Luke Castellan is cruising for a bruising in Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 2. The upcoming season, which is about a week into production, will premiere on Disney+ in 2025. At D23 Expo, the cast and crew teased what could be coming. “I think we’re just to the point of getting over how tall everyone has gotten,” EP Craig Silverstein said. Based on book 2 of Rick Riordan’s series, The Sea of Monsters, this new saga will introduce Percy’s half brother, Tyson. “I’m looking forward to my two beautiful sons meeting each other, said Toby Stephens, who plays Aquadaddy Poseidon. Daniel Diemer, the actor playing Tyson in the show, took the stage and hugged his bro Walker Scobell. Diemer said he was a “huge fan” of the books. “Like ‘waiting for the books to be written’ fan.” Diemer is slightly older than the rest of his castmates, which means he probably has more vivid memories (nightmares?) of the Logan Lerman movies.
Still unknown: how the show will handle the death of Lance Reddick, who played Zeus. In February, the showrunners said they were still “in a little bit of denial” about having to recast or change the story. “He was a such an exceptional colleague and friend,” executive producer Dan Shotz said. “We miss him terribly. Every time I get to see him on screen it just makes me feel so proud that he was a part of this, and it meant so much to him to be a part of this.”
As Bungie continues to tease out the release of Destiny 2: The Final Shape, it has finally unveiled how Keith David (The Thing, Halo, Mass Effect) will sound when he assumes the mantle of Commander Zavala. Zavala, a key character in the Destiny series, had been played by the beloved actor Lance Reddick until last year, when he tragically passed from coronary heart disease.
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As part of the upcoming expansion’s marketing cycle, Bungie is in the midst of releasing a series of short documentaries on the making of The Final Shape. The first part of this doc, which debuted on May 23, contains two brief scenes debuting David as Zavala. They are, predictably, a gut punch.
The first scene, which comes about three minutes into the first part of the ViDoc, features Zavala telling an unseen character that he would’ve given anything to bring them back. He is presumably talking to Cayde-6, a character who was killed off in 2018’s Forsaken expansion and with whom Zavala had a close relationship (who is returning and will be voiced, once again, by Nathan Fillion). Later on, there is another cutscene of Zavala telling his fellow vanguard Ikora Rey that he won’t “lose another soldier in this war.” It’s impossible not to read the lines as the game’s developers and fans alike wishing Reddick could still be here for this momentous moment in the series.
Reddick’s character became an increasingly integral part of Destiny’s long-running story, but the actor was a positive fixture of the game’s community in real life, too. Fans adored Reddick, who often took the time out of his day to engage with them on social media. He’d often field questions from fans on Twitter even when he wasn’t actively working on the game or promoting it. When he passed,countless players amassed near his character in Destiny 2’s hub and publicly mourned Reddick’s passing while celebrating his contributions to the series.
After his passing, many Bungie developers who’d worked with Reddick shared how fond they had become of him over the years. Reddick, who’d been with the series since day one, seemed to have fostered an especially strong affinity for Destiny, and he often played the game. In a heartbreaking and completely unintended gesture, it was eventually discovered that Reddick was playing Destiny 2 the night before he passed away.
At the time of his passing, Reddick had recorded some lines for Zavala for some of the content following 2023’s Lightfall expansion. Over the course of some months though, Zavala’s role in the story diminished, and players understood before long that they’d probably heard the last of Reddick’s posthumous work. Beginning with The Final Shape, David is taking over the role, and though he has a commanding voice and certainly has the gravitas, Reddick’s unique take on the character he originated will be missed.
The Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror Films will honor iconic genre actor Lance Reddick at the 51st Saturn Awards next month. Not only is the academy dedicating the awards show to Reddick, but they are also establishing an award in his name. The Lance Reddick Legacy Award “symbolizes and celebrates not only a performer’s talent, but their character; someone who’s a true goodwill ambassador in the industry,” said academy president Robert Holguin and Saturn producers Bradley and Kevin Marcus in a statement.
The first recipient of the award will be Reddick’s friend andJohn Wick co-star Keanu Reeves. “From science fiction (The Matrix Trilogy), fantasy (Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure/Constantine) and horror(Francis Ford Coppola’s Dracula/The Devil’sAdvocate), Keanu has done it all — not to mention Speed and Point Break.”
They continued, “Keanu is not just a Hollywood icon but also a shining example of humility and gratitude. Throughout his incredible career, he has never forgotten the support of his fans and the filmmakers who’ve supported him all these years. We’re thrilled to celebrate Lance’s memory with a dear friend and a genre icon.”
