PlatinumGames confirmed that Helena Taylor – the voice of Bayonetta in the first two games, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and animated movie Bayonetta: a bloody fate She will not reprise her role in Bayonetta 3.
Speaking to Game Informer, director Yusuke Miyata explained how “various overlapping circumstances” mean Taylor is unable to return for a third outing. The company conducted auditions for casting, and so Jennifer Hill scored the role. Here’s the full explanation (via Nintendo Everything):
Various intervening circumstances made it difficult for Helena Taylor to reprise her role. We auditioned for Bayonetta’s new voice and pitched the role to Jennifer Hale, which we felt was a good match for the character. I understand some fans’ concerns about changing the voice at this point in the series, but Jennifer’s performance was far beyond what we could have imagined. I am confident that her portrayal of Bionetta will exceed the expectations of our fans.”
Jennifer Hill has had an incredibly successful career thus far, doing sound recordings for all kinds of games. She may also be best known for her role as Shepard’s lead in the Mass Effect series, which most recently returned as Mass Effect: Legendary Edition in May of last year. For Nintendo fans, she also voiced Samus Aran in the three major Metroid Prime games.
You can hear it in action in the trailer below and hear more in a restricted YouTube trailer.
Helena Taylor first hinted that she might not reprise the role of Bayonetta in September of last year. Another fun fact – VA of Bayonetta in the Japanese version of Bayonetta 3 is still voiced by Atsuko Tanaka.
How do you feel about this change in the English version of Bayonetta 3? Comment below.
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