Two more Zenless Zone Zero roles have been recast without the actors’ knowledge.
In a recent update, Zenless Zone Zero allegedly replaced voice actors without their consent. This happens alongside the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike, which is affecting the English localization of HoYoverse titles like ZZZ, Honkai Star Rail, and Genshin Impact.
Soldier 11, Lycaon voice actors speak out
Emeri Chase took to X, previously known as Twitter, to send a message to Zenless Zone Zero players about Soldier 11's recasting. "I was replaced as Soldier 11 because I am unwilling to perform work not covered by a SAG Interim Agreement during a strike for AI protections, the outcome of which will determine the future of our industry," said Chase.
She gave a brief summary of the situation. The SAG-AFTRA voice actor strike is happening to protect the actors' rights against AI. Due to this, Chase says that "many actors are choosing to voluntarily withhold work on [projects which do not offer the Union-enforced AI rights] because we feel it is the best way to support the Union's fight for the protections that are critical to our continued ability to create the art we love."
"I knew that by withholding work it was possible I'd be replaced, though of course I hoped they would choose to leave her silent until I was able to return. I found out the role was recast today alongside all of you," she added. "I loved working on ZZZ & would have been thrilled to return to the project post-strike or with an Interim Agreement. But I stand by my choices regardless of the outcome. All my best wishes to the cast and the production team. Thank you for a great ride proxies."
Lycaon's voice actor, Nicholas Thurkettle, seems to be on the same boat, although his two posts on X cause some confusion and have some inconsistencies.
On one post, he says he was blindsided by the recast and was not communicated to by either HoYoverse or Sound Cadence, the recording studio. He says he has been fully available to work the past few months.
On another post, Thurkettle quoted Chase's post and says that, while he isn't part of the union himself, he "took a personal stand to ask for protection and had to be willing to give up the best thing that's ever happened in my professional life."
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Voice roles in HoYoverse
Lycaon and Soldier 11 have both been silent in the English voiceover in the past few updates. Their substantially big roles in the Zenless Zone Zero version 1.6 update may have been what prompted the recast for both characters in particular.
This is also not the first time ZZZ or HoYoverse have swapped voice actors due to the strike. For ZZZ, Soukaku's voice actor has been changed twice, while other titles like Honkai Star Rail also had to recast or, in Genshin Impact's case, keep the characters silent even if they have a big role to play.
Stick around esports.gg for more Zenless Zone Zero news and guides.
