With season 5 nearing, Lucifer fans are likely aware of a new, high-profile addition to the Netflix show’s cast: that of Dennis Haysbert, playing none other than God himself. In Lucifer, God is one of two co-creators of the Universe and the father of angels, alongside the Goddess (played by Tricia Helfer in human form). It has also been confirmed that this will not be a one-off appearance, but rather that Haysbert will be appearing throughout season 5, which was originally set to be Lucifer’s last but has since been renewed for a sixth – and truly final – season.
Considering Lucifer’s very premise and characters are centered on Abrahamic religion and mythology, it can be no surprise that God is an important presence in the show. In fact, rarely an episode goes by without Lucifer making some snide remark about his father, or Amenadiel lamenting his absence. Despite the many mentions, God’s identity and whereabouts have remained a mystery over the past four seasons.
At one point, it was believed the Almighty’s identity had been revealed when oil magnate Earl Johnson (Timothy Omundson) began calling himself God. However, it later came to light that he was under the influence of a belt buckle he purchased in a Navajo gift shop, and that the belt buckle was actually the Medallion of Life, one of the three pieces to constitute the Flaming Sword. This granted him divine knowledge and healing abilities, which allowed him to briefly convince Lucifer himself that he was his father. Neil Gaiman, creator of the Sandman DC comics on which Lucifer is based, briefly voiced the part of God in the alternate timeline episode, “Once Upon a Time”.
Haysbert’s casting for season 5, however, suggests that God will be taking a far more active role in the series. Crucially, his presence on Earth will undoubtedly cause great change to the existing dynamics, but the exact circumstances of his appearance remain unknown, at least for now. Since the showrunners initially believed Lucifer season 5 to be their last, it may well be that they intended to introduce God as part of a dramatic, no holds barred style final season climax. But now that Netflix has renewed Lucifer for another season, however, God’s appearance may be stretched across seasons 5 and 6, making the role even more substantial. After all, if he's appeared now, it would take something huge for him to suddenly exit the picture once more.
Whatever it is that finally has God returning to Earth, it is guaranteed to be significant. Possible theories involve Michael’s return, the birth of Amenadiel’s Nephilim son, or Lucifer’s continued stay in Hell, which could force God to intervene in his children’s affairs. It is also possible that, with Lucifer now redeemed and having lost his devil face, Lucifer will see the father and son’s relationship repaired and Lucifer’s resentment towards God soothed after many millennia spent apart. Given that God is literally one of Lucifer's only known weaknesses, that too throws a completely different light onto the show's dynamic and whether the relationship between the Father and his rebellious son is mended or further torn apart, the consequences on the show could be massive.