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In the wake of Lance Reddick’s passing last year, Disney has revealed that it’s found the actor to take over the role of Zeus in Percy Jackson & the Olympians moving forward.
Tony- and Emmy-winner Courtney B. Vance will be stepping into the part, confirming the news with a statement to Variety.
“I can’t tell you how excited I am to join the extraordinary cast of Percy Jackson and the Olympians!” Vance said. “There are few moments in an actor’s career when you can honestly say that you’re about to board a series that has such a devoted fan base filled with characters beloved around the world and is based on a wildly successful book series. I know that stepping into this role of Zeus will be a memorable experience and I’ll be giving my brother, Lance Reddick, who left us way too soon, a heavenly hug.”
The official Percy Jackson Instagram account posted about the news as well, with executive producer Dan Shotz saying in a statement, “Finding someone to step into this role going forward was not an easy task, but when icon Courtney B. Vance answered the call, we knew the Gods were listening. This legend of cinema not only wanted to honor the books, but wanted to honor Lance’s legacy.”
Zeus, the king of the Greek gods, played an important role in Percy Jackson & the Olympians Season 1, accusing Percy of stealing his thunderbolt and essentially setting all the events in motion. Reddick, however, died at the age of 60 last March, shortly after Season 1 wrapped production.
Vance is only one of a number of new cast members stepping into the adaptation of Rick Riordan’s books in Season 2, including Tamara Smart as Thalia Grace, Andra Day as Athena, Daniel Diemer as Tyson, and Timothy Simons as Tantalus. They join Season 1 stars like Walker Scobell, Leah Sava Jeffries, and Aryan Simhadri.
Percy Jackson & the Olympians Season 2 is currently in production, earning a swift renewal back in February. We gave the first season a 7/10, saying it “adds itself to the pantheon of YA adaptations with a competent yet bumpy first season of television that succeeds in both fan service and welcoming new audiences.”
Alex Stedman is a Senior News Editor with IGN, overseeing entertainment reporting. When she’s not writing or editing, you can find her reading fantasy novels or playing Dungeons & Dragons.
