Vance is the new Zeus in Percy Jackson and The Olympians

Following the passing of Lance Reddick, the role of Zeus in the Disney+ series Percy Jackson and the Olympians has been recast. Courtney B. Vance will now portray the king of the gods. The second season of the series also introduces new cast members Tamara Smart as Zeus's daughter Thalia Grace, and Andra Day as Athena. Additionally, Timothy Simons and Daniel Diemer have joined the cast in undisclosed roles.

As Variety reported, Vance said in a statement how “excited” he is to join the series, saying, “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 th 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,” Vance shared.

Rick Riordan, who wrote the Percy Jackson books, also joined his enthusiasm saying how “excited” he and the crew are to have Vance come aboard, “It is truly a gift from the gods!”

“Getting to work with this fierce and gentle talent in one of his last roles as Zeus in Percy Jackson and the Olympians was truly awe inspiring,” Shotz said. “I felt so fortunate to watch this man stand tall on Mt. Olympus, but more importantly I felt lucky to be able to call him a friend.”

“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,” Shotz added. “This legend of cinema not only wanted to honor the books, but wanted to honor Lance’s legacy. We can’t wait for you all to see him take the throne.”