While Grand Theft Auto VI dominates the headlines, Rockstar’s other beloved franchise is never far from fans’ minds. Red Dead Redemption 3 hasn’t been announced – and likely won’t arrive until the early 2030s – but that hasn’t stopped the community from passionately debating who should lead the next outlaw epic. And surprisingly, there’s a clear consensus: Charles Smith.
The Case for Charles
A Reddit thread started by user KronusTempus has gathered widespread support for Charles as the protagonist. The post highlights Rockstar’s own description of the character: “A relatively recent recruit to the gang, Charles is quiet and reserved but extremely competent in everything he does and virtually unbeatable in a fight. A decent, honest man who also happens to be deadly.”
Charles is a fan favorite from Red Dead Redemption 2 – a skilled hunter, a fierce fighter, and a man of deep principles. Unlike the conflicted Arthur Morgan or the reluctant John Marston, Charles is already a fully realized badass. His backstory, however, remains largely untold. A prequel following Charles before he joined the Van der Linde gang would offer a fresh perspective on the dying West, free from the narrative constraints of the Morgan/Marston saga.
RDR3 with Charles as the protagonist would kick ass
by u/KronusTempus in reddeadredemption2
Why Charles, and No One Else?
The comments reveal a community that has thought deeply about this. User Fluffy Cheese suggested a game set before RDR2, ending with Charles joining the gang. Others, like Ice-Berg-Slim, have been advocating for Charles since playing RDR2, calling him a “total badass” and the perfect protagonist.
Notably, many fans aren’t even asking for a traditional Red Dead Redemption 3. Some feel the story of the Van der Linde gang is complete. User Abvgd3 argued, “Making another prequel to RDR1 will just ruin it. Maybe a new Red Dead game in the same world with different characters would be much better.” A Charles‑led game could be exactly that – a spin‑off that stands on its own while honoring the franchise’s DNA.
Also, Read
- Why Fans Don’t Want Red Dead Redemption 3 to Be Another Prequel
- Red Dead Redemption 3 Debate – Fans Divided Over a Sequel vs. an Anthology
- Red Dead Redemption 3 – Fan Theories Fuel Hype for Distant Future
The Long Wait
If Red Dead Redemption 3 follows the pattern of its predecessor (development beginning after GTA V‘s launch, releasing five years later), a 2031 release isn’t unreasonable. That’s a long time to wait, but the enthusiasm for Charles shows that fans already know what they want.
For now, Rockstar’s focus is Grand Theft Auto VI, launching November 19 on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. But whenever the next Red Dead rides into view, Charles Smith has the community’s vote.