Which GTA 5 Characters Will Appear in GTA 6?

Rockstar has confirmed GTA 6 takes place in Vice City and the state of Leonida, with two new protagonists, Lucia Caminos and Jason Duval, leading the story.

Rockstar’s brought characters back before. Sometimes it’s a major returning figure, other times just a name dropped in passing. Which characters from GTA 5 could appear in GTA 6? That’s what we’re digging into below, who’s most likely, how they might show up, and why.

GTA 5 Characters in GTA 6: Quick Answer

How Rockstar Usually Brings Back Characters

Before we start with the main content, this section will help you understand how Rockstar typically handles returning characters. However, in previous games, characters usually return in 4 ways:

1. Major Role: A character becomes part of missions or the main storyline.
2. Cameo Appearance: A short appearance in a side mission or cutscene.
3. Media Reference: Appearing on TV, radio, social media, or advertisements.
4. Dialogue Reference: Mentioned by other characters or in newspapers.

A good example: Packie McReary from GTA 4 returned in GTA 5 as a heist crew member, while many GTA: Liberty City characters were only referenced through dialogue. If history repeats itself, here are the GTA 5 characters most likely to return in GTA 6.

Major GTA 5 Characters: Will They Return?

Michael De Santa- Likelihood: Medium

Michael is one of the three protagonists of GTA 5. By the end of the game, he becomes a film producer in Los Santos, joining Solomon Richards’ studio and stepping away from a life of crime.

Since GTA 6 is set in Vice City with a completely new story built around Lucia and Jason, bringing Michael back for active missions would distract from the new narrative.

But Rockstar has recently shown they’re still willing to use him: Michael, voiced again by Ned Luke, made a live cameo appearance alongside Amanda in GTA Online’s “A Safehouse in the Hills” update.

That doesn’t confirm anything for GTA 6, but it shows Rockstar hasn’t retired the character, which makes a background reference like mentioned below more plausible than pure guesswork:

• Movie posters featuring fictional films produced under Michael’s studio- a subtle nod that rewards GTA 5 players without pulling focus from the new story.
• News reports about the Los Santos film industry, placing Michael’s success in the background of the world.
• Radio or TV mentions of his studio, keeping the GTA universe feeling connected without forcing the character into a new story.

This approach would acknowledge Michael’s arc without interrupting GTA 6’s fresh direction.

Trevor Philips- Likelihood: Low

Trevor is one of the most unpredictable and memorable characters in the GTA universe. In GTA Online, Ron Jakowski mentions that Trevor has “gone Vinewood” and become a “guru” and “lifestyle coach”, which, given his personality, is exactly the kind of absurd career Rockstar would mock through media satire.

A full appearance is unlikely, since Trevor’s chaotic energy was so closely tied to Los Santos and Sandy Shores. But Rockstar could reference him through:

• Dialogue from rural NPCs who have encountered his lifestyle brand
• Radio talk show segments mocking a bizarre wellness expert from out west
• Social media parody posts on GTA 6’s fictional platforms

These would let Rockstar have fun with the character without shoehorning him into a Vice City story.

Franklin Clinton- Likelihood: Medium

Franklin’s situation is arguably the most interesting of the three GTA 5 protagonists. In GTA Online’s “The Contract” DLC, Franklin establishes F. Clinton & Partner, a celebrity solutions agency that keeps him connected to both the business world and the criminal underground.

This active role makes Franklin one of the more believable returning characters- he has reasons to operate outside Los Santos. That said, GTA 6’s story will clearly centre on Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos, so Franklin’s role would most likely be limited to:

• Newspaper or online articles about his agency’s high-profile cases
• Photos or media references establishing that F. Clinton & Partner has a national reputation
• A possible cameo appearance if the story calls for a criminal fixer connection

He is unlikely to play a central role, but a meaningful background reference feels realistic.

GTA 5 Side Characters Who Could Return

Lester Crest- Likelihood: Medium

Lester is the mastermind behind GTA 5’s most complex heists. Although he steps back during the later events of GTA Online, he has a habit of being pulled back into criminal schemes when the money is right.

If GTA 6 features heists- which fans widely expect based on the trailer’s tone- Lester would be a natural fit as a background player. He could appear as:

• A remote hacker consultant contacted by criminal crews operating in Vice City
• A mission contact in GTA VI Online, providing technical support from a distance
• A name dropped by other criminals, establishing that his reputation extends beyond Los Santos

Even a dialogue-only reference to Lester would feel earned for long-time fans.

