Inside Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2: Rick Riordan and the Cast Break Down the Sea of Monsters, New Dynamics, and the Future of the Series
Disney’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians returns with a bigger, wilder, and more emotionally charged second season — and both the creator and the cast are buzzing about what fans will experience as the show dives headfirst into The Sea of Monsters. From Ironclad battles to deadly Sirens to character moments that hit harder than any monster attack, Season 2 is shaping up to be the adaptation longtime readers dreamed of.
Rick Riordan Says the Big Scenes Wow — But the Quiet Ones Matter Most
Rick Riordan, author and executive producer, can’t help but light up when talking about this season’s massive set pieces. The chariot races? “Amazing.” Polyphemus Island? “Incredible.” And the ironclad sailing into the Sea of Monsters? Instantly one of his favorites.
But surprisingly, it’s the small moments that stayed with him:
“The scenes that have stuck with me are the quieter ones — the characters learning to trust each other, to be a family, to be conflicted about their feelings. Those are the ones that impress me the most.”
That heartbeat of the story — the complicated, messy, emotional growth — becomes the thread the cast repeatedly returns to.
Walker Scobell on Percy’s Season 2 Journey: “He’s Still Figuring Out Who He Can Trust”
Walker Scobell leans into Percy’s growing pains this season. The monsters are bigger, but so are the emotional stakes.
He’s especially proud of the scenes where Percy and Tyson finally bond:
“Percy doesn’t know what to do with having a brother. Those smaller moments — hanging out, talking about fear, family — they were some of my favorites to shoot.”
Walker also says filming the sirens sequence was a turning point, not just for Percy, but for him as an actor:
“There’s so much emotion under the surface. You get why Annabeth risks everything — and Percy finally sees it too.”
Leah Sava Jeffries Breaks Down Annabeth’s Most Vulnerable Season Yet
Annabeth fans have been waiting for certain iconic scenes — and Leah absolutely knows it.
She says the sirens episode demanded everything from her:
“It’s Annabeth’s entire heart laid bare. You see her dreams, her fears, what she wants most. I wanted fans to feel that weight.”
She also loved finally showing more of Annabeth’s history with Luke and Thalia:
“Those flashbacks make everything hit harder. You understand why Annabeth’s torn — it’s not just loyalty, it’s love and memory and trauma all mixed together.”
Aryan Simhadri on Grover’s Growth: “He’s Stepping Into His Power”
Aryan beams when talking about Grover’s expanded arc:
“Grover’s always been the heart of the trio, but this season he gets to show his strength. Not just physically — emotionally, spiritually. He’s fighting for Tyson, for Percy, for Annabeth… and for himself.”
He teases that fans will love Grover’s scenes with the Cyclopes — especially the comedy.
Daniel Diemer’s Tyson: “He’s Not Just Comic Relief — He’s Heart”
Daniel Diemer embraced the challenge of bringing Tyson to life with depth, not caricature:
“Tyson is joyful and funny, but he’s also dealing with rejection and loneliness. I wanted people to fall in love with him the way readers did.”
His downtime scenes with Walker? Easily his favorites:
“Percy and Tyson figuring out how to be brothers — that got me. Those scenes matter as much as any giant monster.”
Dior Goodjohn Elevates Clarisse: "You See Why She Leads the Way She Does - and Why She Pushes People Away"
Rick Riordan credits Dior Goodjohn with giving Clarisse “a new dimension,” and Dior explains the challenges of balancing Clarisse’s layers of vulnerability and toughness:
“I think the biggest challenge was having to be very honest with myself and where I was at in my life, and realizing that I am going through the same experience that Clarisse is going through in the story and not being afraid to put that on display and put that on camera. Clarisse is tough, but she’s also scared. She wants to make her family proud. I loved showing the cracks in her armor.”
She says the expanded Clarisse storyline will surprise even longtime fans.
PERCY JACKSON AND THE OLYMPIANS - (Disney) DIOR GOODJOHN
Charlie Bushnell on Luke’s Moral Grayness: “He’s Not Wrong About Everything”
Charlie leans fully into Luke’s complexity in Season 2:
“Luke believes he’s doing the right thing. That’s what makes him scary — and sad. He sees the gods’ flaws clearly. And he’s not entirely wrong.”
Rick echoes that sentiment:
“Fans should be conflicted. Luke has a point. The gods aren’t perfect. That tension is the core of the mythology.”
Flashbacks, Found Family, and a Darker Mythology
One of Riordan’s favorite surprises this season? The flashback scenes with Luke, Annabeth, and Thalia:
“They were only mentioned in the books. Seeing them on screen makes them pop. They deepen everything.”
He also says these moments shift how fans see future conflicts — especially with Thalia and Luke’s “Broken Trio” dynamic.
Building the Ironclad: The Wildest Set of the Season
The cast unanimously called the ironclad set one of the most jaw-dropping builds.
Rick adds:
“They built a full-size ironclad. It looked dangerous even though it was safe. The stunt team was getting thrown around. It was incredible.”
What Rick Most Wants Fans to Take Away
When asked what audiences should walk away thinking after Season 2, Riordan gets philosophical:
“If you’re unsure whose side you’d be on… that’s exactly where you should be. If you have mixed feelings, we’ve done our job.”
And yes — he promises Season 3 will leave fans “chomping at the bit.”
The first two episodes of Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 2 will premiere on Disney+ on Wednesday, December 10th. Be sure to subscribe on YouTube or your podcast app of choice for our reviews of Season 2!
Noah Reed
Podcaster, reader, horror fan, obsessive.
A marketing coordinator by trade but on his off time enjoys comics, horror, and a good hike!
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