VA strike of 2016-2017 have anything to do with the MK11 Re-casts?

[Vslayer]

Karen Strassman, the voice of Mileena and Kitana for MK9 and MKX said this regarding her casting in MK 11:

The strike affected many game publishers like EA and WB for over 11 months. Ashly Burch participated in the strike and wasn't re-cast as Cassie. Seitz said he wasn't even contacted for voicing Scorpion, though I didn't see if he participated in the strike or not. if it was just because of scheduling conflicts, wouldn't NRS or Boon just come out and say this? I know it's all speculation and a bit early too, but I just think this may be more than just a coincidence. Either that or it's just one big troll and they're picking different VA's for the young and older versions of characters.

Edit: Ashly's IMDB page lists MK11 in her projects. Kevin Conroy's IMDB page doesn't.

 

[BecomingDeath13]

Yeah, I am insanely bummed that Ashly isn't Cassie again. She was amazing

 

[Vslayer]

Definitely, she gave Cassie her personality and she did an amazing job.

 

[MrWarMachine]

Hmmmm, I don't think it's a coincidence that Troy Baker, the guy who publicly decried the strike, is back as Shinnok and presumably Erron Black or Fujin.

It's also worth noting that Scorpion is voiced by a Japanese dude now, maybe they just decided to cast race appropriately (IE Asian character is voiced by Asian dude etc) and some people just got the axe. Outworlders have always been portrayed as Asian so it would make sense.

 

[trufenix]

Or could it have had nothing to do with it at all?!

It shouldn't have to be said that NO ONE who wants to continue working in this industry is going to comment publically on contract / labor disputes. Please stop.

 

[CallMeTetris]

it definitely sounds like Ashly lost out on her spot if that bts trailer is anything to go by. She already lost one great role due to the strike, sad to see her replaced again.

 

[MrWarMachine]

it definitely sounds like Ashly lost out on her spot if that bts trailer is anything to go by. She already lost one great role due to the strike, sad to see her replaced again.

Are we talking Life Is Strange? Because her and Hannah came back for a special episode.

 

[CallMeTetris]

yeah, i'm still just salty she was gone for the main eps. I haven't had the heart to play farewell yet >_>

 

[Vslayer]

Or could it have had nothing to do with it at all?!

It shouldn't have to be said that NO ONE who wants to continue working in this industry is going to comment publically on contract / labor disputes. Please stop.

As I said, it's all speculation. It's just weird that Karen commented that it was because of political reasons. Patrick was surprised when MK11 was announced and it's kind of shady to not contact someone who's been with the franchise for 10 years to tell them they're going with someone else. That's just me.

 

[Xelz]

Hmmmm, I don't think it's a coincidence that Troy Baker, the guy who publicly decried the strike, is back as Shinnok and presumably Erron Black or Fujin.

It's also worth noting that Scorpion is voiced by a Japanese dude now, maybe they just decided to cast race appropriately (IE Asian character is voiced by Asian dude etc) and some people just got the axe. Outworlders have always been portrayed as Asian so it would make sense.

I probably misread an article, but isn't Kevin Conroy voicing Scorpion now?

 

[MrWarMachine]

I probably misread an article, but isn't Kevin Conroy voicing Scorpion now?

He sounds nothing like Kevin Conroy, and if it is, NRS will have a much bigger problem on their hands for having a white dude do a fake Asian accent. They didn't even have Sub-Zero do that and Steve Blum is probably the most recognizable VA of all time.

The leak your referencing took stuff from a different leak that came out prior, that's why they nailed the Ronda, Geras, and Kronika stuff but missed on a lot of other things. They didn't even have Baraka and Scarlet in their roster.

 

[Vslayer]

Yeah, apparently Conroy voicing Scorpion is still a rumor but I guess we'll know when they announce the whole cast.

 

[Xelz]

He sounds nothing like Kevin Conroy, and if it is, NRS will have a much bigger problem on their hands for having a white dude do a fake Asian accent. They didn't even have Sub-Zero do that and Steve Blum is probably the most recognizable VA of all time.

The leak your referencing took stuff from a different leak that came out prior, that's why they nailed the Ronda, Geras, and Kronika stuff but missed on a lot of other things. They didn't even have Baraka and Scarlet in their roster.