Jimmy De Santa- Likelihood: Medium

Jimmy, Michael’s son, has one of the most interesting possibilities. Since GTA 6 takes place more than a decade after GTA 5, Jimmy would now be an adult.

His personality- obsessed with gaming and internet culture- fits perfectly with the modern social media world Rockstar is building. A realistic appearance could include:

• Jimmy as a streamer or influencer
• References on fictional social media platforms
• Online gaming culture satire

This would match Rockstar’s style of mocking internet culture.

Lamar Davis- Likelihood: Medium

Lamar is Franklin’s closest friend and business partner, and by the end of GTA Online he’s built a real foothold in Los Santos through his stake in Los Santos Customs and his various hustles across the map. Since Franklin himself has a plausible path back into the story through F. Clinton & Partner, Lamar has a natural way to tag along in the background.

• A realistic appearance could include:
• A car dealership or customization shop bearing his name, referenced if Jason or Lucia need vehicle work done
• A radio ad or business listing tied to one of his ventures, the same way GTA games have always used fictional commerce to build out the world
• A dialogue mention from Franklin himself, if his own cameo happens, name-dropping Lamar as still being his right hand

Lamar’s role would almost certainly stay background-level, but given how tightly his story is tied to Franklin’s, any Franklin reference makes a Lamar mention plausible too.

Other GTA Characters Likely to Be Referenced

Martin Madrazo- Likelihood: Medium

The powerful cartel boss appears multiple times across GTA 5 and GTA Online, establishing himself as one of the most connected criminals in the GTA universe. His reach across the United States makes him easy to reference in a Vice City setting. Possible references include:

• Drug trafficking storylines that mention his cartel’s presence on the East Coast
• Criminal dialogue from NPCs who operate within his network
• News reports covering cartel activity in the State of Leonida

His name alone carries enough weight in the GTA underworld that even a mention would feel meaningful.

Lazlow Jones- Likelihood: Low

Vice City’s entertainment culture makes a Lazlow reference likely, but Lazlow Jones himself left Rockstar in April 2020 after nearly 20 years with the company, and has said in interviews that he doubts he’ll be involved in GTA 6.

That doesn’t rule out the character entirely, Rockstar could recast the role or reference him without his direct involvement, but it makes a full voiced appearance far less likely than the name recognition alone might suggest.

Vice City’s entertainment culture makes a Lazlow reference almost inevitable. He could appear through:

• Radio shows on GTA 6’s fictional stations, continuing his tradition of on-air humiliation
• Podcast parody, fitting perfectly with how media has evolved since GTA 5
• Television or streaming platform satire, where a washed-up Lazlow tries to stay relevant in a new media landscape

Of all the characters on this list, Lazlow feels like the most natural fit for Vice City.

Characters Unlikely to Return

Some GTA 5 characters will not appear in GTA 6, simply due to how their stories ended:

• Devin Weston: killed in GTA 5’s canonical ending
• Steve Haines: dies after the final mission
• Brad Snider: confirmed dead before GTA 5’s story begins
• Johnny Klebitz: killed by Trevor early in GTA 5

Rockstar rarely revives characters with confirmed deaths in previous titles. Unless GTA 6 introduces a flashback or prequel element, these characters are closed chapters.

How Jason Duval and Lucia Fit Into the Story

The heart of GTA 6 will clearly be its two new protagonists:

• Lucia Caminos: the first female protagonist in the HD-era GTA series, and the character shown being released from prison in Trailer 1
• Jason Duval: Lucia’s partner in crime, widely theorised by fans to have a military background based on his appearance and movements in the trailer

Their story appears inspired by a Bonnie and Clyde-style criminal partnership, set against the backdrop of a fictional Florida that Rockstar has spent years building through GTA Online updates. This means returning characters will almost certainly play supporting roles at most, GTA 6’s story belongs to Jason Duval and Lucia Caminos.

We will update this article as Rockstar releases new trailers, announcements, or confirmed details about the GTA 6 cast.

However, if you want to know the specification requirements for the device, then comment below or directly check out GTA VI’s minimum system requirements. Moreover, if you want, you can also subscribe to us on YouTube.