Percy Jackson and the Olympians: Courtney B. Vance to Play Zeus in Season 2

The creative team behind the adaptation of the Percy Jackson saga has found a new actor to play Zeus in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series following the death of Lance Reddick, his original portrayer, in 2023. As revealed by Variety, Disney has chosen Courtney B. Vance (Law and Order: Criminal Intent, Grotesquerie) to take on the role of the mythical Greek god.

In a statement released by the American media, Courtney B. Vance made no secret of his excitement at the prospect of joining the adventure: “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 adds, “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.”

Dan Shotz, producer and co-showrunner of Percy Jackson and the Olympians, said: “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. We can’t wait for you all to see him take the throne.”

The second season of Percy Jackson and the Olympians, expected to debut on Disney+ in 2025, will be an adaptation of the book Percy Jackson and the Olympians: Sea of Monsters and will introduce new characters. As previously announced, Daniel Diemer (Under the Bridge, The Midnight Club) will play Percy’s half-brother Tyson, while Tamara Smart (Resident Evil, The Worst Witch) and Andra Day (We the People, The United States vs. Billie Holiday) have been cast as Thalia Grace, Zeus’ daughter, and Athena, Annabeth’s mother. Sandra Bernhard (Roseanne, Pose), Kristen Schaal (Bob’s Burgers, The Mysterious Benedict Society) and Margaret Cho (Drop Dead Diva, Life & Beth) will play the Gray Sisters. Finally, Timothy Simons (Nobody Wants This, Veep) will take on the role of Tantalus, the interim Activities Director at Camp Half-Blood.