John-117 (the Master Chief), is a character we all love, and have been with since The Fall of Reach. Steve Downes has done an incredible job portraying the character, each times he voices the character, he brings his A-game to the table. We all love Steve, he is the man. However, I’m going to bring something up. As of right now, Steve Downes is 65. I don’t want to sound weird or like a downer, but Steve is getting up there. I think within a few years, Steve will announce he is officially retiring from voicing John. However, does this mean the story of John will come to an end? This might sound like blasphemy, but I think they would be able to find a suitable replacement, and I would be okay with it. Yes, it would weird to know that a new voice actor coming in to portray John. In fact, I would even have Steve look at the candidates and pass the torch onto the guy he sees as a fitting replacement. From what it sounds like, John is not going anywhere anytime soon (especially after the backlash to Halo 5). In a perfect world, Steve would get to play John forever. His performance has brought forth the strength and determination, as well as his emotional and broken side. I wonder, do you think a new voice actor coming in, and carrying the role of John forward into the future?
I see your point , but I think if they were to replace Steve , that would be the time to change protagonists. If you really think about it, Chiefs voice is all we really recognize. Any one could wear the Mjolnir , but the voice makes it Chief.
If they were to replace him , the only way would be to get an impersonator , other wise just replace the entire character , or reboot.
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> I see your point , but I think if they were to replace Steve , that would be the time to change protagonists. If you really think about it, Chiefs voice is all we really recognize. Any one could wear the Mjolnir , but the voice makes it Chief.
> If they were to replace him , the only way would be to get an impersonator , other wise just replace the entire character , or reboot.
Would you be fine if they found a guy who could do a spot-on impression of Steve? I would never want Steve to stop playing the character. However, I wouldn’t be shocked if he would give someone else the seal of approval to carry the character forward if he feels it’s the right time.
Terry Crews.
I’m kidding. I actually think that they should clone Steve’s voice box and synthesise the voice using the synthetic voice box. Science(ish) Y’all
Jerome. 'Nuff said.
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> Jerome. 'Nuff said.
I would be fine with him becoming the main character going forward.
I would be fine with a different voice actor if it was a younger version of the Chief. Like maybe the earlier years of the human covenant war then it would make more sense to have a different voice actor for a younger sounding voice. But anything in current halo? It’d be very hard to replace Steve.
Considering that Chief is a faceless hero, his voice is really the thing we mostly associate with him. It’s not the same like with David Hater and Keifer Sutherland with Snake, or Mako (RIP) and Greg Baldwin with Aku. Chief’s voice is arguably the most iconic part of him. Even the best understudy can’t exactly duplicate original voicework. If Steve retires, I don’t think they should try to replace the Chief’s voice.
I mean, some people may say that iconic characters can have different voices. The Joker is an example; even in video games, many different people have voiced him. And though Mark Hamill may be widely considered the best Joker, nobody pitches a fit when someone else voices him (like in Injustice and Injustice 2). However, the Joker was originally a comic book character. Unlike Master Chief, his introduction to the world was without voice. Readers had to imagine for themselves what the Joker sounded like, and in the days of the first Batman comics, I bet everyone had a different idea of what Joker sounded like to them. Master Chief, on the other hand, started out as a video game character, and though we actually got to see him in his armor (and that look became iconic), the part of him that we connected with most, the most human part of him, was his voice. Master Chief’s voice is the Joker’s white face and red smile: it’s the part of the character that remains constant, that should never change.
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> Considering that Chief is a faceless hero, his voice is really the thing we mostly associate with him. It’s not the same like with David Hater and Keifer Sutherland with Snake, or Mako (RIP) and Greg Baldwin with Aku. Chief’s voice is arguably the most iconic part of him. Even the best understudy can’t exactly duplicate original voicework. If Steve retires, I don’t think they should try to replace the Chief’s voice.
>
> I mean, some people may say that iconic characters can have different voices. The Joker is an example; even in video games, many different people have voiced him. And though Mark Hamill may be widely considered the best Joker, nobody pitches a fit when someone else voices him (like in Injustice and Injustice 2). However, the Joker was originally a comic book character. Unlike Master Chief, his introduction to the world was without voice. Readers had to imagine for themselves what the Joker sounded like, and in the days of the first Batman comics, I bet everyone had a different idea of what Joker sounded like to them. Master Chief, on the other hand, started out as a video game character, and though we actually got to see him in his armor (and that look became iconic), the part of him that we connected with most, the most human part of him, was his voice. Master Chief’s voice is the Joker’s white face and red smile: it’s the part of the character that remains constant, that should never change.
You brought up some excellent points. Do you think it would be possible if they would be able to look for a possible replacement? What I would do is have Steve have the final say in the replacement and give his seal of approval. Would you be okay with that?
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> > Considering that Chief is a faceless hero, his voice is really the thing we mostly associate with him. It’s not the same like with David Hater and Keifer Sutherland with Snake, or Mako (RIP) and Greg Baldwin with Aku. Chief’s voice is arguably the most iconic part of him. Even the best understudy can’t exactly duplicate original voicework. If Steve retires, I don’t think they should try to replace the Chief’s voice.
