It was revealed a few days ago that Alyson Court, Claire Redfield’s voice actor, would not be reprising the role in the remake of Resident Evil 2. The company hired to work on the game by Capcom was seeking a nonunion worker for the role and Court didn’t fit the bill. Since then she has uploaded a video for fans and called out Capcom for what she views as a slight which can be viewed below:

According to the video, Claire Redfield’s voice actor may not have been upset about the replacement had it been for creative reasons. What Court finds troubling about the situation is that they dismissed her for being union. This, she feels, is in opposition of staying true to the fans and the franchise.

If the only reason they chose to replace me is because they want to go nonunion, it’s petty. It’s disrespectful. It’s disrespectful to me. It’s disrespectful to the other performance artists out there. Whether it’s full capture, motion capture, voice performers, everybody deserves a proper wage for what they’re doing. But most importantly, it’s disrespectful to you guys.”

Since Court’s first video announcing to fans that she would not have the role, a few petitions have circulated calling for the return of Claire Redfield’s voice actor. While the petitions have already generated a steady stream of signatories, it may not be enough to shift the tide. Ultimately, the decision to go non-union may have more to do with politics.

Since last October the SAG-AFTRA voice actors strike has kept many powerful voices, both inside and outside the booth, out of the industry. Many major companies are on their list and this has created a tense atmosphere. Many companies are choosing to go non-union and, whether it is to stand ground, quietly support the industries side of the argument, or cut costs remains to be seen.

Claire Redfield’s voice actor isn’t the first to not reprise a popular role. Just recently Ashly Burch, the voice of Chloe Price, was passed over for the Life is Strange prequel. Due to her support of the strike she was unable to take the role, leaving fans with mixed feelings about a long-anticipated addition to the franchise.

In the end, companies like Capcom will do what they think is best for their franchise, but as has been shown in the past fans can have an impact on the way these companies conduct themselves. While it remains to be seen if these petitions will carry weight, that fans can align themselves with an actress or a cause and make a difference in the industry is something that wasn’t always possible. Ultimately, as many companies have learned, it’s the fans who they’re creating for and it’s the fans who can make or break a franchise.

How else has the SAG-AFTRA strike impacted the industry? Will the absence of Alyson Court in the Resident Evil 2 remake negatively impact the game or could the petitions change the decision? Join in on the conversation in the comment section below! Don’t forget to follow DFTG on Twitter for live gaming and entertainment news 24/7!