

Raynor's character is based on a character of the same name in the film Rush, whom Chris Metzen describes as a "gritty, undercover cop". Clotworthy also stated that in the event that a StarCraft film was produced, he believed Clive Owen would be the perfect choice to play Raynor due to him "being dangerous". The art, showing Raynor on a hoverbike and outfitted with futuristic weaponry, gave Clotworthy the impression that as Raynor was someone people "wouldn't mess with", he would not have to raise his voice as "other characters shut up and listen" or face the consequences. In an interview, Raynor's voice actor Robert Clotworthy cited one piece of this concept art in how he decided to voice the character. The character of Raynor was originally devised by Chris Metzen and James Phinney, with his depiction as a rough-living and dangerous man developed through various pieces of concept art by Metzen. Raynor was the first video game character Clotworthy had the opportunity to voice. One survey by GameSpot put Raynor as one of the top ten heroes in video gaming. The character has received a positive critical response Raynor's depiction in StarCraft and Brood War was praised for its character depth and the quality of Clotworthy's voice acting.

Raynor joins Arcturus Mengsk's revolution against the oppressive Terran Confederacy but becomes disillusioned with Mengsk's genocidal tactics, forming his own paramilitary group to challenge Mengsk's tyranny. A Terran in his thirties, Raynor is a former soldier and outlaw who eventually becomes a marshal on a backwater colony world. Raynor's physical appearance was designed by Metzen himself. Metzen conceived Raynor to represent the ordinary man in a series populated with politically motivated characters. Robert Clotworthy voices the character in all video game appearances.Ĭreated by Chris Metzen and James Phinney, Raynor is loosely based on a character of the same name in the 1991 film Rush. Outside video games, Raynor appears in the novels Liberty's Crusade and Queen of Blades, while his backstory is explored in the novels Heaven's Devils and Devil's Due. He also appears as a playable character in the crossover multiplayer online battle arena game Heroes of the Storm.

Raynor is a predominant character in the science fiction real-time strategy video games StarCraft and Brood War, and is a player character in StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty. James Eugene Raynor is a fictional character and a major protagonist in Blizzard Entertainment's science fiction StarCraft series.