> >
> > I mean, some people may say that iconic characters can have different voices. The Joker is an example; even in video games, many different people have voiced him. And though Mark Hamill may be widely considered the best Joker, nobody pitches a fit when someone else voices him (like in Injustice and Injustice 2). However, the Joker was originally a comic book character. Unlike Master Chief, his introduction to the world was without voice. Readers had to imagine for themselves what the Joker sounded like, and in the days of the first Batman comics, I bet everyone had a different idea of what Joker sounded like to them. Master Chief, on the other hand, started out as a video game character, and though we actually got to see him in his armor (and that look became iconic), the part of him that we connected with most, the most human part of him, was his voice. Master Chief’s voice is the Joker’s white face and red smile: it’s the part of the character that remains constant, that should never change.
>
> You brought up some excellent points. Do you think it would be possible if they would be able to look for a possible replacement? What I would do is have Steve have the final say in the replacement and give his seal of approval. Would you be okay with that?
Like I said, no understudy can truly replace the original. After Mako died and Greg Baldwin replaced him as the voice of Iroh in Avatar: The Last Airbender, I could always tell it was different. Same with Aku in season 5 of Samurai Jack. And while I understood the need for a replacement, they weren’t the same characters for me. That doesn’t change just because the original signs off on the successor.
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> > > Considering that Chief is a faceless hero, his voice is really the thing we mostly associate with him. It’s not the same like with David Hater and Keifer Sutherland with Snake, or Mako (RIP) and Greg Baldwin with Aku. Chief’s voice is arguably the most iconic part of him. Even the best understudy can’t exactly duplicate original voicework. If Steve retires, I don’t think they should try to replace the Chief’s voice.
> > >
> > > I mean, some people may say that iconic characters can have different voices. The Joker is an example; even in video games, many different people have voiced him. And though Mark Hamill may be widely considered the best Joker, nobody pitches a fit when someone else voices him (like in Injustice and Injustice 2). However, the Joker was originally a comic book character. Unlike Master Chief, his introduction to the world was without voice. Readers had to imagine for themselves what the Joker sounded like, and in the days of the first Batman comics, I bet everyone had a different idea of what Joker sounded like to them. Master Chief, on the other hand, started out as a video game character, and though we actually got to see him in his armor (and that look became iconic), the part of him that we connected with most, the most human part of him, was his voice. Master Chief’s voice is the Joker’s white face and red smile: it’s the part of the character that remains constant, that should never change.
> >
> > You brought up some excellent points. Do you think it would be possible if they would be able to look for a possible replacement? What I would do is have Steve have the final say in the replacement and give his seal of approval. Would you be okay with that?
>
> Like I said, no understudy can truly replace the original. After Mako died and Greg Baldwin replaced him as the voice of Iroh in Avatar: The Last Airbender, I could always tell it was different. Same with Aku in season 5 of Samurai Jack. And while I understood the need for a replacement, they weren’t the same characters for me. That doesn’t change just because the original signs off on the successor.
While I could tell Greg had a different voice, I think he did an awesome job carrying the character forward, even into Legend of Korra. Do you think audiences would accept someone else playing him?
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> > > 2533274840469109;9:
> > > > 2533274817408735;8:
> > > > Considering that Chief is a faceless hero, his voice is really the thing we mostly associate with him. It’s not the same like with David Hater and Keifer Sutherland with Snake, or Mako (RIP) and Greg Baldwin with Aku. Chief’s voice is arguably the most iconic part of him. Even the best understudy can’t exactly duplicate original voicework. If Steve retires, I don’t think they should try to replace the Chief’s voice.
> > > >
> > > > I mean, some people may say that iconic characters can have different voices. The Joker is an example; even in video games, many different people have voiced him. And though Mark Hamill may be widely considered the best Joker, nobody pitches a fit when someone else voices him (like in Injustice and Injustice 2). However, the Joker was originally a comic book character. Unlike Master Chief, his introduction to the world was without voice. Readers had to imagine for themselves what the Joker sounded like, and in the days of the first Batman comics, I bet everyone had a different idea of what Joker sounded like to them. Master Chief, on the other hand, started out as a video game character, and though we actually got to see him in his armor (and that look became iconic), the part of him that we connected with most, the most human part of him, was his voice. Master Chief’s voice is the Joker’s white face and red smile: it’s the part of the character that remains constant, that should never change.
> > >
> > > You brought up some excellent points. Do you think it would be possible if they would be able to look for a possible replacement? What I would do is have Steve have the final say in the replacement and give his seal of approval. Would you be okay with that?
> >
> > Like I said, no understudy can truly replace the original. After Mako died and Greg Baldwin replaced him as the voice of Iroh in Avatar: The Last Airbender, I could always tell it was different. Same with Aku in season 5 of Samurai Jack. And while I understood the need for a replacement, they weren’t the same characters for me. That doesn’t change just because the original signs off on the successor.
