Warning! This article includes spoilers for Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 2, episode 5.
Walker Scobell, the lead actor in ‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’, has shared his thoughts on how the Disney+ series differs from the books. Although most fans agree the show is a closer adaptation of Rick Riordan’s ‘Percy Jackson’ novels than the previous movies, it still includes some changes – both small and significant.
It’s normal for book adaptations to make changes to the story. Books and TV shows tell stories in very different ways, requiring different speeds, character arcs, and overall approaches. For example, the first season of Percy Jackson and the Olympians added scenes featuring Percy’s father, Poseidon (played by Toby Stephens), and explored the character of Luke (Charlie Bushnell), the traitor at Camp Half-Blood, in more detail.
The second season takes some interesting liberties with the source material, such as giving the character Clarisse (Dior Goodjohn) a larger part. While these changes might fit the show’s narrative, Walker Scobell, a fan of the books, shared in an interview with Backstage that it’s been challenging for him—and likely other longtime fans—to fully accept them. He admitted it’s hard to ‘let it go’ when things differ from the books.
Scobell admitted it was difficult to move past his initial impression of the story, explaining that he’d first encountered it when he was in third grade. Now almost 17, he’s been a fan of the author’s work for about nine years. Given that long-standing connection, his reluctance to accept changes to the story is perfectly reasonable.
Despite any differences from the original story, Scobell acknowledged that changes were necessary and reaffirmed his commitment to the show. He explained, “As an actor, I understand that some things have to be cut or altered, and there’s not much I can do about it.”
Scobell concluded by saying he accepts any changes and gives his best effort every day, figuring he might as well since he’s already committed.
A significant departure from the original books happens in season 2, episode 5, titled “We Check In to C.C.’s Spa & Resort.” In this episode, Percy and Annabeth (played by Leah Sava Jeffries) must face off against the famous sorceress Circe (Rosemarie DeWitt) and the dangerous Sirens.
The second Percy Jackson book, Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters, features Circe and the Sirens as distinct challenges. However, the TV show combines these encounters into one, pushing Percy and Annabeth to face their weaknesses and depend on each other. This combination also allowed the show to cover that part of their journey in a single episode.
The show also gave Circe more depth as a character, similar to how Disney+’s Percy Jackson reimagined Medusa’s story in its first season. These kinds of changes to the original story and characters help adaptations like Percy Jackson and the Olympians feel new and engaging, whether you’re already familiar with the books or not. As Walker Scobell put it, sometimes it’s good to be open to new interpretations.
New episodes of Percy Jackson and the Olympians premiere Wednesdays on Disney+ and Hulu.
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2025-12-31 17:58