Zeratul's Voice Actor

Okay everyone knows that the original SC had some insane voice acting. With all this interest on Kerrigan and Raynor right now, I'm pretty surprised that no one has brought up Zeratul's voice acting.

Here's a clip of Zeratul in SC
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iQ89fr1ROc

Compare it to his new voice in SC2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Or_-j...221D9E&index=3

If you asked me, Blizzard just killed Zeratul. Instead of being the dark and powerful warrior he once was he now seems like some old man trying to help some young hero, which totally kills him. I think I read that Zeratul's original voice actor Jack Ritschel or something is dead but I'm not sure. Who else here thinks Zeratul need's some serious voice change?

I think Zeratul's real VA is James Harper, who is still alive? Anyone confirm/deny?

I'm actually pretty satisfied with Zeratul's current actor. The novels describe his laughter as "dry autumn leaves", which I think could be attributed to the new voice actor's course whisper of a voice. And of course he's old. He's the Cool Old Guy. This is how he's described in the novels. Moreover, he is described as calculating and harboring a dark past in the manual, something that's only been lightly touched upon in the game so far. Finally, the age added to his voice could be attributed to the weight of guilt he's carrying around up to this point.

@Gradius: I'm not gonna touch that with a ten-foot pole. He's alive, he's dead -- I've heard a wide range of different things. Not even sure Harper IS his actor.

Hmm I guess that's true but it just seems like hes gotten weaker.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gradius

I think Zeratul's real VA is James Harper, who is still alive? Anyone confirm/deny?

---

I'm not completely sure but SC wikia says

"Zeratul was voiced by the late Jack Ritschel in StarCraft and StarCraft: Brood War.[55]"

I think you may have gotten confused with another voice actor. James Harper sounds extremely familiar. But apparently I'm right cause Chris Metzen said this at Blizzcon 07

A: For the units - 50/50 because some of the units’ voices will be coming back - but because they’re coming back and they’ll look quite similar, we don’t want them to sound exactly the same so they’re the exact same unit. So there might be different voices or sounds to give them a fresh personality, but some of the actors will be returning. No final decisions have been made yet. For the characters - Here Metzen says that guy that did Zeratul and Duke’s voices is deceased - Jack Ritschel. Metzen emphasized that it has been almost ten years these roles were originally cast. Blizzard wants to make sure that the voice still fits with the Kerrigan. Metzen did say that Glynnis Talken had been back in the studio and that she sounded great (Glyniss actually confirmed on her blog that she would be reprising her role as Kerrigan). As for Raynor, while Robert Clotworthy (the original voice of Raynor) has said he’d love to do Raynor’s voice again, Metzen loves a new guy that has come in to the studio and read for Raynor. He says from his, a creative, perspective he wants to get the character right and that this new guy is much closer to what he had originally envisioned for the character. But he does realize that we, as fans, have an emotional attachment to the original voice and they haven’t quite decided what to do on that one. Recording the voices for many of the other characters has even started yet and Blizzard is still debating internally what they’d like to see whether it is a new voice or a returning one for an iconic character.

Old Zeratul had unique voice "color" we all loved. It's a voice of that actor. New Zeratul - new actor. He may do good or even great job in whole game... But he's simply not our hero Zeratul anymore... :(
Effects are necessary but they cant help all that much since sound effects are not fundaments to voice acting. Persons are.

To me it's like this (since SC campaigns were deeply dear to me) You can't change your father's voice, even if his voice is irritating... although he may sound [later] like George Clooney he is not the same person, right?) Infant perspective but i cant help my self.

This topic (Zeratul's voice) is certainly a peak of SC2 voice actors problems.
Kerrigan's voice is 2th.

Like I said the issue with Kerrigans VA isnt that the new girl is different from the old kerrigan. Its that she sounds worse.

Zeratuls voice actor does sound different from the old version and yes this gives the charector another feel. But the actor still does a great job and I have to admit I like this new Zeratul.

Brutaxilos - aye, but I heard somewhere that Metzen made a mistake when he said that, which is why nobody knows who the real actor is anymore. Also, IMDB is full of mistakes so nobody has any clue what's going on.

All I know is that whoever voiced him in the cinematic is fine with me.

