Percy Jackson series: Walker Scobell cast in the lead for the live-action Disney+ adaptation

Last Updated on September 19, 2023

Walker Scobell has been cast in the titular role for Disney+’s live-action series Percy Jackson and the Olympians. The epic adventure series is based on – and closely aligned with – the best-selling books series by award-winning author Rick Riordan. Scobell recently played Young Adam in Shawn Levy’s The Adam Project starring Ryan Reynolds, Jennifer Garner, and Mark Ruffalo.

Courtesy of an official email from Disney+, Percy Jackson and the Olympians tells the fantastical story of a 12-year-old modern demigod, Percy Jackson, who’s just coming to terms with his newfound supernatural powers when the sky god Zeus accuses him of stealing his master lightning bolt. Percy must trek across America to find it and restore order to Olympus.

Percy Jackson is a bright 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 wants to do right by those he cares about. If only he could find a place where he fits in.

Fans of Riordan’s work will be pleased to hear that the author will serve as a writer on the pilot episode alongside Jon Steinberg, which James Bobin directs. Steinberg will oversee the series with his producing partner Dan Shotz. Steinberg and Shotz serve as executive producers alongside Bobin, Riordan, Rebecca Riordan, Bert Salke, Monica Owusu-Breen, Jim Rowe, and The Gotham Group’s Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, Jeremy Bell, and D.J. Goldberg.

“With Rick Riordan, Jon Steinberg, and Dan Shotz leading our creative team, we’re deep into creating a compelling TV series worthy of the heroic mythological characters that millions of Percy Jackson readers know are well-worth caring about, and we’re eager to invite Disney+ audiences into stories that are true to the blockbuster franchise and full of anticipation, humor, surprise, and mystery,” said Ayo Davis, president of Disney Branded Television, earlier this year.

“Bringing Rick Riordan’s brilliant Percy Jackson books to Disney+ as a television series has been a mission for so many of us at this company as well as for Rick himself, and Jon, Dan, James, and the excellent team they have assembled have proven to be the perfect collaborators. Thanks to our friends at Disney Branded Television led by Ayo, and Disney Streaming led by Michael, this will be an adaptation for the ages, with all the excitement, action, and mythology fans of the books expect and love,” said Karey Burke, 20th Century Television President.

Added president of Disney Streaming Michael Paull, “The opportunity to deliver a new fantastical series based on the bestselling book franchise to audiences around the world is thrilling, and we look forward to what our partners at 20th Television, Disney Branded Television, and the ingenious Rick Riordan have in store for demigods everywhere.”

The time seems right for a Percy Jackson reboot, and the thought of James Bobin helming the series has me very excited. If you’ve not seen Bobin’s work, do yourself a favor and check out an episode or two of The Mysterious Benedict Society. It’s strange and funny and has a Wes Anderson vibe that I found pretty charming. Bobin feels like a perfect fit for Disney’s Percy Jackson reboot. Fans of the series should be stoked!