Original star Logan Lerman shares his thoughts on the Disney+ TV adaptation and his hopes for the cast and series going forward. The actor portrayed the eponymous demigod in the 2010 movie The Lightning Thief, which adapted the first novel in Rick Riordan's acclaimed fantasy series, before reprising the role in the 2013 sequel Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters. In 2024, Walker Scobell took on the role of Percy in a new television adaptation of the books for Disney+, with Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 2 currently filming.
With Lerman present at the Sundance Film Festival to promote his new movie Oh, Hi!, the actor opened up to ScreenRant's Grant Hermanns about his feelings on Disney+'s Percy Jackson and the Olympians. Lerman shared that he's seen a bit of it, and he's met some of the cast. The actor praised the series' young stars for their enthusiasm and work so far, though he admitted seeing the remake had left him feeling the full weight of the passage of time. Check out the full exchange below:
People ask me about it all the time. I've been getting questions already, like with our press yesterday, too.
I apologize for being the millionth person to ask!
It's all good, I don't mind. It's a nice thing to ask about. People still just want to ask about it.
I'm curious if you've finally had a chance to see the show?
I've seen a little bit of, but I haven't seen it in its entirety. I really liked what I saw, and I've spent some time with some of the actors. I've just met them out and about, like, maybe at a Disney party, because I had a show that was on Disney last year, and we become friendly. They're just such sweet kids, and they're so passionate about the material, and . So yeah, it's nice to see that this thing's come back around, but it makes you feel old when you've done something and it's being remade already. It's a wake-up call, I guess I'm not a kid anymore. [Chuckles]
Trust me, I'm right there with you, I'm only a couple years younger than you, so when I heard they were doing a remake, I was like, "Oh my god."
Yeah, I guess time has flown by. But no, I think it's what the fans deserve, because we never got to finish it. And I'm excited for the rest of their journey, but I'm also just, every time I see them, always trying to give them advice. , because it can be stressful when you're young and it's new. It's such a cool ride, and enjoy the process of it as much as you can. These kids are really passionate and sweet.
It is well-known that Lerman's Percy Jackson movies hold a divisive place within the franchise. with their characters and story choices, with Riordan publicly stating his dislike for The Lightning Thief. This prompted him to take a more hands-on role when adapting the novels to television. Despite this, Lerman and the rest of the cast's performances do hold some appreciation from the fandom, with Lerman especially emerging as a fan-endorsed frontrunner to play Poseidon on the Disney+ show ahead of Toby Stephens' casting.
As such, his support for the new Percy Jackson cast is sure to be celebrated and well-appreciated by the fandom. Having once been the face of the franchise, he is more than aware of the pressures leading such a popular series could bring, especially with the divisive reception that his movies got. Though Lerman has stated he does not wish to return to portray a new character, and those who supported him.
Though nothing beyond season 2 has been greenlit, it is likely that Percy Jackson and the Olympians could be key programming for Disney+ for some time. Season 1 emerged as the platform's most watched show in 2024 with over 3 billion minutes viewed. As such, it is likely the company will invest in the series further with future seasons. Lerman may have his hopes fulfilled should Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 2 also be a success. The journey may just be beginning for the new generation of demigods.
