Percy JacksonRecasts Courtney B. Vance as Zeus 8 Months After Lance Reddick's Death: 'Can't Tell You How Excited I Am'

Mar. 15, 2025

(L) Courtney B. Vance and Lance Reddick.Photo:Victoria Sirakova/Getty; Mike Coppola/WireImage

Victoria Sirakova/Getty; Mike Coppola/WireImage

Courtney B. Vanceis stepping into a very important role inPercy Jackson and the Olympians.

Vance addressed the casting news in a statement shared with PEOPLE, saying, “I can’t tell you how excited I am to join the extraordinary cast of ‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians!'”

“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,” he continued, adding of Reddick, “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.”

PEOPLE has reached out to Disney for comment.

Courtney B. Vance.Matthew Jordan Smith

Matthew Jordan Smith

Based on Rick Riordan’s novels of the same name, the series stars newcomersWalker Scobell(Percy),Leah Jeffries(Annabeth) and Aryan Simhadri (Grover). The first season saw Reddick’s Zeus accuse Percy of stealing his lightning bolt and send the trio around the country to find it and stop a war from ensuing.

In March, Reddick’s reps announced that the late actor had died “suddenly” at age 60 from natural causes in a statement shared with PEOPLE.

Lance Reddick as Zeus in ‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’.David Bukach/Disney

David Bukach/Disney

At the time of his death, Reddick had a list of projects underway includingPercy Jackson, theJack Harlow-ledWhite Men Can’t Jumpreboot,Shirley,St. Sebastianand theJohn WickspinoffBallerina.

Percy Jacksonseason 1 served as Reddick’s final television role. His performance as Zeus touched devoted fans of the beloved series. At the show’s Television Critics Association’s winter press tour panel in February, an audience member asked who would be filling Reddick’s role in future episodes.

Co-creator and executive producer Jon Steinberg admitted there was “a little bit of denial” regarding the process of having to replace Reddick.

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“In terms of Lance, I don’t think anybody’s there yet. I think we have a minute, I think, there’s also such a little bit of denial maybe that that’s something that we’re going to have to deal with,” Steinberg said. “But we’re incredibly grateful for this character that he helped build and this presence that he created, and I do not envy whoever ends up having to step in his shoes.”

source: people.com