2020 has been an interesting year for many reasons; even the world of animation isn't safe from the massive changes this year has brought, both good and bad. One series that has had a very prevalent changing of the guard has been FOX's hit animated sitcom, Family Guy.
When voice actor Mike Henry stepped down from the voice of Cleveland Brown after over a decade, due to his desire to have the character voiced by someone of the same race, he, along with others before him, caused a ripple effect that has changed the face of animation forever. For some time now, many have pondered who would take up the role of one of the funniest characters on the show, and now, it looks like the decision has been made.
Voiced by newcomer Arif Zahir, his inclusion among others marks a change in how voice acting will be seen, and he also had this to say as well, during a press release, “Firstly, I’m eternally grateful to have received this once in a lifetime opportunity. When I heard that Mike Henry was stepping down from the role of Cleveland Brown- my favorite cartoon character of all time- I was shocked and saddened, assuming we’d never see him again. When I learned, I would get to take over the role? Overabundant gratitude. To Mike, you created something truly special and I promise I will do my absolute best to honor your legacy. To Rich Appel, Alec Sulkin and Seth MacFarlane, thank you for this incredible gift. And to the millions of fans who love this show, I promise not to let you down.” Mike Henry also added in the press release, “I welcome Arif to the ‘Family Guy’ team. Arif’s vocal talent is obvious, but his understanding of Cleveland and his respect for the character give me confidence that he is in the right hands. I look forward to getting to know Arif and working with him to make sure Cleveland stays every bit as awesome as he has always been.” Which will undoubtedly easy many minds who are concerned that a voice change will compromise the character.
Family Guy's official Twitter made the announcement, and Zahir himself even posted a video that gives a taste of what to expect from his iteration of the character. Make sure to check out both below, and don't forget to share your thoughts in the comments!
Family Guy revolves around a less than normal family in a less than normal world. ... The family Consists of six members Peter the father, Lois the mother, Stewie the homicidal baby, Chris the son, meg the daughter and Brian the dog who is often the smartest out of all of them.
Zahir will make his debut as Cleveland in the 19th season of Family Guy, which is set to air in 2021 on FOX!