Charlie Bushnell Talks ‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’ and His Role as Luke Castellan [Interview]

Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 1 focuses on Percy as he attempts to return a stolen lightning bolt to Zeus, with many of his fellow demi-gods playing a significant role in that journey — including friendly cabin-mate Luke Castellan.

Luke, played by Charlie Bushnell, is a son of Hermes and an expert swordsman who takes Percy under his wing as he introduces him to Camp Half-Blood.

I recently had the opportunity to speak with Bushnell about what working on the set of Camp Half-Blood was like, what books he would be most excited to see adapted from the series, and having Lin-Manuel Miranda as his on-screen dad.

(You can watch the full interview below.)

With fans eager to hear the cast’s experience with the source material coming into this adaptation, Bushnell opened up about his relationship with Rick Riordan’s book series.

“I was fully aware of Percy Jackson before getting the role. My mom did read my brother and me the first couple of books when we were little, but I didn’t read them myself until after I got the role. Now I’m a huge fan — I’m a certified fan. I got so invested in the story, and it was hard for me to put the books down once I started,” he explained.

As for what books from the series Bushnell would be excited to see adapted, he looked forward to Luke’s nautical phase or material highlighting his more “possessed” moments.

“The Sea of Monsters would be really fun, just because I’m basically on a yacht the whole time, and hopefully, we get picked up for a second season. But I think a book like The Battle of the Labyrinth or The Last Olympian would also be really cool.”

Watch the full interview with Charlie Bushnell:

As mythical as Camp Half-Blood appeared on screen, Bushnell assures us that the actual set is just as magical to work on.

“Walking onto Camp Half-Blood for the first time was surreal. I can’t even explain it. The feeling was insane. Some of it in the show is VFX. But most of what you see is real,” he said. “They fully built those cabins in the middle of the forest, and it was the most insane set I’ve ever been on.”

“I truly felt like I was in Camp Half-Blood. It didn’t feel like a set. Even the Hermes cabin was insane — it looks pretty cozy in the show, and it feels as cozy as it looks. There was a fire going, and I remember an owl just hanging around the area that day. I think it’s in one of the teaser trailers, and it wasn’t planned; they just saw that owl. And it was drizzling out too.”

When it came to the camp sets he enjoyed working on the most, the actor gave a rundown of his favorite spots.

“That archery scene was actually my first day filming — my first day on set. I remember it was so much fun — and when we’re in the blacksmith forge. That was a really cool little set that they made, and that was right next to the Hermes cabin or in that area.”

Bushnell left the forge with an “iconic” photo he later shared on his social media. “I got a really funny picture of Walker [Scobell] that I put on my Instagram, wearing those giant goggles. He looks a little bit like a minion,” he laughed.

With a lightning bolt thief on the loose, it is expected this cast would participate in some light thievery. Bushnell confirmed he came away from experience with several special mementos.

“On set, they have the chairs where the cast sits and mine says Luke Castellan. So I have my like banner for my chair,” he explained.

In multiple interviews, Walker Scobell, who plays Percy Jackson, confirmed that he had taken his character’s sword, Riptide, from the set. However, Bushnell revealed the actor didn’t stop at one sword.

“I’m gonna be vague with this answer, but Walker did send me a sword. He stole one of the swords from the set and sent it to me. I’m not gonna say which sword that is. But he did send me a sword that I have in my room.”

On the show, Luke resents Hermes for the suffering his father inflicted on their family.

Thankfully, Bushnell and Lin-Manuel Miranda’s off-screen bonding has proven much more wholesome.

“Believe it or not, I still haven’t met him, unfortunately. I really want to soon. But we do have this kind of funny online banter going on. I remember when he got cast, I commented on the post, and I was like, “Dad…” and then he responded, “Son?” We’ve had a few moments like that,” Bushnell recalled.

“He also sent me the nicest message after he watched the first two episodes. It was so great, and he gave me a lot of compliments. It was really nice to receive that message. So I wrote back to him, obviously, and we’ve been talking a little.”

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New episodes of Percy Jackson and the Olympians stream Tuesdays at 9/8c on Disney+.

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