Reddick tragically passed away in 2023, a week before the release of John Wick: Chapter Four. A that the time, Keanu Reeves and director Chad Stahelski released a joint statement to Variety, writing, “We are deeply saddened and heartbroken at the loss of our beloved friend and colleague Lance Reddick. He was the consummate professional and a joy to work with. Our love and prayers are with his wife Stephanie, his children, family and friends. We dedicate the film to his loving memory. We will miss him dearly.”
In addition to starring in the John Wick films as the Continental Hotel’s concierge Charon, Reddick appeared in The Wire, Bosch, Resident Evil, and the Destiny video games. Reddick also had a cameo as Zeus in Percy Jackson and the Olympians and will appear in the upcoming John Wick spinoff, Ballerina.
The 51st Saturn Awards will take place on February 4, with the ceremony streaming live on ElectricNow.
Ever since John Wick and The Wire actor Lance Reddick suddenly and unexpectedly passed away earlier this year, Destiny 2 fans have been wondering what would become of his iconic character, Commander Zavala. Today, Bungie announced that veteran actor Keith David, beloved for his video game work in Halo and Mass Effect, will take over in 2024’s The Final Shape expansion.
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“Lance’s iconic voice led us through the most intense moments in Destiny’s history and his impact on our Guardians, our community, and Bungie as a whole will never be forgotten,” Bungie announced on August 10. “Keith David, a prolific actor on the stage and in television, film, and games, will assume the English language voice of Zavala in The Final Shape and beyond. Separately, Lance’s existing lines in-game will remain untouched for the upcoming release.”
David’s appeared in a ton of movies, including The Thing, Platoon, and Nope. But he also has a long history of voice acting in games where he’s best known for his performances as the Arbiter in Halo 2, and Captain David Anderson in Mass Effect. “I am honored to continue the great work of Lance Reddick as Zavala. Lance captured the character’s sense of integrity so wonderfully,” he said in a press release. “It is my intention to continue that work.”
“One of the great qualities of Zavala that really attracts me is his integrity…and his sense of family,” said David. “And I thought Lance [Reddick] captured that wonderfully. And it is my intention to continue that work and continue to bring that kind of integrity to the role.”
Reddick was beloved within the Destiny 2 community not only as a great talent but also a massive fan of the game himself. He was found to have been playing shortly before his untimely death, and players flocked to the sci-fi MMO’s main social hub to pay their respects in the days that followed. Bungie has promised that The Final Shape, where David will first make his debut as the new voice of Zavala, will be the climactic expansion campaign and raid players have been waiting for as the live-service loot shooter finishes up its first big story arc, a conclusion 10 years in the making.
Update 08/10/2023 6:29 p.m. ET: Added video commentary from David.
John Wick (Keanu Reeves) kills the Elder, the only individual above the High Table in Morocco. Because of this, New York Chad Stahelski Continental Hotel manager Winston Scott (Ian McShane) and his concierge, Charon (Lance Reddick), are summoned to the Marquis Vincent de Gramont (Bill Skarsgard), a senior member of the High Table. Vincent kills Charon as a warning and sets a high open bounty on John Wicks. While the world’s best assassins are lured by the lucre to kill him, the two deadliest seem to be his old friend Caine (Donnie Yen), and a new entity, Mr Nobody (Shamier Anderson), who travels with an attack dog. His only hope to get out of this mess is to formally challenge Vincent to a duel and kill him. To do so, he has to be part of the High Table once more. His adoptive sister Katia (Natalia Tena), agrees to take him back into the fold, only if he manages to kill Killa (Scott Adkins), a German High Table member who murdered her father. John Wick successfully does so, leading to a mammoth showdown involving Caine, Mr Nobody, hundreds of hitmen and ultimately, Vincent himself…
The storyline doesn’t do justice to the parade of continuous action that you see for close to three hours. Director Chad Stahelski, who started out as a stuntman before moving up the ladder, pushes his actors and stunt doubles to the limits of human endurance. Never mind the fact that people aren’t actually being hit by speeding vehicles or falling off three floors on top of a car. It all looks so authentic that the audience gasps and groans, as if it’s physically feeling the pain. Some ideas are way out of this world. To see Scott Adkins kick some butt, delivering high kicks while wearing a prosthetic suit which bloats him out to Sumo proportions is deliciously wild. And what’s more audacious is having Donnie Yen play a blind assassin who is almost better than John Wick despite his handicap. It’s almost as if someone has given Ip Man Jedi powers. Donnie Yen dodging a hail of bullets playing a blind man asks for a complete suspension of disbelief but you can’t take your eyes off him while he’s doing that. There were rumours that we were going to see a crossover between the John Wick universe and Nobody universe. Well, that hasn’t actually happened, as Bob Odenkirk, who plays the titular character in the 2021 film, isn’t part of this movie. But we do have a Mr Nobody character, played by Shamier Anderson, who is something of a wildcard here. He and his canine companion bring their own dose of action and offer another layer to the proceedings.
