One Persona 4 Revival actor shared her dream to be cast in the JRPG remake over two years ago, well before Atlus's next game was even announced, and now she says "dreams really do come true."
Ari Thrash, who also voiced Yao Guang in Honkai: Star Rail, has now been announced as the new English voice of Marie in Revival – a Persona 4 Golden-exclusive character who was previously voiced by Eden Riegel. "I'm so ecstatic to say dreams really do come true as I announce I had the incredible honor of voicing Marie in P4R," Thrash writes following the news – and looking at her old posts, you can tell she's really not exaggerating.
Back in April 2024, Thrash took to Twitter with a dream. "If P4 gets another remaster with like P5 graphics and they give the characters other VA's I would love the chance to try out of Rise or Nanako," she wrote. "This is hardcore manifestation. Even if I didn't get one of them just to be able to try is a dream."
If P4 gets another remaster with like P5 graphics and they give the characters other VA’s I would love the chance to try out of Rise or Nanako. This is hardcore manifestation. Even if I didn’t get one of them just to be able to try is a dream. pic.twitter.com/h9uoA7sxoLApril 2, 2024
She reiterated this point in December of the same year, sharing a fan-made Persona 4 and Dandadan crossover animation and proclaiming: "Mark my words I will be in the remake of this at any cost. I'm manifesting it rn."
Well… here we are! While Thrash didn't end up being the voice of Rise or Nanako like she initially suggested – in fact, she now admits that at the time of that post, "I had never played Golden so I didn't know who Marie was" – she's clearly over the moon.
"Being a part of this game is a HUGE dream come true for me," she says in her announcement. "I'm still in awe and I'll be forever grateful.
"Persona 4 was my first introduction to the franchise and I've been a huge Persona fan since," she continues. "It's always been a bucket list series for me to book and working with the localization team brought me so much joy and is such an unforgettable experience.
"Every one of my cast mates is someone I look up to. To be able to be a part of this cast is surreal beyond belief."
Thrash acknowledges that many veteran fans will likely "miss the OG Marie's voice and I can't/won't blame you for that (she slays), the OGs are iconic!!" Even so, she's hopeful that folks will enjoy her take on the character.
"When I recorded Marie I had no idea what her previous voice was like, my version of her is just based on her design and her sides and learning with her as she learns about herself," she explains in a separate post. "I wanted to keep myself from doing an impression – but I wonder if me and Eden will have very similar performances. That'll be a fun comparison when I get to play both the og and Revival side by side."
Thrash promises that she gave the role her all, noting that "I cried once my last session finished," and her enthusiasm is contagious. We've not heard too much of her as Marie just yet, but I can't wait to hear her in action once Revival launches next February.
