The stars of ‘Grand Theft Auto V’ and ‘GTA: San Andreas’ reunited at MCM London Comic Con 2026 for a brilliantly chaotic panel, and we’ve got the whole thing for you to watch in two videos! Ned Luke (Michael De Santa), Shawn Fonteno (Franklin Clinton), Steven Ogg (Trevor Philips) and Young Maylay (Carl ‘CJ’ Johnson) shared some incredible stories about making Rockstar’s legendary games, including a deleted mission, the challenges of motion capture, and a few revelations that might change how you look at certain moments in GTA V forever.
Hosted by the ever-entertaining WeeClaire, the panel was a wonderful mixture of nostalgia, fascinating behind-the-scenes insights and four performers who clearly have absolutely no intention of behaving themselves.
And, given we’re dealing with the people behind Trevor, Michael, Franklin and CJ, you probably won’t be surprised to discover that the language gets rather colourful!
A quick warning before you watch: Both videos contain frequent strong and very strong language, so they’re definitely not suitable for younger viewers. In fact, we’re fairly certain Steven Ogg alone could bankrupt a swear jar manufacturer.
We’ve split the panel into two videos, covering the opening discussion and a game of Existential Chicken, followed by an extended fan Q&A featuring some particularly juicy stories.
Part 1: Shawn Fonteno Nearly Quits GTA V, Steven Ogg Unfiltered & Existential Chicken!
The first video opens with the cast reflecting on the extraordinary impact Grand Theft Auto has had on their lives, particularly with GTA V having remained such a huge part of gaming culture for more than a decade.
For Shawn Fonteno, however, getting started on the game wasn’t quite the dream job you might imagine. Shawn reveals that he came incredibly close to walking away from the project altogether, having found the experience of performance capture far more challenging than he expected.
He explains what was making life so difficult, why he didn’t initially appreciate quite what he’d signed up for, and the moment that finally changed everything. It’s a fascinating story, particularly when Ned Luke adds his own recollections of watching Shawn’s confidence develop during filming.
Elsewhere, Young Maylay discusses his rather different experiences recording GTA: San Andreas, including what it was like being directed by Rockstar co-founder Dan Houser, and why he’s been surprisingly selective about taking on other video game roles since.
Ned and Steven also share some interesting insights into their on-screen chemistry as Michael and Trevor, revealing how their different approaches to acting helped bring two of gaming’s most entertaining characters to life… And then there’s Steven Ogg.
Asked what makes a good acting partner, Steven launches into an impassioned discussion about communication, listening and the importance of genuinely responding to another performer. It’s actually a really interesting answer, right up until he starts demonstrating a particular habit that drives him absolutely mad… Naturally, Ned Luke can’t resist making things worse.
The first video finishes with the cast playing Existential Chicken, courtesy of WeeClaire and Gilbert the rubber chicken bag. There are questions about life’s greatest challenges, hidden talents and what warning labels the actors should come with. The answers are, unsurprisingly, rather entertaining, and some of them probably aren’t suitable for printing here!
Part 2: Deleted GTA V Missions, Chop The Dog, GTA VI & Fan Questions!
The second video turns things over to the fans, and this is where some of the most interesting revelations emerge.
With Grand Theft Auto VI on the horizon, the cast are asked what advice they’d give to the next generation of Rockstar performers. Considering how dramatically GTA V changed their own careers, they’ve got some rather thoughtful advice about dealing with the enormous attention that comes with being part of the franchise.
The conversation also turns to favourite scenes, memorable lines and the moments that have stayed with the actors long after filming finished. One particularly entertaining question leads Shawn Fonteno to explain something that Franklin does repeatedly throughout GTA V. It’s a little detail that most players will have encountered countless times, but the reason behind it is rather different from what you might expect!
However, one of the biggest revelations concerns a deleted GTA V mission involving Michael and Trevor.
The cast reveal an entire sequence that was filmed but never made it into the finished game, explaining what the characters were supposed to be doing and why bringing the scene to life proved considerably more complicated than anyone anticipated. It’s exactly the sort of behind-the-scenes story that makes you wonder what other bizarre ideas Rockstar might have left on the cutting-room floor.
There are also some hilarious recollections of working with Chop the dog, whose involvement in the game’s motion-capture process apparently presented a few unexpected challenges. And if you’ve ever wondered how Rockstar managed to capture a canine performance in the first place, well, the answers are certainly entertaining!
Elsewhere, Young Maylay gets an interesting question about fellow San Andreas performer Samuel L. Jackson, which produces a rather surprising answer about how the game was recorded. The cast also discuss the enormous range of fans they’ve met over the years, from people who played the original games when they first launched to younger players discovering them through family members.
And then there’s the unfortunate audience member who admits to making a particularly controversial decision during GTA V… Unfortunately for him, that decision involved Michael De Santa… And Michael De Santa, or rather Ned Luke, is sitting right there… Let’s just say Ned has some thoughts about that choice, and he’s more than happy to share them!
Between the hilarious fan interactions and some genuinely fascinating production stories, it’s a brilliant reminder of just how much personality these four performers brought to Rockstar’s games.
More From MCM London Comic Con 2026!
These two videos are part of our extensive coverage from MCM London Comic Con 2026, where we also filmed panels featuring the casts of ‘Daredevil’ and ‘Resident Evil’, Percy Jackson creator Rick Riordan, One Piece star Mackenyu, and plenty of other familiar faces from the worlds of gaming and entertainment.
You can hear some of our favourite moments from across the weekend in Geektown Radio Episode 507, our MCM London Comic Con Special.
And don’t forget to subscribe to the Geektown YouTube channel for more convention panels, celebrity interviews and other geeky goodness!
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