Pack an overnight bag and your favorite mythological weapon because it's almost time for our first trip to Camp Half-Blood! Percy Jackson and the Olympians is set to premiere on Disney+ on Dec. 20th. We were invited to attend press day with the cast and creators for the highly-anticipated adaptation of the bestselling series by Rick Riordan. They shared bringing the series to life, how they approached their portrayals of the iconic characters, and what they nabbed from the set.
Aryan Simhadri (Grover), Walker Scobell (Percy), & Leah Sava Jeffries (Annabeth) Disney
Their love of Percy Jackson started way before Walker Scobell, Aryan Simhadri, and Leah Sava Jeffries were considered for the roles. Scobell, who plays the titular Percy Jackson, shared his heartwarming connection with the books saying that he's read them at least seven times. "I remember reading about Percy's quest for the lightning bolt and feeling that sense of adventure. It's surreal now to be living it on set." Simhadri, who plays saytr Grover Underwood, adds "I was a huge fan before I even knew that they were starting a show. So getting to play such an iconic character has been, like just amazing." Jeffries, who plays daughter of Athena, Annabeth Chase, shared "Before I had got the part for Percy Jackson, I was at school writing a mini essay on Percy Jackson." For the actors, these stories went from myths they read to real life.
Walker Scobell (Percy) & Leah Sava Jeffries (Annabeth) Disney
"Annabeth is a force of nature, and I wanted to capture her strength and intelligence while adding my own touch," said Jeffries about what she wanted to bring to the character. "Mr. Rick [Rick Riordan] told us to be ourselves when we film this." Jeffries shared that both she and Annabeth have a vulnerability and determination that she was able to lean into to breathe life into the strong character. Looking back at her role in Beast, Jeffries said it was a 180 for her as an actor. "In Percy Jackson, I'm more like, 'Come on, show me what you got,' basically, to the monster and stuff and I'm like, 'I'm ready for it.' I had to switch from 'Oh no, I'm scared' to 'Guys, stand back!'" This was a switch that Jeffries welcomed.
Simhadri appreciated Grover's kindness. "One of my favorite things [about Grover] was how connected he is to everyone that he cares about, which is a trait that I really admire in him and it's something that I really wanna take from." Scobell wanted to keep the characters grounded. "I think that it's really important to remember that he's still a 12-year-old kid. Percy's journey is about growth and self-discovery. It's a rollercoaster of emotions, and I'm thrilled to bring that to life."
Creator/Showrunner Jonathan Steinberg and Shotz both spoke of the challenge of staying faithful to Riordan's source material while making strategic decisions for the television format. Steinberg noted, "It's a constant balancing act between a real sense of reverence for the material and a willingness to try stuff. I think having Rick and Becky on board makes that process possible." Shotz added, "You know, Rick wrote this 20 years ago and he had some distance from it. So it was exciting to hear what things he wanted to do with it, how he wanted to explore different themes and ideas and dig deeper, into all of it."
Walker Scobell (Percy) Disney
A huge part of Percy Jackson's journey is finding out there is a place for kids just like him - Camp Half-Blood. Scobell shared that the first time he stepped onto the set of the camp was surreal. "When you walk onto the set, you're not on a soundstage anymore. You're at Camp Half-Blood. It's mind-blowing." Jeffries echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the authenticity of the set, where every detail reflected the pages of Percy's adventures. Executive Producer Dan Shotz shared, "What was amazing for us seeing it come to life was, it's the first time I've seen hundreds of background artists put a shirt on and their whole body changed."
There seems to be magic in those famous orange t-shirts, but no amount of protective spells could stop the cast and crew from pilfering a few prized possessions from the set! "Let's just say, some props may have found new homes after filming. It's a testament to the bond we formed on set." Simhadri said. In addition to talking multiple swords (metal and bamboo), Scobell added, "I got to take my armor. They told me I could only take one outfit, but I just put them all in a duffel bag and left." Jeffries went big, not only taking a shield, necklace, and dagger but added, "I actually took a whole centaur home with me."
The first two episodes of Percy Jackson and the Olympians hit Disney+ on December 20. Be sure to tune in to A Bite Of: Movies & TV for coverage and reviews on Percy Jackson and the Olympians and more!
Main photo from Disney
