page_title: Mordin Solus
section_title: Creation and development
hierarchical_section_title: Mordin Solus / Creation and development
context_page_description: Mordin Solus is a fictional character in BioWare's Mass Effect franchise, who serves as a party member in Mass Effect 2. A salarian physician and life scientist, Mordin strengthened a weakening artificial sterility plague, named the genophage, used against the krogan—a fast-breeding warlike alien race. Fast-talking and affable, Mordin is guided by scientific principles and logic rather than morals. He returns in Mass Effect 3, where he has developed a cure for the genophage and intends to distribute it in the atmosphere of Tuchanka, the krogan homeworld. The character is also featured in the ninth issue of Mass Effect: Foundation, which explores his creation of and the distribution of the strengthened genophage.
  Mordin is voiced by Michael Beattie in 2 and William Salyers in 3, and was written by Patrick Weekes. His race was conceived as a variant of the gray alien archetype, while the character is designed with clothes that hint towards a labcoat. Inspiration for his face was taken from Clint Eastwood. David Kates composed his musical theme, a highly electronic piece in comparison to some of 2's more orchestral pieces.
context_section_description: Mordin's race, the salarians, are intended to be a take on the gray alien archetype. Due to his relative old age, Mordin allowed the developers to explore the later lifestages of its aliens. The vocal specifications, given to auditioners, wanted someone able to be both dramatic and comedic, referencing Marshall Flinkman of Alias.
  The character was voiced by Michael Beattie in Mass Effect 2, though was replaced with William Salyers for 3. Ginny McSwain served as the voice director. Initially, Beattie tried a higher-pitched voice, but as all the salarians were pitched-up he ultimately used something more like his natural voice. After being replaced, Beattie wrote an open letter thanking fans who had vied for his return. Beattie has said he would be interested in reprising the character, whether it be in a movie adaptation or a future game.
  Patrick Weekes wrote the character. When first handed the character's description, the scientist who strengthened the genophage, Weekes' initial reaction was "unrecordable, but translated roughly as 'that jerk'", him being a fan of the first game's krogan squadmate Wrex. Weekes saw two ways to take the character: either have him as an unlikeable "war criminal", or challenge himself to make a character who believed he had made the hard choice and did the right thing. Mordin's final scene on Tuchanka in the third game, and its variations, was influenced by both Weekes and fellow senior writer John Dombrow, who wrote the genophage arc in the game. Weekes wished to give Mordin a "good send-off" in the scene.
  Each squadmate in Mass Effect 2 had music composed for them, intended to convey their character; BioWare gave the composers detailed character studies for each to help. Mordin's theme was composed by David Kates, who also worked on themes for other characters like Garrus. Kates had previously worked on the soundtrack for the first game. He considered Mordin's level one of the most fascinating to do, and it is one of the more electronic pieces. The composition contained many counterpoint elements, as well as "early retro synthesizer qualities".
caption: Salarians are Mass Effect's answer to the "gray alien" archetype.[2]
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