Jeff Goldblum Replaces Hugh Grant as Zeus in Netflix Show Kaos

Jeff Goldblum will be replacing actor Hugh Grant in the role of Zeus, king of the Greek gods, in the upcoming Netflix show, Kaos.

Initially, Grant was cast in the role, but had to pull out of the dark comedy due to a scheduling conflict.

Kaos, which will be in production this summer, is a modern retelling of the famous stories of the Ancient Greek gods written by British actor and writer Charlie Covell.

Jeff Goldblum to play a paranoid Zeus on Netflix show, Kaos

“This genre-bending series puts a modern twist on Greek and Roman mythology, exploring themes of gender politics, power and life in the underworld,” the description for the series states on Netflix.

Along with Goldblum, who is famous for his role in the hit movie Jurassic Park, the cast will include Killian Scott, Aurora Perrineau, Misia Butler, Leila Farzad, Nabhaan Rizwan, Janet McTeer, David Thewlis, Cliff Curtis, Rakie Ayola, and Stanley Townsend.

Covell, speaking to Deadline, said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to be making [Kaos], and I can’t think of a more exciting or dynamic team of people to bring everything to life…Georgi (Banks-Davies) and Runyararo (Mapfumo) are both visionary directors with pleasingly dark senses of [humor]—I’m delighted to be working with them both.”

Goldblum’s Zeus will bear little resemblance to the all-powerful king of the Olympian gods that viewers are familiar with. Rather, the figure is one consumed by rage, jealousy, and paranoia that his reign over Mt. Olympus will soon come to an end.

Zeus, king of gods, resided on Mt. Olympus

Zeus, the greatest of all the figures of Greek mythology, ruled over all the assembled gods and goddesses, along with his wife, Hera.

He was the god of the sky, lightning, and thunder in ancient Greek religion. His mythology and powers are similar, though not identical, to those of Indo-European deities such as Jupiter, Perkūnas, Perun, Indra, Dyaus, and Thor.

The most fearsome of all the ancient Greek deities in every way, he was the child of Cronus and Rhea, the youngest of his siblings although sometimes counted as the eldest since the others required disgorging from Cronus’s stomach. He was said to have grown up on the Greek island of Naxos.

Zeus was infamous for his many love affairs and conquests, resulting in many divine, heroic offspring, including Athena, Apollo, Artemis, Hermes, Persephone, Dionysus, Perseus, Heracles, Helen of Troy, Minos, and the Muses.