9 January 2026

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

By newsgame

Landing a role in a franchise as well-known as Final Fantasy would undoubtedly be a big deal for any actor, but for Paul Castro Jr., it was a dream job. The actor, known primarily for his roles in NEO: The World Ends With You and Genshin Impact, managed to snag the only role he auditioned for in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, giving him a spot in a franchise he always wanted to be a part of. As the enthusiastic, kind, and passionate Chocobo Billy, Castro’s role wasn’t central to Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth‘s story, but his character nonetheless adds to the game’s world-building charm and helps players become familiar with its chocobo mechanics.

Paul Castro Jr. is best known for his work in video games and animation, with his most prominent role being Rindo Kanade, the lead character in NEO: The World Ends With You. He has also voiced Freminet in Genshin Impact and appeared in projects like Persona 3 Reload, Fire Emblem Heroes, and Pokemon Masters. Outside of games, Castro has worked in animation and live-action television, with appearances in shows such as Blue Bloods and God Friended Me, but his voice acting roles have become the core of his career, particularly within RPGs and character-driven games like Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth.

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

During a recent interview on Game Rant’s Character Select with Naomi Kyle, Paul Castro Jr., who voices Chocobo Billy in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, named the Final Fantasy franchise as one he had always dreamed of working on. As a longtime fan of Square Enix’s RPGs, the role gave Castro the chance to contribute to a series he had spent years playing, while also joining one of the most recognizable franchises in gaming.

“Final Fantasy was definitely on that list,” Castro said when asked if there were any franchises he had always wanted to work on. “Getting a role in that meant a lot. When I moved to L.A., they were doing the first part of the Remake series, and I just missed auditions for the first part. So, I was like, ‘That’s it. I’ve lost my chance.’ Because I didn’t know it was going to be a three-part thing at the time. I just knew from whispers in the industry. And then when the second part came around for Rebirth, I had one audition for one character in that game, and it was Billy—and I got it.”

While Castro no doubt booked the role of Chocobo Billy for his talent, his experience working with the developer of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth helped set him apart ahead of time. As Rindo Kanade, the protagonist of Square Enix’s NEO: The World Ends With You, Castro effectively got his foot in the door, giving him what he considers to be an advantage.

“The people who I worked with on NEO: The World Ends With You were also working on Final Fantasy,” Castro continued, “so I think that really helped me. And they knew I was a performer that was willing to give everything, even for a non-playable character in this world that I did. So, [Final Fantasy] was for sure a franchise that I wanted to do.”

The Reapers in The World Ends With You (2018)

For Castro, being part of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth was less about the significance of the role and more about finally working on a franchise he had admired for years. While Chocobo Billy plays a relatively small part in the larger story of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, the opportunity carried real meaning for an actor who initially believed he had missed his chance entirely. It also highlights how previous work, relationships, and persistence can influence the roles that eventually come along, even when the path there is not obvious at the time.