Graha Voice Actor Change?

[Dawnrie]

All I can say is I hope it's a combination of having a terrible setup and being sick that his voicework in 7.4 was so inconsistent, because he sounded so off. There were lines that sounded like someone was impersonating Jonathan Bailey, and others sounded more true to form. Just a weird roller coaster for my ears this patch that drove me crazy.

Jonathan Bailey makes G'raha Tia for me. He has done a spectacular job since Shadowbringers, and honestly, one of the few reasons why I'm still playing this game. If SE is replacing him without notice because of budgeting reasons, a lot of people are going to be incredibly disappointed. Replacing him would be a huge mistake.

SE, I beg. Please don't replace Jonathan Bailey.

[mildlymoonstruck]

I do agree that this isn't Bailey's fault in the slightest, but one thing where I would see merit in reaching out to him (if at all possible — he's notoriously extremely offline) is in the possibility that Square Enix recast him without notifying him at all. If anyone has been around enough and familiar with the Tales series, you might remember that Troy Baker voiced the main character in Tales of Vesperia, Yuri, and was replaced when the game's definitive edition was released in English. People were assuming it was because Baker had become too popular for Tales, but he later revealed he was never approached about doing additional lines/scenes at all, and voiced that he was gutted over it, because he loves the character and would have jumped at the chance to play him again.

The possibility of the same happening to Bailey does exist, and upsets me immensely to even think about. If he's not been made aware, he deserves to know.

I wasn't familiar, but this is such a horrifying yet plausible possibility that I'm honestly gutted. To me, Jonathan Bailey's performance made the character every bit as much as the writing did. I really don't have the words for how disgusting it would be if Square Enix pulled something as underhanded as this. They need to clarify what's happened immediately.

[Sui-Kune]

I do agree that this isn't Bailey's fault in the slightest, but one thing where I would see merit in reaching out to him (if at all possible — he's notoriously extremely offline) is in the possibility that Square Enix recast him without notifying him at all. If anyone has been around enough and familiar with the Tales series, you might remember that Troy Baker voiced the main character in Tales of Vesperia, Yuri, and was replaced when the game's definitive edition was released in English. People were assuming it was because Baker had become too popular for Tales, but he later revealed he was never approached about doing additional lines/scenes at all, and voiced that he was gutted over it, because he loves the character and would have jumped at the chance to play him again.

The possibility of the same happening to Bailey does exist, and upsets me immensely to even think about. If he's not been made aware, he deserves to know.

I'm not sure how many realise this anymore, since it was from back in 2006, but this exact thing actually happened to the Pokemon series. The *entire* cast was recast without any warning, and they had no recourse either since this was before social media and all we fans could do to voice our displeasure were mail campaigns and internet forums. And of course the actors themselves were gutted about it, and many still are to this day. (And to add insult to injury, they kept all previous creature voices in the bank so to speak, so they were "kept on" as the Pokemon but presumably without any royalties.)

If this happened to Bailey and this isn't a temporary solution that they will have him go back in to re-record the lines, I feel for him. Famous or not, he clearly loves the role and wouldn't voluntarily step away from it. (And I do hope he's getting the rest he needs, no one needs to overwork themselves to death.) I mean, hells, it's not like they haven't used famous actors before; Ardbert was voiced by Joe Dempsie [Gendry of Game of Thrones fame] off the top of my head, and Final Fantasy XVI has Ralph frickin' Ineson as Cid! So it'd be a piss-poor excuse if budget is a concern. (And frankly, VAs in general are paid pennies in the west as it is, pay them more if anything!)

So yeah, if this is a conscious and meant to be perma-recast, toss my hat in as a fan who wants Bailey back, or even just the damned *choice.*

[Wasselin]

I'm not sure how many realise this anymore, since it was from back in 2006, but this exact thing actually happened to the Pokemon series. The *entire* cast was recast without any warning, and they had no recourse either since this was before social media and all we fans could do to voice our displeasure were mail campaigns and internet forums. And of course the actors themselves were gutted about it, and many still are to this day. (And to add insult to injury, they kept all previous creature voices in the bank so to speak, so they were "kept on" as the Pokemon but presumably without any royalties.)

