Lance Reddick was a legend whose work across the fields of movies, games, and television delivered some of the most memorable characters of all time. Reddick’s death in March 2023 sent shockwaves through the gaming industry, due in no small part to the immensely personal connection many gamers felt to his characters. Reddick was perhaps best known for his roles asDestiny’s Zavala, Vanguard Commander of the Last City, and Sylens, theHorizonseries' mysterious deuteragonist. Earlier this month, veteran voice actorKeith David was confirmed to be taking over the role of Zavala. However, recasting Sylens poses a much greater challenge, as his appearance in theHorizon Forbidden West: Burning Shoresnot only included the actor’s likeness but placed him at the very center of the series' future.
Horizon Forbidden Westis the sequel to 2017’sHorizon Zero Dawn, taking place 6 months after the original’s events. The title follows Aloy as she seeks to find a working backup of GAIA, a group of programs that can reverse the degradation of Earth’s biosphere. The title sees her set out for the Forbidden West, at the behest of the mysterious Sylens, where she encounters new tribes of humanity, fearsome new machines, and crucial new allies. The title’s main antagonists are futuristic humans called Far Zenith, an organization of billionaires who fled Earth during its previous global extinction event. Aloy learns that they have initiated a second extinction, of their own accidental creation, called Nemesis, which is currently headed for Earth.
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Lance Reddick Lends More than His Voice to Horizon’s Sylens
Lance Reddick’s voice was unmistakable, and its unique qualities allowed the actor to inject much of himself into each role that he played. Because of this, Reddick will remain the one and only Zavala and Sylens for many players. With the news thatKeith David will take over the role of Zavala, many fans feel that part of the character has been irrevocably lost, and this will always ring true. It’s a new era for Zavala in more ways than one, but it’s hard to forget how Zavala and Reddick himself were a pillar of the community. There’s no erasing or forgetting him, with even Keith David acknowledging his grand undertaking. That loss goes doubly for Sylens.
Lance Reddick’s death sent shockwaves through theHorizoncommunity, as the veteran actor voiced, motion captured, and contributed his likeness to the pivotal character. Every facet of Sylens embodied Reddick’s unique style, gravitas, and talent. Because of this, the choice to potentially recast the character is both controversial and daunting, even more so than Zavala.Horizondeveloper Guerrilla Games likely could have retired the character, if it wasn’t forHorizon Forbidden West’s recentBurning ShoresDLC, but it may still be an option if with significant rewrites. But writing Sylens out of the story would be noticed as well, even if maybe the best choice.
Lance Reddick’s Sylens is Crucial to the Future of the Horizon Series
TheBurning ShoresDLC sees Reddick’s Sylens play a key role, informing Aloy of a remaining Zenith member, Londra, who is operating out of the Burning Shores, the ruins of Los Angeles. Londra is thought to possess the key to defeating Nemesis, so Aloy sets out to discover a path to victory before the machine arrives on Earth. Thanks to Sylens, Aloy learns a bit about Londra’s background as a tech mogul and celebrity, which has now led him to be worshiped as a god by deserters of the Quen tribe. Following his defeat, Aloy sends his data to Sylens, who decrypts it.
Sylens discovers data connected to a list of companies that were developing experimental weaponry before the Earth’s extinction event, who now potentially possess the means to defeat Nemesis when it arrives on Earth. TheBurning ShoresDLC ends with Sylens arriving at The Base, Aloy and her allies' operational headquarters, where he and Aloy meet in her room. It is here that Sylens admits that he cannot beat Nemesis alone, showcasing humility for the first time and setting the character up as an important ally moving forward.
With Reddick’s death, the future of one ofHorizon’s most knowledgeable, and now crucial, characters is thrown into question. Guerrilla Games now faces the impossible decision of whether to recast Sylens, due to his importance to the plot, or allow a character who so fully embodied the strength, mystery, and talent of the late Lance Reddick to become his lasting legacy.
Horizon Forbidden Westis available now for PS4 and PS5.
