If you grew up watching Adventure Time, Marshall Lee probably left a mark on you. He was the bad boy, the rocker, and the cool-as-hell gender-swapped version of Marceline. But honestly, part of what made him so iconic wasn't just the red plaid shirt or the floating—it was that voice. Smooth, effortless, and somehow perfectly capturing that "I'm too cool for this but I secretly care" vibe.
Most people know that Donald Glover played Marshall Lee during the original run. It was a casting choice that felt like lightning in a bottle. At the time, Glover was already blowing up on Community and making waves as Childish Gambino. Seeing him pop up in Ooo was a total fever dream for fans.
But as the years went on and the Fionna and Cake spin-off finally hit screens, things got a little more complicated. If you noticed Marshall sounded a bit different recently, you aren't crazy. The history of who played Marshall Lee actually involves a couple of different people and some pretty heavy real-life circumstances.
The Donald Glover Era: Why He Was Perfect
Donald Glover didn't just "talk" as Marshall Lee; he gave the character a specific rhythm. Back in the season five episode "Bad Little Boy," Glover brought this laid-back, rhythmic delivery that felt completely authentic to the character's musician roots.
He wasn't just a guest star; he was the guest star.
- The Singing: Glover’s musical talent was the secret sauce. The song "Good Little Girl" is still a fan favorite because of the chemistry between him and Madeleine Martin (Fionna).
- The Vibe: He played Marshall with a mix of arrogance and vulnerability. It mirrored what Olivia Olson did with Marceline but gave it a distinct masculine edge that didn't feel like a caricature.
- The Star Power: Having someone of Glover’s caliber—a future EGOT contender—voicing a secondary character in an animated show was a massive flex for Cartoon Network.
For a long time, it was assumed Glover would always be the voice. When the Fionna and Cake series was announced for Max, the first season saw him return to the role, much to everyone's relief. He played the "human" version of Marshall in the alt-universe, navigating life as a struggling musician without the vampire powers.
The Shift: Why Was Marshall Lee Recast?
Things changed as we moved into 2025 and 2026. If you’ve watched the most recent episodes or checked the credits lately, you might have seen a new name: Kris Kollins.
Recasting a character as beloved as Marshall Lee is never a small decision. Usually, it's about scheduling or money, especially when you're dealing with someone as busy as Donald Glover. Between his Mr. & Mrs. Smith series, his final Childish Gambino tours, and his filmmaking projects, the guy's calendar is basically a Tetris board on level 99.
However, there’s a more personal side to it. Reports started circulating in late 2025 that Glover had dealt with some significant health scares, including a stroke that forced him to step back from several projects to focus on recovery. While he’s been open about his journey back to health, the timing for recording new Adventure Time content just didn't align.
Enter Kris Kollins: The New Voice of the Vampire King
Taking over for Donald Glover is basically like being the guy who has to follow Prince on stage. It's intimidating. But Kris Kollins stepped into the booth for the more recent iterations of Marshall Lee, and honestly, he’s doing a killer job.
Kollins brings a very similar "silky" quality to the role. He’s a talented artist in his own right, and he managed to capture the essence of what Glover established while making the character his own. For many casual viewers, the switch was so seamless they didn't even realize a change had happened until they saw the Reddit threads blowing up about it.
It’s also worth noting that Marshall isn't the only one who got a voice refresh. Harvey Guillén (who you probably know as Guillermo from What We Do in the Shadows) took over as Gary Prince (Prince Gumball), replacing Andrew Rannells. The show has always been a bit of a revolving door for high-tier talent, mostly because the actors they hire are so successful they eventually get too busy to stay forever.
Why This Specific Casting Matters So Much
The character of Marshall Lee is important for a lot of reasons, and the voice actor needs to reflect that.
Marshall is one of the few prominent Black male characters in the Adventure Time multiverse (even if he is technically a grey-skinned vampire demon). Having actors like Donald Glover and Kris Kollins behind the mic ensures that the character's cultural "cool" feels earned and authentic. It’s about more than just a voice; it’s about the soul of the performance.
The fans are notoriously protective of this character. Marshall Lee started as a fan-art sketch by character designer Natasha Allegri before ever making it onto the screen. Because he was "born" from the community, people feel a sense of ownership over him. The producers knew they couldn't just hire a generic voice-over artist; they needed someone with a specific musicality.
A Quick Reality Check on the Timeline
- 2013: Donald Glover debuts as Marshall Lee in "Bad Little Boy."
- 2016: Glover returns for "Five Short Tables."
- 2023: Glover reprises the role for the first season of Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake.
- 2025-2026: Kris Kollins takes over the mantle as Glover focuses on his health and other creative pursuits.
What’s Next for Marshall?
As we look at where the franchise is heading in 2026, it seems like Marshall Lee is here to stay, regardless of who is behind the microphone. The Fionna and Cake series opened up so many doors for character growth that go beyond him just being "the male Marceline."
We're seeing his relationship with Gary Prince develop in ways that the original show only hinted at. We're seeing him deal with his mother (Hanna, the gender-swapped Hunson Abadeer). The character has graduated from a "what if" cameo to a fully fleshed-out protagonist.
If you're a die-hard Glover fan, it’s okay to miss that specific rasp he brought to the songs. But if you give Kris Kollins a fair shake, you'll see he’s keeping the spirit of the Vampire King alive without trying to be a carbon copy.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans:
- Listen to the Soundtracks: If you want to compare the two, go back and listen to "Good Little Girl" (Glover) and then check out the newer tracks from the latest Fionna and Cake episodes featuring Kollins.
- Watch the Credits: Always keep an eye on the end credits of the new episodes. Adventure Time is famous for sneaking in legendary guest stars for one-off lines.
- Support the Artists: Follow both Donald Glover and Kris Kollins on their musical platforms. Both of these guys are incredible musicians outside of their voice work, and that’s why they were picked for Marshall in the first place.