Atlus has unveiled several of the new actors who'll provide the English voices of Persona 4 Revival's iconic characters, and the cast seems to know exactly how big the shoes they're stepping into are. The new actors have taken to social media to celebrate the news and pay tribute to the OGs, and at least one of the original actors is happily passing the torch to her replacement.
Brianna Knickerbocker will take on the role of Yukiko Amagi in Persona 4 Revival. She describes this as an "absolute bucket list dream role" on Twitter, promising fans that "we all poured so much love into this story/game. You all are going to LOVE it."
Among the people already certain to love it? Amanda Winn Lee, who voiced Yukiko in the original game. "This is fantastic news," Lee exclaims in her own tweet. "Brianna is an absolute doll and I know she will rock this role and it's ridiculous laugh! Have fun, gorgeous!!"
The Persona 4 characters are uniquely beloved, even among the intense world of JRPG fandom, and for many players in the West these personalities are inseparable from the English voices who previously brought them to life.
"I know how much this series and specifically this title means to Persona fans, so I just want you all to know the immeasurable amount of care and consideration that went into the recording of this game," says Paul Castro Jr, who's taking over the role of Yosuke Hanamura. "I can only hope to capture some of what made Yosuke so special to so many people, while bringing my own voice to the role."
As for Ari Thrash, who's taking over Marie from Eden Riegel, she says "I know most of you will miss the OG Marie’s voice and I can’t/won’t blame you for that (she slays), the OGs are iconic!! But– for every new persona fan and old, I sincerely hope you’ll enjoy my interpretation of her."
Funnily enough, Thrash tweeted way back in 2024 that if Persona 4 were to ever get a full remake with a new cast "and they give the characters other VA’s I would love the chance to try out [for] Rise or Nanako. This is hardcore manifestation." That manifestation did end up working, in a way, though Marie wasn't on her radar at the time. "I had never played Golden so I didn’t know who Marie was," she explains.
"My cast and I stand on the shoulders of giants," according to Nazeeh Tarsha, who's taking over the role of the protagonist from Johnny Yong Bosch. "We all grew up on monumental and iconic performances and the amount of respect we have toward our predecessors cannot be overstated. Truthfully I know that this news comes to the chagrin of many and I would be lying if I said I haven't been nervous about this reveal. I want to make it clear that I see myself solely as an iteration. Johnny will forever be my and many people's GOAT and I can only hope to aspire to his greatness. I did my best to do right by both him as well as the fandom."
These roles have clearly meant a lot to the actors who've taken them on over the years. Chie actor Erin Fitzgerald, who herself replaced OG actor Tracey Rooney for Persona 4 Golden, said she was "deeply grieving" losing the role for Revival. Here's hoping the new cast can live up to the precedent set by those who've come before.
You can't make a list of the best JRPGs without at least one Persona game.
