Brittany Snow is remembering Hayden Panettiere as a decided performer and supportive buddy following the actress’ loss of life at age 36. The “Pitch Excellent” star shared an emotional tribute to Panettiere, with whom she labored on each the long-running cleaning soap opera “Guiding Mild” and the “Kingdom Hearts” online game franchise. Snow mirrored on taking part in Panettiere’s sister for 3 years and revealed that she noticed components of herself in her former co-star, even when she by no means expressed these emotions straight.
Snow posted her tribute to Instagram Tales on Monday, August 17, praising Panettiere’s expertise, character and resilience. “I used to be fortunate sufficient to play your sister for 3 years,” Snow wrote. “I associated to you a lot in so some ways. Ways in which I by no means even instructed you. Your expertise was outstanding & so was your dedication to be a daring, shiny shining mild. And also you had been.”
She continued, “All the time supportive, curious, humorous and courageous. You’ll all the time be remembered undoubtedly on your simple power and spirit.”
Snow and Panettiere labored collectively as younger actresses on “Guiding Mild.” Snow portrayed Susan “Daisy” Lemay, whereas Panettiere performed Lizzie Spaulding. Their connection later prolonged into the “Kingdom Hearts” franchise, though their roles didn’t straight overlap. Snow voiced Namine, whereas Panettiere grew to become the unique English-language voice of Kairi.
Hayden Panettiere Helped Convey Kairi To Life
Panettiere voiced Kairi within the authentic “Kingdom Hearts” and returned for “Kingdom Hearts II,” serving to set up one of many Disney and Sq. Enix franchise’s central characters. Kairi is carefully linked to protagonist Sora and his buddy and rival Riku, making her a major a part of the sequence’ emotional core. Alyson Stoner later stepped into the position at completely different factors earlier than Panettiere returned. Stoner in the end voiced Kairi in 2019’s “Kingdom Hearts III.”
Following Panettiere’s loss of life, Stoner recorded a tearful message acknowledging the loss felt by the actress’ family members and the gaming group. “Hey, that is very uncooked. It’s very messy, and please give me some grace. I wished to acknowledge Hayden’s passing,” she started. “I’ve labored with Hayden, I’ve labored with Hayden’s brother Jansen [who died in 2023 from a heart condition], and from one Kairi to a different, I simply wished to acknowledge the great loss, not just for the ‘Kingdom Hearts’ household however in fact the entire shut family members and the thousands and thousands of lives Hayden reached.
“Sending a lot like to Hayden’s household,” she continued, combating again tears. “I’ll be pondering of Hayden and the legacy that she has left, and sending a lot of like to the Kingdom Hearts group too, and the way we’re sharing on this loss.”
‘Kingdom Hearts’ Pays Tribute To Its Unique Kairi
The official “Kingdom Hearts” social media accounts additionally honored Panettiere and acknowledged what her efficiency delivered to the position. “We’re deeply saddened by the passing of Hayden Panettiere,” the assertion begins. “By means of her efficiency as Kairi, Hayden introduced heat, coronary heart, and an unforgettable voice to the ‘Kingdom Hearts’ sequence. Our ideas are together with her household, mates, and family members.”
The tribute arrived throughout an emotional second for the franchise. Followers had simply obtained a number of main updates about “Kingdom Hearts IV” throughout Disney’s D23 occasion, together with a brand new trailer and affirmation that the sport is predicted to reach in 2027. The footage revealed that Sora will journey to a world impressed by Pixar’s “Coco.” It additionally included playable segments that includes Mickey, Donald and Goofy, together with the anticipated return of Riku.
‘Kingdom Hearts’ Reunion Takes On Somber Which means After Hayden Panettiere’s Demise
In the course of the “Deep Dive into Kingdom Hearts” panel, longtime English voice actors Haley Joel Osment and David Gallagher appeared collectively to debate their respective roles as Sora and Riku. The actors, who started voicing the characters as youngsters, additionally delivered their first stay efficiency collectively as Sora and Riku within the franchise’s 25-year historical past.
The celebratory second took on a extra somber which means following the loss of life of Panettiere, whose voice helped form the earliest chapters of the sequence.
Hayden Panettiere Additionally Starred In ‘Till Daybreak’
“Kingdom Hearts” was not Panettiere’s solely main online game position. The actress portrayed Samantha Giddings within the cinematic survival-horror sport “Till Daybreak,” showing alongside a forged that included Rami Malek, Brett Dalton, Jordan Fisher and Peter Stormare.
Launched as an interactive horror expertise, the sport allowed gamers’ choices to find out which characters survived the night time. Panettiere’s character emerged as one in all its most recognizable figures. “Till Daybreak” was tailored right into a film in 2025, though Panettiere didn’t seem within the movie. A sequel to the sport is scheduled for launch in 2027.
