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Gaming

Sephiroth Gets New Voice for Final Fantasy 7 Finale

Emily Chen 0 comments 8 min read
Sephiroth Gets New Voice for Final Fantasy 7 Finale

Square Enix has swapped out the English voice of one of gaming's most iconic villains as it barrels toward the conclusion of its Final Fantasy 7 remake trilogy. Director Naoki Hamaguchi confirmed that Tarvis Willingham will take over as Sephiroth in Final Fantasy 7 Revelation, replacing Tyler Hoechlin who voiced the One-Winged Angel across the previous two entries.

The announcement came during a conversation between Hamaguchi and YouTube personality Maximilian Dood, just hours after Summer Game Fest 2026 unveiled Revelation's first gameplay trailer. Viewers immediately picked up on the shift: Willingham's version of Sephiroth carries a lower, grittier tone than what fans heard in Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Rebirth.

Hoechlin's departure was practical rather than creative. The actor became unavailable during development, forcing Square Enix to find a replacement for the climactic chapter. Willingham brings substantial pedigree to the role. His voice work spans animation, live-action television, and gaming. He voiced Knuckles in Sonic Boom, lent his talents to Critical Role's acclaimed Dungeons and Dragons series, and played Roy Mustang in Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. His Marvel work includes Thor across multiple projects, and he has prior experience within the Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts franchises.

The recast does mark a notable shift. Hoechlin had become the consistent voice of Sephiroth across the expanded remake universe, handling not only the two mainline games but also Crisis Core: Final Fantasy Reunion and Final Fantasy 7: The First Soldier. Fans who invested across those titles will hear a different performance as the trilogy concludes.

Fan reaction remains to be seen. Some players may bristle at losing continuity with Hoechlin's interpretation just as the narrative reaches its climax. Others may embrace Willingham's fresh take on the character. The industry will get more chances to judge the performance as Square Enix reveals additional footage in the months ahead.

Final Fantasy 7 Revelation launches simultaneously across PC via Steam and Epic Games Store, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S in spring 2027. Square Enix has held firm on that window without committing to a specific date.

Author Emily Chen: "Swapping voice actors this late in a trilogy is always risky, especially with a character as central as Sephiroth, but Willingham's track record suggests he can carry the weight."

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