I think Metzen was right about Zeratul's voice actor. He sounds a lot like King Terenas' voice from WC3, who apparently died. So they're probably one in the same.

My opinion on the new actor is that he's fine. The material is what's weird. It's very rare that Zeratul has long speeches in the original game, and so far he's had... two. All his dialogue in SC2 so far has been nothing but speeches.

I'm fine with his current voice actor, too. I will miss Glynnis Talken, though.

I, too, like the current actor.

Given the confusion over who voiced Zeratul originally, it is possible that the actor is still alive. If this is the case, I would prefer him to come back; as good as the new guy is, the original is still better (in my opinion).

He's not alive anymore. I can't see Metzen making a mistake like that. I think the only thing he forgot was that he also played Dugalle. Not just Duke and Zeratul.

People just assume he got it wrong because Zeratul is miscredited on websites like IMDB and such.

Anyone else think the new actor sounds a bit like Jim Cummings?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gradius

Brutaxilos - aye, but I heard somewhere that Metzen made a mistake when he said that, which is why nobody knows who the real actor is anymore. Also, IMDB is full of mistakes so nobody has any clue what's going on.

---

haha i didnt know that lol

He sounds like whoever voiced Cairne in WC3.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Aldrius

He's not alive anymore. I can't see Metzen making a mistake like that. I think the only thing he forgot was that he also played Dugalle. Not just Duke and Zeratul.

People just assume he got it wrong because Zeratul is miscredited on websites like IMDB and such.

Anyone else think the new actor sounds a bit like Jim Cummings?

---

It sounds a bit like anything excepting Zeratul... sadly, I will miss his voice, it gave him that dark and powerful feeling as well as his portrait... so what happened to the original voice?
dead... :( ? I can't believe it...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Josue

dead... :( ? I can't believe it...

---

Well this is what happens when you wait 10+ years to make a game it happens. Although Zeratul's new voice actor sounds fine I have no problem with it. I don't really hear that much of a difference between the two.

Well, at least with Duke and Dugalle, they're dead now so their voice will live on forever.

I'm okay with the new voice actor, but it does sound different. I think Zeratul's original VA was the best, but the new one I'm acceptable with.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by protoss wrath

Well this is what happens when you wait 10+ years to make a game it happens. Although Zeratul's new voice actor sounds fine I have no problem with it. I don't really hear that much of a difference between the two.

---

Indeed? I feel the change like a painful whack! maybe due to the fact the original voice is dead

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by protoss wrath

THE DARK TEMPLAR ARE LIKE THE JEDI OF STARCRAFT AND ZERATUL IS THEIR LEADER!

---

BTW Interesting analogy.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Pandonetho

Well, at least with Duke and Dugalle, they're dead now so their voice will live on forever.

I'm okay with the new voice actor, but it does sound different. I think Zeratul's original VA was the best, but the new one I'm acceptable with.

---

for some reason the first time I saw that video I didn't think it was Zeratul the one who spoke...
I really had the feeling it was some kind of narrator...
Yeah the voice is not bad, for a Zeratul-narrator

Not much of a change for real

If Jack Ritschel truly has passed, then my respects to him.
Great VA, both Zeratul's and Duke's voices were my favourites, among others such as the Dark Templar's and Mengsk's, and a few other units I'll leave.

I don't miiind the voice actor (whom I believe is actually Chris Metzen, who voiced Thrall, hence their voices sounding very similar) although it'd be nice for something closer to the original and I'd have to say the same with Kerrigan too.

The voice actor in the SC 2 opening cinematic sounds good, pretty close to the original Zeratul in my opinion. Of course bringing back the original actor is best, if he's still alive.

One actor that I think would be perfect for Zeratul is Christopher Lee, he'll not only probably be able to match the original voice with almost no editing but also would convey a sense of gravity and power as few actors can.

Christopher Lee... hmm.. he's not the one to have a gruffy croaky sort of voice, but I do agree that'd he'd have that deep ever-inquiring voice, though I wouldn't be too keen on him :P

He might be good for a new Dark Templar character. Perhaps Mohandar, their current leader?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Muspelli

He might be good for a new Dark Templar character. Perhaps Mohandar, their current leader?

---

Also a possibility, though he really is the best replacement for the original voice actor I can think of (but as I've already said, the actor in the opening cinematic is also quite good).

