Percy Jackson & The Olympians is a series that not only lived up to fan expectations, but exceeded them. After two lacklustre film adaptations, they finally got it right and that’s in major part due to the castings of Walker Scobell, Leah Sava Jeffries and Aryan Simhadri. Last month, we sat down and spoke to the trio about all things Percy Jackson. Check out our conversation below!
Walker, I know you’ve said in previous interviews that you are a massive fan of the books and read them multiple times but I’m curious, for Leah and Aryan, did you guys read the books as well and if you didn’t, were you advised against reading them or not?
L.S.J: I was already a fan of the books. I think if you haven’t read [the Percy Jackson books], I recommend that you do. Even if we added every single detail in this series, it’s still good to read the books because I feel like it would be better for the reader. Also, they’re Mr. Rick’s [Riordan] books so there’s that. Yeah, when I read them, it was one of those books where it caught the reader’s attention, like when you’re in school and have to write a summary on a book, Mr. Rick’s books were definitely like that. You read the first chapter and you’re like “Oh this is gonna be my summer read”.
And for you, Aryan?
A.S: Leah summed it up perfectly. I was a huge fan of the books and read them in 3rd or 4th grade. They were the second series I ever read and the books that got me into reading. Like Leah said, since it’s in first person, you feel like you’re being told a story about someone you could be friends with. That’s what holds your attention while you read it.
That’s a great way to put it. Now, we have to talk about Camp Half-Blood. It’s such an important landmark in the books and we see it make its debut in Episode 2 where Percy meets so many characters and learns new activities. I’m curious, for you guys, not as your characters but personally, which activity do you think you’d have the most fun doing?
W.S: Ooh! That’s a good question.
A.S: Most fun or the best at?
Why not both?
A.S: I’m not sure why I asked that because I didn’t have an answer!
W.S: I feel like Pegasus riding would be fun but I’d be the best at Capture the Flag.
A.S: I’d really wanna lead a team for Capture The Flag, that would be awesome.
L.S.J: I wanna say archery because when you’re shooting the arrows with fire, that’s really cool. I think I’d be the best at that but have the most fun with Capture the Flag.
Totally valid, who doesn’t love Capture the Flag Now, which Camp Half-Blood cabin would you belong in?
W.S: I don’t wanna be unoriginal and lame but Cabin 3 is my pick.
A.S: Hermes or Dionysus, since they’re part of the Original 12 but I think one of those 2.
For obvious reasons, I agree with you on Dionysus!
L.S.J: I’d stick with Athena. I belong there.
I love these answers so far! Something I love about these books is that Percy, Annabeth and Grover fight a bunch of creatures from Greek mythology like the Minotaur and Medusa. I’m curious, which creature do you think you’d have the best chance at fighting?
W.S: Ooh, that’s another good question. As characters or in real life?
Real life.
W.S: Do we have weapons?
Of course! Given any arsenal of weapons or tools, which one would you stand a chance against?
A.S: I feel like i could fist-fight the Minotaur and win.
W.S: I feel like you wouldn’t need a Celestial weapon, whatever that is. But if I had a weapon, I feel like I could take on Crusty, just don’t lay in a water bed right.
A.S: Changed my answer, I think I could take Hellhound, if I had a sword and sheild.
W.S: If I closed my eyes and just started swinging, I feel like I’d kill Medusa eventually right?
You try enough times and it’ll happen right?
L.S.J: I feel like the Furies, because I’ve already…wait that’s a spoiler. Well, something in the show! I feel like it’s easy even though there’s 3 of them, they’d all…how do I explain this? I don’t know but I feel like I’d stand a chance!
Great answers guys, I think you’d take them all. I have one final question for you guys. Rick has said despite no official green-light, work on Season 2 has begun so I’m curious, assuming you get to adapt all 5 books, which I hope you do, which book are you most excited to do?
W.S: The Last Olympian, easy answer.
A.S: It’s the best book. I’m really excited to see Dior [Goodjohn] take down the dragon (Dior Goodjohn plays Clarisse in the series). I’m so excited for that.
L.S.J: She’s gonna kill it.
W.S: This is gonna sound weird but Dior is really good at screaming, there’s a scene in Episode 2 during Capture the Flag where she scares the crap out of me and I wasn’t acting at all.
I hope you get the chance to adapt all the books. Thank you so much for taking the time again, enjoy the rest of your stay!
Percy Jackson & The Olympians is streaming on Disney+ now!
