The cast of Percy Jackson and the Olympians discusses achieving proper diversity in the upcoming Disney+ series

Following two film adaptations of Rick Riordan's novels, Percy Jackson is set to embark on a new journey in an upcoming series. Revitalizing the beloved roles of Percy Jackson, Annabeth Chase, and Grover Underwood are a talented trio of young actors—14-year-olds Walker Scobell and Leah Sava Jeffries, along with 17-year-old Aryan Simhadri. Their youthful energy and perspectives breathe new life into characters originally penned almost two decades ago.

Navigating the Legacy

Walker Scobell exuded confidence as he embraced the iconic character, previously brought to fame by Logan Lerman in the movies. Being a fan of both the books and films, Walker possessed an in-depth understanding of Percy Jackson. However, he acknowledges that portraying Percy brought about a realization—the fan within him took notice of Percy's essence: at the core, just a kid.

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"I had the opportunity to explore his childish side, if that makes any sense. Because you don't really think about it, but they're really 12. They're kids! They're wanted criminals for destroying a national monument, sorry. It was interesting to go back and look at it," shared Walker.

Overcoming Backlash

Leah Sava Jeffries found herself facing criticism when she, just a young individual, was cast as Annabeth Chase—a character originally envisioned as white in the books. Enduring extensive trolling alongside the production team for this unconventional casting choice, support poured in from figures such as author Rick Riordan and actress Alexandra Daddario, who previously portrayed Annabeth in the movies. Reflecting on the past incident, Leah believes it has only fueled her determination to excel as a performer on set.

"I believe the initial backlash stemmed from the fact that no one had seen me portray Annabeth yet. Now that everything is completed and has come together seamlessly, I'm eager for everyone to witness it," expressed Leah Sava Jeffries.

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She further noted that her co-stars consistently uplifted her spirits whenever self-doubt crept in. "Even my fellow cast members reassured me, saying, 'You're doing great, don't pay attention to all that.' The support from everyone on this set has been invaluable," shared Leah Sava Jeffries.