>
> While I could tell Greg had a different voice, I think he did an awesome job carrying the character forward, even into Legend of Korra. Do you think audiences would accept someone else playing him?
I can’t speak to what others would accept. I only know that for me, Chief’s voice can’t be replaced.
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> > > > 2533274840469109;9:
> > > > > 2533274817408735;8:
> > > > > Considering that Chief is a faceless hero, his voice is really the thing we mostly associate with him. It’s not the same like with David Hater and Keifer Sutherland with Snake, or Mako (RIP) and Greg Baldwin with Aku. Chief’s voice is arguably the most iconic part of him. Even the best understudy can’t exactly duplicate original voicework. If Steve retires, I don’t think they should try to replace the Chief’s voice.
> > > > >
> > > > > I mean, some people may say that iconic characters can have different voices. The Joker is an example; even in video games, many different people have voiced him. And though Mark Hamill may be widely considered the best Joker, nobody pitches a fit when someone else voices him (like in Injustice and Injustice 2). However, the Joker was originally a comic book character. Unlike Master Chief, his introduction to the world was without voice. Readers had to imagine for themselves what the Joker sounded like, and in the days of the first Batman comics, I bet everyone had a different idea of what Joker sounded like to them. Master Chief, on the other hand, started out as a video game character, and though we actually got to see him in his armor (and that look became iconic), the part of him that we connected with most, the most human part of him, was his voice. Master Chief’s voice is the Joker’s white face and red smile: it’s the part of the character that remains constant, that should never change.
> > > >
> > > > You brought up some excellent points. Do you think it would be possible if they would be able to look for a possible replacement? What I would do is have Steve have the final say in the replacement and give his seal of approval. Would you be okay with that?
> > >
> > > Like I said, no understudy can truly replace the original. After Mako died and Greg Baldwin replaced him as the voice of Iroh in Avatar: The Last Airbender, I could always tell it was different. Same with Aku in season 5 of Samurai Jack. And while I understood the need for a replacement, they weren’t the same characters for me. That doesn’t change just because the original signs off on the successor.
> >
> > While I could tell Greg had a different voice, I think he did an awesome job carrying the character forward, even into Legend of Korra. Do you think audiences would accept someone else playing him?
>
> I can’t speak to what others would accept. I only know that for me, Chief’s voice can’t be replaced.
In the perfect world, Steve gets to play John forever.
I think that when Steve is done voicing the Chief, they’ll pull a Han Solo, and it will be the death of the Chief. To me, that’s the only real option.
I’m pretty sure that recreating a voice isn’t that hard anymore. Didn’t they already do it with 2Pac in 2012? And that was, when they didn’t have specific recordings for that. Steve Downes will probably continue to at least 2020/finish Halo 6 and possibly Halo 7, and, when he decides to quit, he’ll be able to work together with Microsoft and do some recordings, which they could use to emulate his voice. I mean, through CGI, we can already make a person look like another person, why shouldn’t we be able to make a person sound like another person in the next 5 years?
Also, the non-English voice actors have already changed multiple times … just saying.
I’d be okay with it. But they wouldn’t be replacing Steve. No one can. Its the same thing with Carrie Fisher and Princess Leia. No one can and will ever replace what she did. As long as they do what you suggest, I’d be fine. Admittedly, it would be weird to not hear Steve.
Lets hope he’s sticking around to finish John’s journey and bring it full circle.
I think they’ll retire the Chief when Steve himself retires.
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> I think they’ll retire the Chief when Steve himself retires.
I want him to play John forever. But if he feels he can no longer do the voice acting and the arc for the character isn’t done yet, his story shouldn’t end. This mind come off as kinda douchy, but I hope people understand: a character shouldn’t revolve around the person playing them. I’m sure Steve would want the character to continue if his arc isn’t done and if Steve feels it’s time for him to retire from voice acting.
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> > I think they’ll retire the Chief when Steve himself retires.
>
> I want him to play John forever. But if he feels he can no longer do the voice acting and the arc for the character isn’t done yet, his story shouldn’t end. This mind come off as kinda douchy, but I hope people understand: a character shouldn’t revolve around the person playing them. I’m sure Steve would want the character to continue if his arc isn’t done and if Steve feels it’s time for him to retire from voice acting.
I would be ok with them replacing him as well but the voice has to be close to his. You can’t take a deep throated voice and replace it with a squeaker. It’d just make it weird then.
no one will ever be what steve has been as a Chief but if someone has pretty much identical voice and a way of saying things then it could be fine to continue the story of Chief after the retiring of steve.
otherwise i hope they wont go ruining the character of Chief with some easily distinguishably different voice. Much what they did with Johnson in HW2.
and i get that there is some issues so they couldnt get david to voice him but was there really a need to make the return of a Johnson some mech Johnson with weird voice (for Johnson as a character, nothing against the actor).
if there was a need to milk Halo with Johnson then at least they should have made his return properly and with a bang instead of this mantis obsessed mech.
point being. If they are going to do the change properly then im completely fine with it. Even though no one will truly ever replace the original.