Bungie announces a new Zavala voice actor for Destiny 2

Bungie has now announced a new voice actor for Destiny 2’s iconic character, Zavala. The announcement comes following the unexpected death of Zavala’s original voice actor, Lance Reddick, earlier this year. 

Lance Reddick, known for his performances in John Wick and The Wire, sadly passed away in March 2023. The veteran actor was popular among the gaming community for his roles in Destiny 2 as Commander Zavala and other characters like Sylens in PlayStation’s Horizon series. 

Not only was Lance popular, but he was beloved in the Destiny 2 community, so much so that when the news of his sudden passing was made public, players flocked to Destiny 2 to pay respect by standing in line and performing the “Humanity’s Sheild” emote in front of Commander Zavala.

But given how important Zavala will be in Destiny 2’s upcoming major expansion, The Final Shape, Bungie has decided on the successor for everyone’s favorite Titan Commander. 

Keith David to voice Commander Zavala in Destiny 2

Keith David will play Zavala, who was once portrayed by the late veteran actor Lance Reddick, Bungie confirmed. Following the announcement, Keith said, “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.”

He posted the message on Twitter, also thanking fans for their support.

Hello Guardians! Speculate no more; the future of Zavala is nigh.@DestinyTheGame pic.twitter.com/RBq6VZixkK

— KeithDavid (@ImKeithDavid) August 10, 2023

The announcement was first made public by Bungie in a blog post. In their statement, Bungie wrote, “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.”

Keith has voiced in gaming before, as Arbiter in Halo 2, and Captain David Anderson in Mass Effect. His other notable work in filmography includes They Live, The Thing, Men at Work, and The Princess and the Frog.

Given his prolific career, Keith has been welcomed by the community, but Lance’s legacy continues to live on. For more on Destiny 2, check out:

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