Bungie has officially revealed the new actor in charge of voice work for Zavala, one of the central characters of the Destiny saga, after the passing of Lance Reddick earlier this year. The Destiny 2 Zavala character is now going to be voiced by Keith David, but all the lines recorded by Lance for the upcoming update The Final Shape will remain in place and untouched, serving as a tribute to the actor.
Keith David is known for his prolific career in movies, having participated in Jordan Peele’s Nope and some classics such as Armageddon and The Thing. He also played several parts in animated movies and videogames, so he isn’t a stranger to the role of Zavala in Destiny 2. DC League of Super-Pets and Mortal Kombat 11 are just a couple of examples from a long line of performances.
Bungie isn’t forgetting the dedication of Lance Reddick to the series, with a heartfelt message:
The passion and professionalism Lance brought to the role over the last decade was unmistakable and loved by all. 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.
Keith David and Bungie aren’t strangers at all; their story dates back from the times of Halo 2 and Halo 3, when he voiced the characters Arbiter and Thel ‘Vadam respectively. On this new chapter, Keith had the following to say (via Bungie):
I am honored to continue the great work of Lance Reddick as Zavala. Lance captured the character’s sense of integrity so wonderfully. It is my intention to continue that work.
Destiny 2: The Final Shape is expected to release by early 2024. It is the eight expansion and it’s not the end to Destiny 2, although it may be seen as the closing chapter of the Light and Darkness saga. With Bungie already considering the following 10 years for the Destiny saga, are we getting more expansions or Destiny 3?