You're right, it's just a leak. I was wondering why Scorpion sounded nothing like Conroy

Of course, Conroy is talented enough that he could sound completely different for Scoprion, like how Epcar pulled off Joker in I2.

 

[pure.Wasted]

You're right, it's just a leak. I was wondering why Scorpion sounded nothing like Conroy

Of course, Conroy is talented enough that he could sound completely different for Scoprion, like how Epcar pulled off Joker in I2.

I dunno if I'd say that Epcar sounded COMPLETELY different. But maybe that's because I've been listening to him what feels like my entire life.

I did like the performance though , it grew on me.

 

[DDustiNN]

He sounds nothing like Kevin Conroy, and if it is, NRS will have a much bigger problem on their hands for having a white dude do a fake Asian accent. They didn't even have Sub-Zero do that and Steve Blum is probably the most recognizable VA of all time.

The leak your referencing took stuff from a different leak that came out prior, that's why they nailed the Ronda, Geras, and Kronika stuff but missed on a lot of other things. They didn't even have Baraka and Scarlet in their roster.

Well, that’s the beauty of voice ACTING... if you’re good, it can be believable. I mean, I was shocked when I found out, after playing it, that Troy Baker played The Joker in Arkham Origins instead of Mark Hamill. And that Nolan North (Nathan Drake) played the Penguin in Arkham Knight. Didn’t even recognize either one of them! So that’s good voice acting.

Why do people get so upset about “having a white dude do a fake Asian accent” but no one bats an eye when an adult female voices a 10-year-old boy (Bart Simpson)?

If the voice fits the part, let it be.

 

[ImperatrixSindel]

On the surface it does look like the people who went on strike are being punished by WB -- but Steve Blum was a major spokesman for the strike, and he's definitely back, so it may be a coincidence (or perhaps they just decided he was too big to fire).

 

[MrWarMachine]

Why do people get so upset about “having a white dude do a fake Asian accent” but no one bats an eye when an adult female voices a 10-year-old boy (Bart Simpson)?

If the voice fits the part, let it be.

Because an adult pretending to be a 10-year old on an adult cartoon show is different than a White dude doing a fake Asian accent.

What part about him fits? Do you think a Japanese-American dude wouldn't be stoked to play Scorpion or something? No not every Asian person wants to be associated with martial arts or vaguely eastern horseshit, but some would rather they do it than have a White guy fake being an Asian person. It would be like a white person voicing a Black character who speaks AAVE, no not every Black person speaks like that, but why wouldn't you cast someone who does?

 

[pure.Wasted]

Phil Lamarr (Kotal Kahn) voices Aquaman despite being black and I've never seen anyone complain about that, either. (Though I'm sure there are corners of the internet where that would be put to the test.)

I think in an ideal world, it wouldn't matter what ethnicity someone is, the performance would stand alone. But because ethnic actors have historically been snubbed out of roles that should by rights go to them, never even mind "generic" roles that could go to anyone (but rarely do in practice) we're still equalizing the playing field. Unfortunate but it is what it is.

 

[ImperatrixSindel]

Why do people get so upset about “having a white dude do a fake Asian accent” but no one bats an eye when an adult female voices a 10-year-old boy (Bart Simpson)?

If the voice fits the part, let it be.

Because white people doing imitations of other races for entertainment has a long and ugly history. Those aren't equivalent things.

 

[Sage Leviathan]

Why do people get so upset about “having a white dude do a fake Asian accent” but no one bats an eye when an adult female voices a 10-year-old boy (Bart Simpson)?

If the voice fits the part, let it be.

Because it's artistically inauthentic and usually (but not always, of course) racist.

*It's important to note that Yeardley Smith and Bart Simpson are both Caucasian Americans. Same reason Veronica Taylor can voice ten year old Ash Ketchum. He's a Japanese boy presented to an American audience... without an accent.

Have you ever heard a white person say the word 'nigga' in casual conversation? It can be quite uncomfortable.

Otherwise I would agree.

 

[Jhonnykiller45]

Kevin Conroy is not voicing Scorpion in Mortal Kombat 11, period. Seriously.
No, I don't think NRS and even more so Ed Boon would bother to come out and speak about that. I don't think they even can.
About the VA strike, I doubt that has too much to do with the casting choices for MK11, but if actually does or did, it's not something to be too concerned about. It's definitely a bummer to lose some iconic voices (I'll miss Patrick Seitz) but it's not the first time and won't be the last time this has happened.

