The Dishonored series is inspired by the Thief franchise, with Stephen Russell, the voice actor for Thief's protagonist Garrett, voicing Corvo Attano in Dishonored 2. Before creating Dishonored, Arkane Studios was approached by Bethesda to develop Thief 4, as they were seen as the ideal candidate for the project. Co-directors Raphael Colantonio and Harvey Smith have discussed this potential project, expressing nostalgia for an Arkane-crafted Thief game. Thief 4 was eventually developed by Eidos Montreal but received a lukewarm reception. A recent spiritual successor, Thick as Thieves, has also been released with mixed reviews.