‘The Adam Project’ Star Cast as Percy Jackson for Disney+ Series

The world can rest easy now. We have our Percy Jackson.

Author Rick Riordan broke the news himself, confirming Disney+ has officially cast Walker Scobell as the lead in the studio’s upcoming adaptation of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series.

“Walker Scobell is an incredibly talented young man who blew us away with his audition tapes for the role of Percy,” Riordan announced. “It was obvious to me and the rest of the team that Walker had the perfect mix of comedic timing, sweetness, rebelliousness, snark and heroism to embody our hero Percy Jackson.”

Scobell recently skyrocketed to fame for his role alongside Ryan Reynolds in Netflix’s The Adam Project. The thirteen-year-old actor’s breakout performance proved his comedic timing and character work would be a formidable force in future projects.

As it turns out, the actor is also a super-fan of the Percy Jackson books.

When Riordan broke the news to Scobell during a Zoom call in January, the author recalled he wore a Camp Half-Blood shirt but had no idea Riordan was calling to tell him he had received the part.

“He even arrived in California for a chemistry read in February with Annabeth’s magical New York Yankees cap,” Riordan wrote. “This kid knows his stuff.”

The live-action series will follow 12-year-old Percy, a reckless demi-god and son of Poseidon, who finds himself on a quest from Olympus when Zeus accuses him of stealing his prized lightening-bolt.

According to the official character breakdown, Scobell’s Percy is described as: “A smart and compassionate kid with a sharp sense of humor. He’s always seen himself as an outsider, in no small part because of how the world sees his ADHD and dyslexia. He’s impulsive and rambunctious and is quick to anger when things seem unfair to him. But beneath his cynicism is an affectionate son and loyal friend who just wants to do right by those he cares about. If only he could find a place where he fits in.”

This age-accurate casting, coupled with Scobell’s comedic chops, bodes well for Disney’s promises to develop a faithful adaptation.

More casting news is on the horizon, with chemistry reads already underway for Annabeth and Grover. In addition, Percy Jackson and the Olympians is expected to begin filming this summer in Vancouver.

—

What do you think of this casting choice? How excited are you for Percy Jackson and the Olympians? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

You can read more about the original series announcement from Disney+ right here.

 

 Follow us on Twitter and on Instagram!

Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!

Disney+ Moving Forward with ‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’ Series