Many striking actors are coming back to voice beloved characters in Genshin Impact.
While the SAG-AFTRA Interactive Video Game Strike is now finally over, Genshin Impact fans have yet to breathe a sigh of relief. As initially reported and confirmed by Diluc’s voice actor Sean Chiplock, the collective work refusal is still in place until HoYoverse flips to the union and includes AI protections in its contracts.
But since it is a collective work refusal, actors aren’t forbidden from returning to their roles in Genshin Impact. A few have already announced their returns, a handful have expressed intent on going back once invited, while others are not planning on coming back. Here are the voice actors for Genshin Impact’s English dub and whether or not they’re coming back:
Confirmed returning voice actors
Zach Aguilar - Aether
Zach Aguilar confirmed on an X (formerly Twitter) post that he is returning to Genshin Impact as main character Aether in future versions, as there had been some scheduling conflicts for Version 5.7.
Sarah Miller-Crews - Lumine
Similarly, Sarah Miller-Crews, who voiced Lumine, replied to Aguilar’s post, confirming her return to the game, although she did not explicitly state which version update she will return to. Lumine is currently voiceless in the Version 5.7 Archon Quest.
Brianna Knickerbocker - Hu Tao
Brianna Knickerbocker confirmed on a post to her official X (formerly Twitter) account that she’s returning to voice Hu Tao, although for which version update is still up in the air.
Erika Harlacher-Stone - Venti
Erika Harlacher-Stone was one of the first voice actors to return to Genshin Impact, featuring recorded voice lines in the Version 5.7 update. Previously, Harlacher-Stone alleged that she had been receiving ‘threatening letters’ from SAG-AFTRA when she was negotiating to return to her role.
Dina Sherman - Diona
Dina Sherman confirmed an appearance in a Genshin Impact-themed fan convention in Texas, which fans have seen as proof that she is not being replaced as Diona.
Expressed intent to return
Christian Banas - Thoma
Christian Banas confirmed that he has formally expressed his intent to record voice lines for Thoma, but the studio is yet to get back to him to affirm whether or not he gets to keep the role after the collective work refusal.
Laila Berzins - Xiao
When questioned on TikTok whether or not they were a part of the work refusal, Laila Berzins stated that they plan on returning to voicing Xiao when they are needed.
Robb Moreira - Mika
Robb Moreira, who voices Mika, stated in a reply to his post on X that he is more than glad to return to the role when HoYoverse asks him to. Here’s to hoping they do!
Is set on not returning or have aired negative sentiments
Shara Kirby - Candace
Shara Kirby did a number of posts on her official BlueSky account during the peak of the Kinich recast controversy airing out her anger about the situation, which ended up with Kirby cursing at HoYoverse and swearing not to return to her role as Candace, entreating the studio to recast her.
Valeria Rodriguez - Sucrose
Although Valeria Rodriguez is yet to confirm or deny that they are not returning to Genshin Impact, backlash from their sentiments raised against the Kinich recast has led them to release a statement confirming that they are unapologetic for their actions. It is important to note that Rodriguez still mentions their role as Sucrose in their X bio.
Unsure of returning as there have been no statements released
These voice actors have not made any statement confirming or denying that they will ever return to voice their characters in Genshin Impact:
- Stephanie Southerland - Jean
- Kelly Baskin - Amber
- Laura Faye Smith - Noelle
- Laura Stahl - Barbara and Xinyan
- Mara Junot - Lisa
- Felecia Angelle - Mona
- Griffin Burns - Tartaglia
- Khoi Dao - Albedo
- Brittany Cox - Fischl
- Josey Montana McCoy - Kaeya
- Cristina Valenzuela - Bennett
- Erin Ebers -Ningguang
- Allegra Clark - Beidou
- Beau Bridgland - Chongyun
- Cristina Vee Valenzuela - Xingqiu
- Christie Cate - Qiqi
- Poonam Basu - Klee
- Keith Silverstein - Zhongli
- Jennifer Losi - Ganyu
- Elizabeth Maxwell - Rosaria
- Lizzie Freeman - Yanfei
- Mark Whitten - Kaedehara Kazuha
- Jenny Yokobori - Yoimiya
- Jeannie Tirado - Kujou Sara
- Risa Mei - Sangonomiya Kokomi
- Max Mittelman - Arataki Itto
- Cory Yee - Gorou
- Chelsea Kwoka - Shenhe
- Judy Alice Lee - Yun Jjin
- Chris Hackney - Kamisato Ayato
- Laura Post - Yelan
- Kira Buckland - Kuki Shinobu
- Zachary Gordon - Tighnari
- Christian Costello - Collei
- Anjali Kunapaneni - Dori
- Dani Chambers - Nilou
- Kimberly Anne Campbell - Nahida
- Ashely Biski - Layla
- Chandni Parekh - Faruzan
- Nazeeh Tarsha - Al Haitham
- Kelsey Jaffer - Yaoyao
- Amber May - Dehya
- Ben Balmaceda - Kaveh
- Julia Gu - Kirara
- Anairis Quinones - Lynette
- Maya Aoki Tuttle - Charlotte
- Brenna Larsen - Navia
- Erica Lindbeck - Chevreuse
- Stephanie Panisello - Xianyun
- Caleb Yen - Gaming
- Erin Yvette - Arlecchino
- Crystal Lee- Clorinde
- Zeno Robinson - Sethos
- Sarah Anne Williams - Sigewinne
- Paul Castro Jr. - Freminet
- Joe Zieja - Wriothesley
- Amber Aviles - Emilie
Continuing to participate in the collective work refusal
Sean Chiplock - Diluc
Sean Chiplock released a statement to his official BlueSky account stating that the collective work refusal is still in effect, and, in a separate reply, confirmed that he is still uncomfortable doing voice work unless AI protections are implemented.
Removed from the game
Corina Boettger - Paimon
Corina Boettger was replaced in Version 5.7 after spending five years as the voice actor for the iconic Genshin Impact mascot Paimon. Boettger initially revealed that they had begun to withhold services to the game after John Patneaude’s recast back in March.
Kayli Mills - Keqing
Kayli Mills was also replaced in Version 5.7, with the reason being conflicts in schedule as she alleged on an X post.
John Patneaude - Kinich
The first to be recast during the height of the controversial collective work refusal, John Patneaude released a statement on X stating that his withholding of services was one of the primary reasons that he was let go from the role of Kinich. He was replaced by Jacob Takanashi.