The team behind “Percy Jackson: The Series” was rocked by a major tragedy before the Fasntasy adventure launched on Disney+ in late 2023. Because Lance Reddick, known for series milestones like ‘The Wire’ or action blockbusters like ‘John Wick’, died of a fatal heart disease on March 17, 2023, shortly after the end of filming for the first season, in which he played the Greek god Zeus.
Reddick’s performance as Zeus was viewed by fans over the course of the first season with anticipation of a final reunion, but also sadness, while also raising the question of how the series or the series team would deal with the actor’s death. The finale of ‘Percy Jackson: The Series’, which has been available on Disney+ since yesterday, January 30, now provides an answer to this. Because in this episode, Reddick has both his first and last appearance as Zeus.
Lance Reddick is remembered in the end credits of the season finale
Over the course of the series, Percy Jackson (Walker Scobell) and his colleagues Annabeth (Leah Savah Jeffries) and Grover (Aryan Simhadri) search for the Master Lightning, which was stolen from Zeus by an unknown thief. Zeus initially suspects Percy of theft, while the young demigod sets out to prove his innocence by finding not only the Master Lightning, but also the real perpetrator. Zeus is a recurring, indirect presence in the story and the subject of countless conversations, while the head of Olympus is actually only seen as an independent character in the eighth and final episode of the season.
After Percy and Zeus finally meet in the season finale and the adventure surrounding the Master Lightning resolves itself, a memorial plaque for Lance Reddick is shown before the credits begin, which reads: “In Memory of Lance Reddick”.
In the run-up to the broadcast of the season finale, the creators of the series, including novelist Rick Riordan and executive producer Dan Shotz, as well as Poseidon actor Toby Stephens, also paid tribute to their late colleague in interviews.
The “Percy Jackson” team mourns the loss of Lance Reddick
This is what Rick Riordan explained in an interview with that he had admired the actor for years: “I’m happy that I was able to meet him at least once and tell him what a big fan I am of his work and how much he meant to me in his different roles, from ‘The Wire’ to ‘Bosch’ to ‘Percy Jackson’.”
Rick Riordan praised Lance Reddick’s portrayal of Zeus: “He had the power. He was the perfect leader and it was simply incredible to see him embody Zeus, the king of the cosmos. It’s bittersweet, but I’m glad the series can be a coda and a tribute, and one of his final performances.”
Toby Stephens, who plays Zeus’ brother Poseidon in the series, revealed himself Too bad he could no longer play alongside Lance Reddick: “I was really looking forward to playing with him more. This is very disappointing, but I’m sure the series will find a way to honor him as the story progresses. But it’s really sad.”
Series creator and executive producer Dan Shotz also spoke on working with Lance Reddick and the way he interacted with his co-stars: “I got to spend some time with Lance and he was an extraordinary person. I remember how he connected with the kids, what he brought to the series, his strength, his zest for life. He was a wonderful man and it was heartbreaking for all of us to lose him this way.”
While it is still unclear whether the fantasy hit will get a second season, it is also not yet clear how the series will handle the role of Zeus as it progresses. Until then, catch Lance Reddick in one of his final roles in the big season finale of “Percy Jackson: The Series” on Disney+.