The film can be seen as a homage to Keanu Reeves. Whether it’s The Matrix (1999), 47 Ronin (2013), or his directorial venture, Man of Tai Chi (2013), we see echoes of the previous films in this. John Woo has been credited as being the father of Gun Fu, where gun battle is combined with martial arts elements. And so much of John Woo’s early work, from films like A Better Tomorrow (1986), Bullet in the Head and more is reflected here. Chad Stahelski must have idolised Woo growing up and the student, one can say, has surpassed the master here.
Donnie Yen is 59 and Keanu Reeves is a year younger and yet both make action look so easy even at their age. They share a great camaraderie and it’s a treat to see two great action stars coming together and regaling the audience with their distinct fighting styles. While their individual scenes do make for a great watch, it’s their scenes together that truly elevates the film. Watching them together is like watching poetry in motion and kudos to the director and his team for bringing a lyrical quality to the action.
All-in-all, watch the film for its never-seen-before action sequences, as also for the pleasure of watching two masters of action, Keanu Reeves and Donnie Yen, giving their best to the film.
Trailer : John Wick
Neil Soans, March 23, 2023, 3:30 AM IST
critic’s rating:
4.5/5
John Wick: Chapter 4 Story: With few friends left in this criminal underworld, John Wick (Keanu Reeves) brings high stakes to the High Table as he faces the consequences of his deeds.
John Wick: Chapter 4 Review: The ‘John Wick’ series has been clear and precise in its offering, and Chapter 4, aka JW4, is no different in its premise. It builds on what the franchise has become synonymous with – high-octane, dazzling fight choreography and close-quarter combat featuring Keanu Reeves doing what he does best. But JW4 turns it all up a notch, expanding the mythos of the High Table with old players, featuring Laurence Fishburne, Ian McShane and the late Lance Reddick, but also introduces a mix of new characters who are all instantly memorable. Scott Adkins is virtually unrecognisable yet thoroughly enjoyable as Killa – a scenery-chewing villain plucked straight out of a James Bond movie. Donnie Yen often steals the show as Caine with his clean and crisp artistry, which warrants his own spin-off. Adding to the list of martial art legends are Hiroyuki Sanada and Marko Zaror, whose distinctive styles are hard to miss. Bill Skarsgård is menacingly measured as Marquis – a stylish baddie begging to be dispatched in the most brutal way. A wildcard thrown into the mix is Shamier Anderson’s mysterious Mr Nobody with his feisty canine companion. Rina Sawayama makes her film debut with some standout sequences of her own. However, the film rests on Keanu Reeves’ stoic shoulders, and his actions continue to speak louder than words with a relentless commitment to up the ante.
This high-calibre roster allows elaborately choreographed fight sequences to be presented in wide frames without fast-paced cuts. The results are breathtaking, with scenes shot inventively to often make JW4 play out like a live-action video game, perfectly capturing this franchise’s tone and feel. Director Chad Stahelski and Keanu Reeves have been pushing for more acknowledgement of stunt work in film. JW4’s remarkable stunt performers pull off innumerable jaw-dropping moments, presenting a showcase of their invaluable contribution to the entertainment industry. If the first John Wick film raised the bar for the spectacle of fight-based storytelling while reinforcing Keanu Reeves as a bona fide action star, JW4 redefines the gold standard for the genre.
NEW YORK (AP) — Lance Reddick, a character actor who specialized in intense, icy and possibly sinister authority figures on TV and film, including “The Wire,” “Fringe” and the “John Wick” franchise, has died. He was 60.
Reddick died “suddenly” Friday morning, his publicist Mia Hansen said in a statement, attributing his death to natural causes. No further details were provided.
