According to Bungie, the late Lance Reddick will live on as a yet-to-be-released voice work for Destiny 2.
The Destiny 2 developers released a statement on Reddick's passing in a recent blog post (opens in a new tab): "As an actor, musician, gamer, and family man, Lance's passion for the things he loved has reflected in the eyes and hearts of all who loved him. For now, we will honor his presence through his upcoming in-game performances and in memories that will last a lifetime."
It seems that before his passing, Reddick recorded more lines for Zavala that should be released in future content patches. In a moving tribute to Reddick, Destiny 2 players held rallies around the corner from Zavala's Tower (the Destiny 2 player hub).
Reddick played the iconic Commander Zavala, the stoic vanguard commander of the Last City, humanity's last bastion on earth. Zavala has been a constant fixture throughout the Destiny saga, guiding the Guardians, Destiny's lightweight, immortal heroes, through trials and tribulations great and small. Reddick's smooth, even tones brought the character to life in a big way, helping to convey the stability, quiet confidence and good naturedness that give Zavala his distinctive character.
Gone but not forgotten
Lance Reddick was a prolific actor. In addition to his iconic role in Destiny 2, he voiced Sylens in Horizon Forbidden West and Thordack in The Legend of Vox Machina. He also played Charon in the John Wick movies and Cedric Daniels in The Wire.
Reddick brought an undeniable dignity and nobility to his performances, bringing a distinctive presence and seriousness to the roles he tackled.
When I first played Destiny 2, I chose to play a Titan, Destiny's tank class. As the leader of the Titans, Reddick's Zavala became a touchstone for my experience of the Destiny universe. Zavala epitomized the grim selflessness of the Titan class and gave me a real sense of what it means to be a part of the world of Destiny. His distinctive performance stayed with me as I navigated Bungie's high-concept sci-fi shooter.
In the face of overwhelming odds and apocalyptic threats, Zavala showed us what it meant to remain calm and meet the challenge with resolve. Reddick's Zavala is the moral center of Destiny 2, propelled by a deeply memorable and moving performance that resonates with the hearts of Destiny players around the world.
However, it is comforting to know that his legacy will live on both in the roles he has played and in his yet unseen performances as Zavala in Destiny 2. To quote Zavala himself: "What we have built is just the beginning, a symbol of what we we can achieve.
Rest in peace Lance.