In a post-finale interview, co-creator/co-showrunner Jon Steinberg and fellow showrunner Dan Shotz reveal what is the plan for the late actor's Zeus character if there will be a second season.
- Jan 31, 2024
AceShowbiz - "Percy Jackson and the Olympians" concluded its season 1 in the Tuesday, January 30 episode. The finale, which saw whether Percy Jackson (Walker Scobell) managed to do his quest, also featured a tribute to actor Lance Reddick, who played Zeus on the highly-anticipated Disney+ series.
[SPOILER ALERT!] In the episode, fans were treated to an extensive scene with Reddick and Scobell as Percy faced Zeus atop Mount Olympus. The episode saw the late actor playing one of the final on-screen roles of Reddick. The actor died suddenly in March 2023, shortly after production on "Percy Jackson" wrapped.
Of honoring Reddick, series co-creator and co-showrunner Jon Steinberg told Variety, "We wanted Zeus to be someone who needs to be constantly convincing himself that everything is fine and under control. That felt like it came with a little bit of theater, a little bit of projection of his own authority, but also a sense of real presence. When you take all of those ideas and start looking for a person who embodies them, they just start to look like Lance."
"He is so - was so regal, and able to convey so many different things at the same time. To stand on stage and do a very theatrical monologue, but feel so grounded," Steinberg said of the fallen star. "The population of actors who can do those things, and then also just be the sweetest person and great with the kids he's acting with - heartbreaking is the right word. It was a perfect fit in a very hard-to-fit role, and he went way too soon."
Co-showrunner Dan Shotz also recalled how Reddick described the "Percy Jackson" book as "Shakespearean." He further shared, "He put a lot of pressure on himself even in the short time we had with him. He understood what he was a part of, and the importance of it. It says everything about him as an actor. He just brought it."
Shotz added that having Zeus as one of Reddick's last roles was "so perfect." He divulged, "I've spoken to his wife, and she's so happy about this role, and him being a part of this. She reached out directly with a beautiful note about how excited she is to see him in this role. So I'm hurting, we're all hurting. But at the same time, I cannot wait for people to see his performance."
As for what will happen to Zeus in season 2, which hasn't been officially greenlit, Steinberg shared that they'll try to find the right thing to do as he admitted, "It's difficult to have two different human beings inhabit the same character. But life happens, and sometimes that's where you are." Shotz added, "What's nice about what's gonna happen this week is that Lance Reddick will be immortalized as Zeus. Whatever takes place down the road, we can deal with."
