Jennifer Hale has opened up on PlatinumGames’ controversial choice to rent her and substitute unique voice actor Hellena Taylor for Bayonetta 3, admitting, “I undoubtedly obtained thrown below the bus by that entire factor.”
Simply forward of the third instalment of Hideki Kamiya’s fashionable motion recreation collection, PlatinumGames revealed that Taylor — who voiced Bayonetta in the first two video games — wouldn’t return, and would as a substitute be portrayed by Hale.
“Numerous overlapping circumstances made it tough for Hellena Taylor to reprise her function,” Platinum stated at the time. “We held auditions to forged the new voice of Bayonetta and supplied the function to Jennifer Hale, whom we felt was a great match for the character.”
In 2022, Taylor launched a thread of movies on Twitter claiming she was supplied solely $4,000 in complete to reprise the function for Bayonetta 3. As well as, Taylor requested followers to boycott the recreation and as a substitute donate the cash they’d have spent on it to charity.
A subsequent report from Bloomberg (and later corroborated by VGC) revealed that Platinum allegedly tried to rent Taylor for 5 four-hour periods at a fee between $3,000 and $4,000 apiece. This could have put Taylor’s complete compensation for Bayonetta 3 at $15,000, a lot increased than the quantity she claimed she was supplied. Taylor then launched a brand new assertion, saying she was in actual fact supplied $15,000 for the function, however she denied points of the studies.
Hale additionally launched a statement amid elevated scrutiny and social media harassment over the scenario, though it was obscure due to non-disclosure limitations.
Now, contemplating whether or not or not she’d reprise her function as the titular witch, Hale was cautious however candid, admitting that whereas she’d “love to play Bayonetta once more,” “it was not enjoyable getting thrown below the bus like I had.”
“I undoubtedly obtained thrown below the bus by that entire factor, and I used to be unable to communicate by myself behalf as a result of I used to be below not one however two NDAs. Ultimately, I used to be allowed to make an announcement, which I appreciated, and I used to be ready to current the information,” Hale instructed GAMINGbible.
“There have been some issues stated [that were] introduced as information, however have been false. I might have by no means taken a job in any other case. Earlier than I accepted the audition, I checked all the things totally, and I belief the director. Fortunately, enjoying Bayonetta was a lot enjoyable, and the group was so welcoming to me, particularly after the fiasco had handed and the information got here out. But it was not enjoyable getting thrown below the bus like I had, however I used to be glad to come out on the different facet.”
The enduring voice behind Commander Shepard would additionally love to return for Mass Impact 5, saying she “could be there earlier than they end the sentence” if requested. Hale, the actress who gave life to “FemShep” spoke to IGN lately and expressed her need to return to maybe her most beloved character.
It seems she wouldn’t even want to reprise her function as Commander Shepard — simply having the ability to step again into that world once more in any kind would make her glad.
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Photograph by Roy Rochlin/Getty Pictures for ReedPop.
Vikki Blake is a reporter for IGN, in addition to a critic, columnist, and marketing consultant with 15+ years expertise working with a few of the world’s largest gaming websites and publications. She’s additionally a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hillian, Legend, and perpetually Excessive Chaos. Discover her at BlueSky.