Quote:

---

I don't miiind the voice actor (whom I believe is actually Chris Metzen, who voiced Thrall, hence their voices sounding very similar)

---

I'm pretty sure it was Chris Metzen in the original trailer. The one from Blizzcon 07.

But I think this actor is different. I'm 75% sure it's Jim Cummings. It could be Chris Metzen still, though, sounds a BIT like him. But it's usually pretty obvious when it's him.

And Christopher Lee would be great, the trouble is... uh... hiring him. Plus he might be too imposing for the slightly non-chalant Zeratul.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Aldrius

And Christopher Lee would be great, the trouble is... uh... hiring him. Plus he might be too imposing for the slightly non-chalant Zeratul.

---

I think the greatest counterpoint is hiring him, since he'd likely want too much money. But with his acting skills, I wouldn't worry about him not being able to properly portray Zeratul.


Otherwise, I liked the current VA for Zeratul. One thing you have to remember is in the SC2 cinematic, the speaking (which we're assuming is Zeratul) is speaking as if saying a narration, whereas everything we've heard from Zeratul before then has been conversational speaking. I'd have to hear this VA's conversation skills as Zeratul before I could ever say no, but as it is, he works out alright for me.

Jack Ritchel is NOT DEAD! He is my father in law and I see him every day for dinner. His voice is alive and well!. He is retired but I'm sure would do another Starcraft session if asked. His death is definitely been announced prematurely. We hope to have him around for many years.

You misspelled your father-in-law's name.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Aldrius

He's not alive anymore. I can't see Metzen making a mistake like that. I think the only thing he forgot was that he also played Dugalle. Not just Duke and Zeratul.

People just assume he got it wrong because Zeratul is miscredited on websites like IMDB and such.

Anyone else think the new actor sounds a bit like Jim Cummings?

---

The original voice actor was Jack Ritschel, he is still alive. I have dinner with him daily, he is my father in law! ~~~~

If true, maybe he could do an interview with SCLegacy?

A few minute search around here prove we're all really big fans.


(Still doubt this isn't bullshit.)

If you are actually being serious... then may God help Metzen for what he has done. This would be heartening news, because this means that Duke could return -- after all, we didn't see him die.

Can you ever form a correct response to newly obtained information?

No, the part of my brain used for that was damaged in an accident long ago.

^ Huh, that explains a lot (take that as seriously or not as you want).

Even if the real Zeratul voice actor was still around, I'm actually glad that he didn't/couldn't take part in retrospect. Not even his voice could have made the material he'd have to work with in Sc2 any better than what it is.

Is the voice actor not credited in the original StarCraft credits?

EDIT:
Here is the list from the credits. I see the problem, they don't credit what characters they voice (probably because some voiced multiple). Let's try to do process of elimination on what voices we know some people voiced.

Glynnis Talken
Jack Ritschel
Paul Ainsley
Castulo Guerra
Debra De Liso
Paul Eiding
Tiffany Hayes
James W. Harper
Robert Clotworthy
Jason Hayes
Chris metzen
Bill Roper
Allen Adham

Yes, he is.

^^ What the fuck and why?

Jack Ritschel - Zeratul, Overmind.

Bill Roper - Fenix.

Robert Clotworthy - Raynor.

Glynnis Talken - Kerrigan, Medic, not sure what else.

Castulo Guerra - Stukov if I recall correctly, likely nothing else.

James W. Harper - Mengsk, likely nothing else.

Chris Metzen - Ghost, Battlecruiser, Ghost. IMDB lists Allen Adham as this role.

Tiffany Hayes - Adjutant.

Debra DeLiso - Raszagal.

If I recall correctly Harry Shearer ACTUALLY was the voice of the Science Vessel rather than an impersonator.

Lani Minella was the voice of the Dropship and Zerg Queen.

---

Likely all the Blizzard-employees that were voice-actors voiced units mostly. IMDB is somewhat unreliable; and the hilarious thing is that they listed James W. Harper (Mengsk) as Zeratul -- he pointed this out at BlizzCon.

Ehhh, the new VA has grown on me a bit. My hope is that because he is given more dialogue in LOTV tho, he won't 'draaaag' out his vowels and dialogue like he seems to do. I guess it's another case of subtlety being better.