Wendell Pierce, Reddick’s co-star on “The Wire” paid tribute on Twitter. “A man of great strength and grace,” he wrote. “As talented a musician as he was an actor. The epitome of class.” “John Wick — Chapter Four” director Chad Stahelski and star Keanu Reeves said they were dedicating the upcoming film to Reddick and were “deeply saddened and heartbroken at the loss.”
Reddick was often put in a suit or a crisp uniform during his career, playing tall, taciturn and elegant men of distinction. He was best known for his role as straight-laced Lt. Cedric Daniels on the hit HBO series “The Wire,” where his character was agonizingly trapped in the messy politics of the Baltimore police department.
“The Wire” creator David Simon praised Reddick on Twitter: “Consummate professional, devoted collaborator, lovely and gentle man, loyal friend. Could go on, but no, I can’t go on. This is gutting. And way, way, way too soon.”
“I’m an artist at heart. I feel that I’m very good at what I do. When I went to drama school, I knew I was at least as talented as other students, but because I was a Black man and I wasn’t pretty, I knew I would have to work my butt off to be the best that I would be, and to be noticed,” Reddick told the Los Angeles Times in 2009.
Reddick also starred on the Fox series “Fringe” as a special agent Phillip Broyles, the smartly-dressed Matthew Abaddon on “Lost” and played the multi-skilled Continental Hotel concierge Charon in Lionsgate’s “John Wick” movies, including the fourth in the series that releases later this month.
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<p>In a 2020 interview at the American Black Film Festival Honors, which honored ‘The Wire,’ Lance Reddick said the early 1980s made the show possible.</p>
“The world of Wick would not be what it is without Lance Reddick and the unparalleled depth he brought to Charon’s humanity and unflappable charisma. Lance leaves behind an indelible legacy and hugely impressive body of work, but we will remember him as our lovely, joyful friend and Concierge,” Lionsgate said in a statement.
Reddick earned a SAG Award nomination in 2021 as part of the ensemble for Regina King’s film “One Night in Miami.” He played recurring roles on “Intelligence” and “American Horror Story” and was on the show “Bosch” for its seven-year run.
His upcoming projects include 20th Century’s remake of “White Men Can’t Jump” and “Shirley,” Netflix’s biopic of former Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm. He was also slated to appear in the “John Wick” spinoff “Ballerina,” as well as “The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial.”
The Baltimore-born-and-raised Reddick was a Yale University drama school graduate who enjoyed some success after school by landing guest or recurring roles “CSI: Miami” and “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.” He also appeared in several movies, including “I Dreamed of Africa,” “The Siege” and “Great Expectations.”
It was on season four of “Oz,” playing a doomed undercover officer sent to prison who becomes an addict, that Reddick had a career breakthrough.
“I was never interested in television. I always saw it as a means to an end. Like so many actors, I was only interested in doing theater and film. But ‘Oz’ changed television. It was the beginning of HBO’s reign on quality, edgy, artistic stuff. Stuff that harkens back to great cinema of the ’60s and ’70s,” he told The Associated Press in 2011.
“When the opportunity for ‘Oz’ came up, I jumped. And when I read the pilot for ‘The Wire,’ as a guy that never wanted to be on television, I realized I had to be on this show.”
Reddick attended the prestigious Eastman School of Music, where he studied classical composition, and he played piano. His first album, the jazzy “Contemplations and Remembrances,” came out in 2011.
He had a recurring role as Jeffrey Tetazoo, director of the Central Intelligence Agency, on the CBS series “Intelligence.” On “American Horror Story: Coven,” he portrayed Papa Legba, the go-between between humanity and the spirit world.
Reddick is survived by his wife, Stephanie Reddick, and children, Yvonne Nicole Reddick and Christopher Reddick.
His death was first reported by celebrity website TMZ.com.
Lance Reddick, the actor who’s been lending his voice to games ranging from the Horizon series to Quantum Break, passed away Friday. He was 60 years old. While he’s been in films and TV shows such as John Wick and The Wire, Destiny players know him best as the commander of The Last City, the Awoken Guardian Zavala. Now, folks who’ve heard the news of Reddick’s death are flocking to his in-game character to honor him as their forever commander in a wholesome display of gamer solidarity.
Zavala is a mainstay in the Destiny universe. One of the first characters you meet after waking up in the original game and blasting your way through an alien-infested planet, Zavala could be found in the Tower’s war room alongside Cayde-6 and Ikora Rey. A kind of stoic blank slate in the beginning, he would primarily sling a variety of Titan armor in silence. However, he’s been given a lot of emotional backstory in the years since, with the character evolving in significant ways—he’s more talkative when you see him in the Tower now, standing alone and looking out at the Traveler, pontificating on the state of the world and his role in it in Reddick’s dulcet tones.
