After two films tailored from Rick Riordan’s books, the character of Percy Jackson now finds renewed life in an upcoming sequence. It stars a brand new era of actors within the beloved roles of Percy Jackson, Annabeth Chase, and Grover Underwood. Walker Scobell, 14, Leah Sava Jeffries, 14, and Aryan Simhadri, 17, infuse recent blood and perspective of their characters, initially written virtually 20 years in the past. They focus on that and extra in an unique interview.
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Simply one other child
Walker Scobell was fairly assured whereas taking up the enduring character made extra well-known by Logan Lerman within the films. A fan of the books and the flicks, Walker was well-versed with Percy Jackson inside out. However he admits enjoying him made the fan in him pay attention to what Percy is also: only a child.
“I obtained to find his infantile aspect, if that makes any sense. Since you do not actually give it some thought, however they’re actually 12. They’re youngsters! They’re needed criminals for destroying a nationwide monument, sorry. It was attention-grabbing to return and take a look at it. As a result of it blanks out of your thoughts while you’re enjoying him that he is a baby. He does not actually perceive these feelings and how one can management them,” mentioned Walker.
Up towards backlash
Leah Sava Jeffries was additionally only a child when she obtained backlash for her casting as Annabeth Chase, initially imagined as a white character within the books. After she and the makers obtained trolled extensively for the subversive casting, everybody from the writer Rick Riordan to actor Alexandra Daddario (who performed Annabeth within the films) got here out in Leah’s assist. Now that the episode is previous her, Leah thinks it solely fuelled her to be a greater performer on set.
‘Okay, these individuals are saying all this stuff. Let’s present them they’re improper,'” mentioned Leah.
“I believe that backlash occurred as a result of nobody noticed me play Annabeth but. However now, every thing is finished, every thing has come collectively properly, and I can not wait for everybody to see it. As a result of folks simply decide on the premise of what they see, what they hear, what they really feel with out really ready for it. The stuff that got here to me and what folks mentioned was actually a motivational factor. I took into consideration all of that and thought, ‘Okay, these individuals are saying all this stuff. Let’s present them they’re improper,'” mentioned Leah.
Push in range
She added that her co-stars saved her morale excessive every time she questioned herself. “Even my solid members mentioned, ‘You’re doing nice, do not take note of all that.’ So everybody has helped me rather a lot on this set. It is come collectively rather well and I can not wait so that you can see it,” Leah mentioned. Aryan Simhadri, an Indian-American solid as Grover Underwood, lauded the makers’ quest to be extra inclusive and various. “I do not converse for Leah clearly. However the surge in range and the time, cash, and real effort being put into discovering gifted creators and casting folks of color have been unimaginable in these final couple of years,” Aryan mentioned.
For Indian folks particularly, within the final era or earlier than this surge in range, we have been the nerds and the geeks. It is a very particular typecast or stereotype we are inclined to have.
“I am simply so glad that I get to play a personality meaning a lot to so many individuals, and never only a humorous sidekick sort of man. It is an honour,” he added.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians will premiere on Disney+ Hotstar on December 20.