“Getting a Role in That Meant a Lot” Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth’s Paul Castro Jr. Talks Landing His Dream Job

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For any actor, getting a part in a popular series like Final Fantasy would be a huge opportunity, and for Paul Castro Jr., it was a dream come true. Already known for his work in NEO: The World Ends With You and Genshin Impact, Castro landed the only role he auditioned for in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, finally joining a franchise he’d always admired. While his character, the cheerful and helpful Chocobo Billy, isn’t a major part of the main story, he adds to the game’s rich world and helps players learn how chocobos work.

Paul Castro Jr. is a voice actor widely recognized for his work in video games and animation. He’s best known for playing Rindo Kanade in NEO: The World Ends With You, but also voices Freminet in Genshin Impact and has appeared in popular titles like Persona 3 Reload, Fire Emblem Heroes, and Pokemon Masters. While he’s also worked in live-action television, including shows like Blue Bloods and God Friended Me, Castro’s career has largely focused on voice acting, especially in role-playing games and character-focused titles such as Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth.

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth Was Paul Castro Jr.’s Dream Job

Paul Castro Jr., the voice actor for Chocobo Billy in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, recently shared in an interview with Game Rant that working on the Final Fantasy series has always been a dream of his. As a lifelong fan of Square Enix’s RPGs, he was thrilled to contribute to such an iconic gaming franchise while playing a role in a series he’s enjoyed for years.

Castro said that Final Fantasy was a franchise he’d always dreamed of working on, and landing a role in it was incredibly meaningful to him. He initially missed auditions for the first installment of the Remake series when he moved to Los Angeles and thought his chance had passed, assuming it would only be one game. He’d heard rumors about a larger project, but wasn’t sure. Luckily, he got the opportunity to audition for a single character in the second game, Rebirth, and successfully landed the role of Billy.

I was so excited to learn more about how they cast Chocobo Billy! Apparently, they definitely chose Castro because he’s incredibly talented, but his previous work with the team behind Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth really gave him a leg up. He actually voiced Rindo Kanade in NEO: The World Ends With You, and he thinks that connection helped him get his foot in the door – it was a huge advantage for him, which is awesome!

I collaborated with some of the same team who worked on NEO: The World Ends With You while making Final Fantasy, which was a big help. They knew I was dedicated and would give my all to any role, even a small one, within that world. Because of that, working on Final Fantasy was definitely a goal of mine.

For actor Rob Courtoise (who plays Chocobo Billy), being in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth wasn’t about the size of the role, but about finally working on a game series he’d loved for years. He initially thought he’d never get the chance, making the experience especially meaningful. It shows how past work, connections, and dedication can lead to unexpected opportunities, even if it’s not always clear how they’ll come about.

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2026-01-09 19:04