Final Fantasy 7 Revelation Recasts Sephiroth With Critical Role CEO Travis Willingham
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Square Enix has recast Sephiroth for the final chapter of the Final Fantasy 7 remake trilogy, with Critical Role CEO Travis Willingham stepping in to voice the legendary villain for a 2027 release.
Square Enix made a massive splash during Summer Game Fest with the reveal of Final Fantasy 7 Revelation, but sharp-eared fans quickly noticed a major casting change for the final chapter of the trilogy. Tyler Hoechlin will not be returning as the iconic villain Sephiroth due to scheduling conflicts. Stepping into the silver-haired antagonist's boots is Critical Role CEO Travis Willingham, who brings a noticeably deeper timbre to the role. Director Naoki Hamaguchi confirmed the change in a post-show interview with creator Maximilian Dood, noting that Willingham will now share screen time with fellow Critical Role cast member Matthew Mercer, who voices Vincent Valentine in the project.
Recasting such a pivotal character this late in a massive trilogy is always a gamble, especially given how much narrative heavy lifting Sephiroth has to do as the story races toward its apocalypse-themed conclusion. However, Willingham is hardly a newcomer to high-profile villain and hero roles. Beyond his iconic work as Grog in The Legend of Vox Machina, his extensive resume includes voicing Thor, Superman, Lex Luthor, and Roy Mustang. Sharp-eyed fans even dug up a 2024 convention photo where Willingham posed playfully alongside a Sephiroth cosplayer, hinting that his casting may have been hiding in plain sight for quite some time.
Alongside the voice actor shakeup, the new trailer for Revelation delivered plenty of excitement for players looking forward to the trilogy's conclusion. The footage showcased massive battles against the Weapons, a first look at Vincent and Cid in action, and intriguing hints at a new class system tied to character costumes. While some players have valid debates about the pacing and open-world bloat of the previous entry, the character work remains a standout highlight. We will see if Willingham's take on the One-Winged Angel sticks the landing when Final Fantasy 7 Revelation launches in early 2027, as reported by Polygon.
Tags: Final Fantasy 7 Revelation, Square Enix, Critical Role, Travis Willingham, Gaming News
Original article: Polygon