Persona 5's Futaba Actor Was 'Terrified' She Was Miscast

Ever wondered what goes through an actor's mind when they land a role in a beloved game? For Erica Lindbeck, the voice behind Persona 5's Futaba, it was pure terror. In a new interview, she admits she thought she was "completely miscast" when she was offered the part of the anxious tech genius in Atlus's hit JRPG.

Lindbeck is no stranger to gaming. You've probably heard her as Black Cat in the Marvel's Spider-Man games (and Marvel Rivals), Celica in Fire Emblem, or Jessie in Final Fantasy 7 Remake. But Futaba is one of her most iconic roles. Despite knowing "how large the IP was," she tried to "go into anything with low expectations." She explains, "I also understood, as someone who loves character-driven stories, Persona is that manifest. They're so character-driven. If you do not fall in love with the characters, you are DOA. There's just nothing there, and so I knew that they were very careful when they cast the games."

So when she got the offer, she was shocked. "I thought I was completely miscast when I went in to voice her, because if anyone talks to me, they're like, 'You're Futaba?' She's very different from me," Lindbeck says. "I was terrified, to be quite honest with you. I'm not afraid or embarrassed to say that. I just knew… I knew this was a make-or-break moment for me, in the same way that I knew it was a make-or-break moment for me the day I stepped onto that mocap stage to do mocap for the first Spider-Man game."

Even with her doubts, Lindbeck later got reassurance from Persona 5 talent director Valerie Arem (who also voices Naoto in the Persona 4 spin-off games). Arem told her years later that she "literally cannot think of another actor that could do Futaba." Fans would surely agree.

Now, almost 10 years after Persona 5's global release, Lindbeck says "voicing Futaba feels like slipping on an old pair of boots," and "that project will always hold a special place in my heart." It's a sweet reminder that even the voices behind our favorite characters can have doubts—but sometimes, they're exactly who we needed.

In other Persona news, Persona 1 and 2 remakes will "probably" happen for the sake of "cultural preservation," according to Persona 4 Revival producer: "It's your duty to take the things you've done and make sure they're not lost."

What do you think? Were you surprised to learn Lindbeck felt miscast? Let us know in the comments!