"I love Joe's invincible aura"- Narrative Designer Justin Leeper's favorite in-ring storytellers, AEW/WWE games, Wanted: Dead, and more (Exclusive)

Justin Leeper is an incredibly fascinating individual. He’s worked a wide variety of jobs, but he’s likely best known for being in Wanted: Dead as Herzog or Deadman in Death Stranding. In addition, he’s toured with GWAR, performed as a professional wrestler, and, on that note, has worked on some incredible WWE and AEW titles. As far as his most recent credits go, he’s currently the Lead Narrative Designer on the upcoming Transformers Reactivate. He’s a man who has worn a wide variety of very interesting hats.

It was a genuine pleasure to sit down and pick Justin Leeper’s brain about who he goes to for inspiration when it comes to writing for a wrestling game, many of his career choices, and working on games like Wanted: Dead.

Justin Leeper: Hey there. I’m Justin Leeper. I grew up an average Midwest kid with the audacity to dream a bit outside my punching weight and the luck to pull a few of those things off. It’s taken me to several continents, allowed me to make a living on several passions, and perform in front of a lot of people. I currently live in the UK with my partner Jasmine and a cat we rescued last year named Loko-chan.

Justin Leeper: I think what it boils down to is being able to express myself in a way that I’m pleased with and others will be able to see. I played a werewolf in a Japanese car commercial that Jasmine saw every morning while getting ready for work.

Being able to discover that people dug the way I played Herzog in Wanted: Dead or Deadman in Death Stranding is super gratifying. And really, there’s nary a bad day either in the mocap studio or the VO booth, whether I’m performing or directing.

Justin Leeper: I didn’t intend to Lex Luger my way into THQ, but that’s just how it happened. I knew games, I