In last year’s Witch Queen expansion, he grappled with his faith as cosmic forces challenged it, which gave Reddick even more room to flex into Zavala’s character and personality. Subsequent seasons revealed a familiar tragedy from his past that still haunted him. Infamous lines memed into oblivion like, “We’ve stepped into a war with the Cabal on Mars,” also gave way to intimate personal tales of grief and struggle.
So, with the news that Reddick has suddenly passed away due to what police are saying is natural causes, many Guardians are now paying their respects to the beloved Titan Commander, heading to the Tower to pay tribute to him as best they can. Games journalist Saniya Ahmed shared a picture of gatherers at the Tower, writing that some players were giving each other emote hugs.
Kotaku senior editor Alyssa Mercante jumped into the game and confirmed there were folks gathered around Zavala. Several players deployed the Peaceful Rest emote, which surrounds them in neon-colored tower candles. Another held a shield and sword made of light. A few just sat.
Folks are heartbroken over this loss, including many Bungie employees, who shared their immediate reactions to the shocking news on Twitter. Artwork of Zavala has already been drawn up and sent out. Content creator Uhmaayyze shared an older image of Reddick holding a Destiny gun, beaming. Zavala quotes are circulating online, their meaning holding even more weight in light of this loss. Some players are even planning a “community-wide silent sit-down event” in front of Zavala to pay tribute to Reddick’s stellar performance, while others are trying to organize a shared color scheme to honor him. Reddick’s impact on the Destiny community cannot be understated, especially since the last tweet he liked was about the game.
It’s never a good feeling when a beloved figure passes, especially someone as influential and prolific as Lance Reddick. But thanks to the community’s adoration and his immortalization across mediums, Reddick will live on forever. So, eyes up, Guardians, Commander Zavala is forever watching over you.
Lance Reddick, an actor famous for his roles in the John Wick movies and HBO’s The Wire, has died at the age of 60.
Reddick died “suddenly” Friday morning, his publicist Mia Hansen said in a statement, attributing his death to natural causes. His death was first reported by celebrity website TMZ.com.
Reddick, who plays the character of Charon in the John Wick movies, had been on a press tour for the franchise’s fourth instalment and was set to visit The Kelly Clarkson Show next week.
The actor appeared to skip out on the New York City premiere of John Wick 4 on Wednesday, posting a video of himself with his dogs on social media instead. It’s not clear why he chose not to attend the event.
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Reddick was often put in a suit or a crisp uniform during his career, playing tall taciturn and elegant men of distinction. He was best known for his role as straight-laced Lt. Cedric Daniels on the hit HBO series The Wire where his character was agonizingly trapped in the messy politics of the Baltimore police department.
“I’m an artist at heart. I feel that I’m very good at what I do. When I went to drama school, I knew I was at least as talented as other students, but because I was a Black man and I wasn’t pretty, I knew I would have to work my butt off to be the best that I would be, and to be noticed,” he told the Los Angeles Times in 2009.
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He also had roles in small screen productions including American Horror Story, Fringe, Bosch, Oz and Lost.
Reddick earned a SAG Award nomination in 2021 as part of the ensemble for Regina King’s film One Night in Miami. His upcoming projects include 20th Century’s remake of White Men Can’t Jump and Shirley, Netflix’s biopic of former Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm. He was also slated to appear in the John Wick spinoff Ballerina, as well as The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial.
The Baltimore-born-and-raised Reddick was a Yale University drama school graduate who enjoyed some success after school, but it was on season four of Oz, playing a doomed undercover officer sent to prison who becomes an addict, that Reddick had a career breakthrough.
“I was never interested in television. I always saw it as a means to an end. Like so many actors, I was only interested in doing theater and film. But Oz changed television. It was the beginning of HBO’s reign on quality, edgy, artistic stuff. Stuff that harkens back to great cinema of the ’60s and ’70s,” he told The Associated Press in 2011.
“When the opportunity for Oz came up, I jumped. And when I read the pilot for The Wire, as a guy that never wanted to be on television, I realized I had to be on this show.”
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Reddick is survived by his wife, Stephanie Reddick, and children, Yvonne Nicole Reddick and Christopher Reddick.