 

[DDustiNN]

Because an adult pretending to be a 10-year old on an adult cartoon show is different than a White dude doing a fake Asian accent.

What part about him fits? Do you think a Japanese-American dude wouldn't be stoked to play Scorpion or something? No not every Asian person wants to be associated with martial arts or vaguely eastern horseshit, but some would rather they do it than have a White guy fake being an Asian person. It would be like a white person voicing a Black character who speaks AAVE, no not every Black person speaks like that, but why wouldn't you cast someone who does?

Did a Japanese-American dude audition to play Scorpion and get denied?

Were people upset about Patrick Seitz not being Japanese enough to voice Scorpion? Or what about Kratos not being voiced by a white guy?

I’m sure they generally choose voice actors based on voice, rather than skin color. But more importantly, they would certainly only be able to choose between people who actually lined up for the part, displayed the desired talent, and whose schedules aligned with development. I mean they can only work with what they’re given. You can’t just magically conjure someone of every ethnicity whenever you need a specific voice actor. But that’s the beauty of voice acting... and acting in general... being able to be something you’re not.

 

[DDustiNN]

Because it's artistically inauthentic and usually (but not always, of course) racist.

*It's important to note that Yeardley Smith and Bart Simpson are both Caucasian Americans. Same reason Veronica Taylor can voice ten year old Ash Ketchum. He's a Japanese boy presented to an American audience... without an accent.

Have you ever heard a white person say the word 'nigga' in casual conversation? It can be quite uncomfortable.

Otherwise I would agree.

Is it equally artistically inauthentic and racist for a black guy to voice Kratos? Or Aquaman?

And my opinion is that the N-word is uncomfortable in any conversation, no matter the skin color.

 

[MrWarMachine]

Or what about Kratos not being voiced by a white guy?

That and Aquaman are two (technically 3 since they cast Christopher Judge in GoW PS4), compared to the hundreds of examples of that happening to Asian and Black people in media. And to be fair, it is weird.

For the record, I'm merely pointing out a possible reason why they could have re-cast these actors, that does have to do with "politics" but doesn't necessarily mean they are punishing people for speaking out in the voice acting strike.

And no, it was not a controversy 4 years ago when this game came out, but times have changed a bit and people are definitely more on that shit now. Ed Skrien dropped his role in Hellboy 2019 for the same reason. MK has always responded to the changing of the times without having to be told. They never got in trouble or "canceled" for the sexy characters in MK9 and INJ, they just changed the character models to be more practical and poked fun at themselves.

Why wouldn't they change with the times again?

EDIT: it's also worth noting, that Patrick didn't play Scorpion with an accent, and this actor clearly has a Japanese accent. That is where the distinction lies. It's part of the reason why I like Steve Blum playing Sub-Zero, but think having him do Bo Rai Cho's Chinese accent is in poor taste.

 

[DDustiNN]

That and Aquaman are two (technically 3 since they cast Christopher Judge in GoW PS4), compared to the hundreds of examples of that happening to Asian and Black people in media. And to be fair, it is weird.

For the record, I'm merely pointing out a possible reason why they could have re-cast these actors, that does have to do with "politics" but doesn't necessarily mean they are punishing people for speaking out in the voice acting strike.

And no, it was not a controversy 4 years ago when this game came out, but times have changed a bit and people are definitely more on that shit now. Ed Skrien dropped his role in Hellboy 2019 for the same reason. MK has always responded to the changing of the times without having to be told. They never got in trouble or "canceled" for the sexy characters in MK9 and INJ, they just changed the character models to be more practical and poked fun at themselves.

Why wouldn't they change with the times again?

EDIT: it's also worth noting, that Patrick didn't play Scorpion with an accent, and this actor clearly has a Japanese accent. That is where the distinction lies. It's part of the reason why I like Steve Blum playing Sub-Zero, but think having him do Bo Rai Cho's Chinese accent is in poor taste.

I like the points you make. I guess I just hate the new trend of companies bending to social justice for the sake of saying they bent to social justice. I feel like it’s ruining more things than it’s helping. And most often, it’s not even the minorities doing the complaining.

I feel like I’ve derailed this thread and I should stop. My apologies.