If this happened to Bailey and this isn't a temporary solution that they will have him go back in to re-record the lines, I feel for him. Famous or not, he clearly loves the role and wouldn't voluntarily step away from it. (And I do hope he's getting the rest he needs, no one needs to overwork themselves to death.) I mean, hells, it's not like they haven't used famous actors before; Ardbert was voiced by Joe Dempsie [Gendry of Game of Thrones fame] off the top of my head, and Final Fantasy XVI has Ralph frickin' Ineson as Cid! So it'd be a piss-poor excuse if budget is a concern. (And frankly, VAs in general are paid pennies in the west as it is, pay them more if anything!)

So yeah, if this is a conscious and meant to be perma-recast, toss my hat in as a fan who wants Bailey back, or even just the damned *choice.*

Joe Dempsie is a star, but nowhere near the level of fame, and presumably salary that Jonathan Bailey likely now commands. Jonathan Bailey is a movie star now.

I hope he continues as Graha but even if he loves it, this is a job for him and I understand if he moves on since he can now make more than Square Enix is willing to pay for voice acting in FFXIV.

I really don't think the work in this patch sounds like Jonathan Bailey, so I hope if it is him, that he is able to re-record it. If he has been recast they better at least try to find someone a little bit closer to his voice and performance because this didn't sound like Graha at all to me.

[PinkSorrel]

SQE should make a statement already. People's worry has been really souring this patch. (And I understand that, my wish to play HSR disappeared after all of the sudden recasts)
Really hoping that was just the result of weird voice direction. DT has had lots of these.

[Mary_Benedictus]

I do wonder myself if it’s a temporary recast, sound quality or something else. I hope it’s addressed soon.

[paradisea]

Doubt that Bailey can ever get more busy than when he was recording Bridgerton, Wicked and Jurassic Park, all of which finished filming last year at the latest. If he made time to come back as G'raha when he was that busy, I don't see what could possibly have stopped him from coming back for this patch, seeing as it's unlikely 7.4 was recorded more than a year in advance. If he didn't come back, I'm placing my bets that the issue lies with Square Enix.

Personally, I do very much mind a recast, as do many others. Jonathan Bailey makes G'raha Tia for me. If Square Enix gives up on him after he's given his all in this role for seven years, I'll be extremely upset and disappointed.

[claustromania]

Doubt that Bailey can ever get more busy than when he was recording Bridgerton, Wicked and Jurassic Park, all of which finished filming last year at the latest. If he made time to come back as G'raha when he was that busy, I don't see what could possibly have stopped him from coming back for this patch, seeing as it's unlikely 7.4 was recorded more than a year in advance. If he didn't come back, I'm placing my bets that the issue lies with Square Enix.

He did star as the leading role in Richard II earlier this year, Feb thru May, doing something like seven or eight shows a week. If it is in fact JB in 7.4 and his lines were recorded during that period, that could explain why his voice sounds so wrecked and the sound quality is shot (recording on the go). He mentioned that his performance in Company was the reason for his swollen tongue issues back in that BAFTA interview last year, and that wasn't even a leading role. Or, if it isn't JB, it might explain why they had a stand-in this patch that is hopefully temporary.

[paradisea]

He did star as the leading role in Richard II earlier this year, Feb thru May, doing something like seven or eight shows a week. If it is in fact JB in 7.4 and his lines were recorded during that period, that could explain why his voice sounds so wrecked and the sound quality is shot (recording on the go). He mentioned that his performance in Company was the reason for his swollen tongue issues back in that BAFTA interview last year, and that wasn't even a leading role. Or, if it isn't JB, it might explain why they had a stand-in this patch that is hopefully temporary.

I'm aware of his work in Richard II, but the thing is, even he had his tongue inflamed and swollen because of his work in Company, he at most sounded lispy, not like an entire different person. Raha's voice lines in 7.4 do not sound like Bailey with a sickness, they sound like someone else entirely — or like Bailey mysteriously being directed to do an entirely different voice and inflection for Raha.

If it was Bailey, the voice lines are bad enough to warrant a rerecording. If it wasn't Bailey, we deserve to know why and if it's temporary. And if it's not temporary, we deserve to know why they'd chose to part ways with him now of all times, when he's less busy than he was when he still came back to record for 7.0 through 7.3.