Lego Horizon Adventures is moving forward with a new voice for Sylens, a character originally portrayed by Lance Reddick, following the actor's passing in March 2023.
As a significant character in Horizon Zero Dawn and its sequel, Horizon Forbidden West, Sylens teams up with the main character, Aloy, in their quest to uncover the mysteries of the machines and the legacy of the ancient civilization. Lucas Bolt, a senior world artist at Guerrilla Games, shared that while Sylens will be featured in Lego Horizon Adventures, a different actor will bring the character to life.
In discussing the decision, Bolt remarked that the loss of Reddick is profoundly felt within the team and the broader community. He praised Reddick’s exceptional portrayal of Sylens in the previous games. The new voice actor for Sylens will be revealed later, while the original cast members including Ashly Burch (Aloy), JB Blanc (Rost), John Macmillan (Varl), and John Hopkins (Erend) will also return, contributing to the nostalgic feel of the game.
Though recasting Sylens may be necessary due to Reddick's demise, the developers had alternative options available. Previous Lego titles have often utilized dialogue from the original games, and implementation of AI technology was notably seen in Cyberpunk 2077 where a voice actor was replaced posthumously.
The choice to recast suggests the possibility that this new actor may also participate in forthcoming Horizon titles, though no confirmation has been made yet. Guerrilla is currently developing a Horizon Online multiplayer experience, while plans for Horizon 3 remain uncertain. A remastered version of Horizon Zero Dawn is set to release at the end of October.
Reddick, celebrated for his performances in franchises like John Wick and Destiny, passed away unexpectedly from natural causes on March 17. His contributions were honored by both the entertainment and gaming sectors, with numerous individuals expressing their admiration for him.
Guerrilla Games also paid homage to Reddick in Horizon Forbidden West, with an in-game tribute dedicated to him included in an area accessible through the Burning Shores expansion.