Fans React with Disappointment as Final Fantasy 7 Reveals New Actor for Sephiroth Role

Sephiroth is set to have a new voice in Final Fantasy VII Revelation. The final installment of Square Enix’s remake trilogy will feature a different actor for the iconic villain, as Tyler Hoechlin, who voiced the One-Winged Angel in both Remake and Rebirth, was unavailable during the production of this third game, according to director Naoki Hamaguchi.

When Revelation was first shown at Summer Game Fest, some fans quickly noticed that Sephiroth’s English voice sounded different. Initially, there were speculations about a potential dubbing issue, but Hamaguchi later confirmed in an interview that Hoechlin would not reprise his role due to scheduling conflicts, without providing further details.

Two observations from the FF7 Revelation trailer stood out:

1) Sephiroth’s final line in Japanese pays homage to the Edge of Creation scene where he tells Cloud, “the future is up to you.”
2) Did they change Sephiroth’s English voice actor?

Instead, Travis Willingham will take over as Sephiroth’s English voice in Revelation. Willingham is known for voicing Thor and Doctor Doom in Marvel Rivals, and he has also lent his voice to characters in Square Enix’s Kingdom Hearts series, as well as in various English anime dubs like Fullmetal Alchemist (Roy Mustang) and One Piece (Portgas D. Ace).

This late change has left some fans feeling disappointed. One expressed their heartbreak over the new English voice actor, saying, “Man, what a bummer…I was looking forward to his performance.” There’s also been some confusion, as many noted Hoechlin’s continued presence at conventions promoting his role in the games. One user humorously remarked, “Tyler Hoechlin is not employed enough to not be available for this.”

While not everyone was a fan of Hoechlin’s portrayal of Sephiroth, with some finding it too cool and detached, others see this as an opportunity for a fresh take on the character as the trilogy wraps up. Unlike Hoechlin, who has a background in screen acting, Willingham primarily focuses on voice work. Personally, I played the first two games with subtitles and will likely continue that approach for Revelation.