Critical Role's Matt Mercer confirmed in an FFVII Rebirth panel at NYCC 2023 that he will be voicing Vincent Valentine. Learn more about how he got the role, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth's English cast, and Mercer's notable roles.
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Matt Mercer Secures Vincent Valentine's Role From Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
Revealed at NYCC 2023
During a Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Panel at New York Comic Con 2023, acclaimed voice actor Matt Mercer confirmed that he had been cast in the highly anticipated Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. Before taking on the role of Vincent Valentine, Mercer provided voices for several NPCs in the Final Fantasy 7 Remake, notably the Vigo, a wall market thug.
Mercer hosted the Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth panel, which featured the game's English cast. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth's English cast features a fantastic list, including:
● Cloud Strife - Cody Christian
● Barret Wallace - John Eric Bentley
● Tifa Lockheart - Britt Baron
● Red XIII - Max Mittelman
● Yuffie Kisaragi - Suzie Yeung
● Vincent Valentine - Matt Mercer
● Aerith Gainsborough - Brianna White
Addressed Social Media Speculations
In response to speculations circulating on social media, Mercer announced that he would not be reprising his role as Vigo, the gangster, but would instead play the iconic Vincent Valentine. The statement was greeted by enthusiastic applause from the audience.
Mercer sought the blessing of the original Vincent Valentine voice actor, Steve Blum, before ultimately adopting the part. Blum declared that Mercer had his full support and that he was the only candidate he would prefer to succeed Vincent.
Vincent Valentine is a popular character among fans of the Final Fantasy series known for his mysterious personality, dark past, and powerful abilities. He first appeared as an optional playable character in the original Final Fantasy VII, released in 1997. He is also the protagonist of the spin-off game Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII, released in 2006. He was also seen in Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, who helped Cloud while fighting Kadaj and his brothers.
How He Got The Role
When Mercer recalled his audition for the part of Valentine in Rebirth, he said he gave the act his all. But after nine months of waiting, he got a callback informing him that he would once more provide voice overs for anonymous NPCs.
He was asked into the recording studio to voice lines for a random Nibelheim youngster in a twist Mercer described as a brilliant prank by the game's producers. To his surprise, Vincent Valentine suddenly appeared as the script display glitched and went completely dark. Mercer discovered he had landed the role at that pivotal moment.
Matt Mercer's Notable Roles
In addition to his work in Final Fantasy, Mercer has voiced many well-known characters, including Ganondorf from The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Levi Ackerman from Attack on Titan, Trafalgar Law from One Piece, Kurtis Stryker from Mortal Kombat 9, and Leon S. Kennedy from Resident Evil 6.
Mercer is praised for his work as the dungeon master on the hugely popular Dungeons & Dragons web series Critical Role and his contributions to the gaming and anime fields. His multifaceted talent and commitment have left an enduring impression on the entertainment business.
Source:
NYCC 2023 Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Panel
