Critical Role just marked a massive milestone – 10 years of epic storytelling, unforgettable characters, and a fandom that’s grown into a cultural phenomenon. At IGN Live 2025, cast members Travis Willingham, Marisha Ray, Taliesin Jaffe, Liam O’Brien, Laura Bailey, and Matthew Mercer gathered to celebrate the journey so far and tease what’s next – and the future is looking wild, animated, and maybe even playable.
When asked when it all felt “real,” Willingham recalled the moment they saw 5,000 live viewers in the first year.
“Uh oh,” he joked – and the numbers just kept climbing. Ray added that early conventions really opened their eyes. “We thought we had maybe a few thousand total viewers,” she laughed. “Then we showed up and there were so many people!”
There was plenty of reminiscing and laughter during the panel. Inside jokes like “quiff” and Mercer’s memorable line, “Spread your legs and stretch your wings,” got everyone giggling. And while Ashley Johnson and Sam Riegel couldn’t attend, they were showered with praise. O’Brien joked about Johnson using dice she can’t even see, calling it “a real leap of faith.” Mercer noted her “offbeat Twin Peaks humor,” and Ray called her “low-key the funniest person I know.” As for Sam? “I’m convinced he has a twin,” Jaffe quipped, highlighting his insane work ethic.
Fan influence has also been massive. Bailey shared how fan art would instantly appear after episodes, reshaping how she saw her own character. Willingham admitted he’d occasionally wait for fans to speculate so he could use their theories as backstory – a clever shortcut! Jaffe, meanwhile, tries to stay offline, but admits, “the cosplay and art stick with me.”
Looking ahead, fans have plenty to be hyped about. The Mighty Nein animated series is fully recorded – two seasons in the can – and promises a very different vibe from The Legend of Vox Machina. “These characters don’t know each other at first,” Willingham explained. “They’re figuring out how to work together – or not.” First looks already blew the cast away, with Bailey saying the group was thrilled after previewing the first three episodes. O’Brien added, “You’re gonna be rarely happy. It came out really well.”
But that’s not all. Willingham teased future projects that revisit iconic characters, possibly through feature films, more animation, or something entirely new. Even more tantalizing? A non-Exandria interactive project – a game – is dropping later this year. It’s not Critical Role IP, but it’s just the beginning. More details are coming this summer, and fans are already buzzing.
One last moment of chaos came from a fan Q&A: When did the cast get the most frustrated with Mercer? Bailey answered without skipping a beat: “When I was pregnant and couldn’t hit you!” O’Brien chimed in that his only gripe was that Mercer refuses to take breaks – to which Willingham added, “Don’t stop! Work forever!”
After a decade of imagination, collaboration, and community, Critical Role isn’t slowing down – it’s leveling up.