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Xbox’s new ‘Fable’ trailer has already achieved cult status, especially for U.K. gamers

An unexpected inclusion is turning heads.

Richard Ayoade
Photo via Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images for Chivas Brothers

A dazzling Xbox Games Showcase over the weekend revealed some thrilling upcoming projects, but the incoming Fable reboot might just take the cake.

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Quite a few factors elevate the flagship Xbox property’s remake, but one is standing out more than any other. Fable already has a truly impressive fan following, after helping to define Xbox’s legacy for decades, but the upcoming game’s inclusion of a key actor has chatter about the title at an all-time high.

The actor in question? Beloved comedian and British national treasure Richard Ayoade, who’s set to appear as “Dave,” a delightful (and very large) “vegetable enthusiast” in the hugely-anticipated new Fable.

American viewers are likely familiar with Ayoade’s name, but not nearly so much as his fans across the pond. U.K. fans, in particular, were overwhelmed by Ayoade’s appearance in the Fable trailer — and not just out of recognition. His literal appearance blew a number of viewers away, as they gushed over the incredible graphics sported by the new title, which make the beloved 46-year-old London native look uncannily real.

Twitter’s related hashtags overwhelmingly laud the decision to include Ayoade in the game, and in its marketing material. He’s already got a built-in fanbase, after decades of headlining popular hits like The IT Crowd and directing hits of his own, including an episode of Community and his own award-winning drama, Submarine. Ayoade’s impressive resume, and sky-high popularity, are giving the new Fable a major boost, despite the rare fan complaint that he looks a little too real in the fresh game trailer.

Despite the occasional complaint of realism that veers into the uncanny valley, gamers are near-universally excited to play the Fable reboot. They’re littering social media with excited takeaways, and many of them lean heavily on Ayoade’s involvement.

The trailer also sparked demands for an Ayoade-centric game, where players simply enjoy life as the treasured comedian.

Few people expected to see an actor like Ayoade crop up in a game like Fable, but the combination might just strike gold. If the delighted takeaways on social media are any indication, the decision to include the actor was utterly brilliant on Playground Games’ part.

Now if we could only get a release date, so we know just how long of a wait we’ve got ahead of us.