalled.
“Eyes of Hellfire” is currently available for purchase on Steam. Blumhouse Games is also promoting a bundle that includes its upcoming release, “Fear the Spotlight,” slated for 2024.
