Zenless Zone Zero Recasts Two Voice Actors Without Prior Notification

Emeri Chase and Nicholas Thurkettle say their roles were replaced due to their stance on AI protections and the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike.

HoYoverse's Zenless Zone Zero replaced the voices of Soldier 11 and Lycaon in its latest update, reportedly without informing the original actors beforehand.
Emeri Chase, the voice of Soldier 11, withheld work as part of a voluntary effort to support the SAG-AFTRA strike for AI protections, which she believes led to her recasting.
Nicholas Thurkettle, who voiced Lycaon and is not a SAG-AFTRA member, stated he has been available for work but took a personal stand against AI's potential misuse in the industry.
The recording studio Sound Cadence emphasized its contracts include AI protections and stated recasting decisions are not made lightly, though fans criticized the lack of communication with the actors.
The SAG-AFTRA strike, ongoing since July 2024, is centered on securing protections against the unregulated use of AI in creating voice replicas without proper consent or compensation.