Destiny 2: The Final Shape Reveals First Listen of Keith David as Commander Zavala

Bungie has given fans their first listen of Keith David as Commander Zavala in Destiny 2 following the passing of his original actor, Lance Reddick, last March.

The short peek at this new chapter for the Guardian figurehead arrived in a Destiny 2 ViDoc earlier today. The nine-minute video, titled Becoming Legend – Part 1: Confronting Oblivion, offers just a few, somber lines that highlight David’s proud-yet-gravely delivery.

“I used to think I’d give anything to bring you back,” Commander Zavala says in one section. In another moment, he says, “I won’t lose another soldier in this war.” Both clips were captured and shared by @DestinyBulletn on X/Twitter.

BREAKING: First look at Keith David’s (@ImKeithDavid) Commander Zavala in Destiny 2 The Final Shape. pic.twitter.com/aAY1J7JHuA

— Destiny Bulletin (@DestinyBulletn) May 23, 2024

Reddick, who had portrayed the commander since his introduction in 2017, passed away suddenly in March 2023. Along with playing the Destiny 2 role, he was known for his parts in the John Wick movies, The Wire, Lost, Horizon Zero Dawn and its sequel Horizon Forbidden West, and more. Reddick was a loving fan of the Destiny franchise and gaming in general, so it was no surprise to see fans pay tribute after news of his death made its way to the public.

David was announced to take on the role of Commander Zavala the following August. He posted a message praising Reddick’s work at the time, helping fans with the transition.

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

— Keith David (@ImKeithDavid) August 10, 2023

Developer Bungie’s two-part ViDoc series covers The Final Shape, the next major Destiny 2 expansion. It’s set to launch June 4, 2024, and brings an end to another major section of the series’ grand story. For more, you can check out everything else we know about the new content ahead of its release in a few weeks. Then, be sure to read about Bungie’s decision to reverse course on “sunsetting” weapons and why Director Joe Blackburn announced plans to step away from Destiny.

Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor with IGN. He started writing in the industry in 2017 and is best known for his work at outlets such as The Pitch, The Escapist, OnlySP, and Gameranx.

Be sure to give him a follow on Twitter @MikeCripe.