Catherine Disher reveals why she didn't return as Jean Grey for X-Men '97
Back when X-Men '97 was announced, the show's IMBD page had listed many original actors returning to their roles, including Catherine Disher who originally voiced Jean Grey in the 90's, but a few months later, her role was given to Jennifer Hale leaving fans wondering wha happun?
In a recent interview for the Youtube channel Residence of Evil, Catherine Disher (Who also voiced Jill Valentine in the original Resident Evil 3) along with Alyson Court (the original voice actress for Jubilee who also voiced Claire Redfield in the classic games) gave us a glimpse of why she did not return as Jean Grey in the X-Men '97 cartoon:
"It was not my choice to come back as Jean Grey" she stated. "They had us come back and audition for our roles twice." and then she added: "I did a voice match, I voice matched myself, uploaded the videos, listen to the video, do another take, listen to the video again, and then send it."
Disher, further explained that it felt like "tuning a guitar". she did several takes with sound engineer Jim Davidson who worked on the original show, until there was "no dissonance between the note that you are playing and the note on the guitar" she further explained that she voice matched herself to how she sounded 30 years ago. when the material was sent, she received a callback but she was given a different script with very little direction, and then "They didn't asked me to do it".
"I don't know why. Someone didn't wanted me to do it, and I don't know why, I don't know who".
This left the actress "kinda devastated" cause she didn't know how identified she felt to the character until it was dangled and then snatched away from her.
Disher, still wanting to be part of the franchise would go on to voice Val Cooper, a character that has "a far more interesting journey" the actress stated.
There are more things she can't talk about due to the NDA's signed with Disney. "It's in their rights to recast, I mean we (The voice actors) have no power. I don't resent that, and I'm still honored to be part of the franchise."
Here at GEN, we will always remember her as the OG Jean and the OG Jill Valentine and even though Jennifer Hale did a terrific job, there is always a spot in our hearts for the original Gangsta that was Catherine Disher's portrayal of the two iconic heroines.
You can catch the full interview along with Alyson Court here (The X-men part begins at 1:29:12)
-Chris "Hunter" Diaz-
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