‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’ cast discuss the lessons learned from their roles and the screenplay

Daniel Diemer, Walker Scobell, Charlie Bushnell, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Leah Sava Jeffries, Aryan Simhadri, and Dior Goodjohn. Photo Courtesy of The Paley Center for Media.

On Wednesday, December 17th, The Paley Museum in New York City hosted “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” as part of its PaleyLive series.

This journalist participated in red carpet interviews with the young members of the cast, which featured Dior Goodjohn, Daniel Diemer, Charlie Bushnell, Aryan Simhadri, and Leah Sava Jeffries.

Protagonist Walker Scobell and Lin-Manuel Miranda were also in attendance.

The PaleyLive series offers the public the opportunity to engage with prominent names in media and television.

These programs are selected by the Paley Center to expand society’s understanding of the cultural, creative, and social significance of media and TV, as well as to educate and entertain the public.

“Percy Jackson and the Olympians” Season 2 debuted on December 10 on Disney+ and Hulu with a two-episode premiere, and new episodes weekly.

Leah Sava Jeffries as Annabeth

On the lessons learned from playing Annabeth and from the screenplay, Jeffries said, “We are very much the same. Even if I am trying to be book accurate with Annabeth, I feel like a lot of me is in her already, so there might not be much that I can change there.”

“What I do learn from the fans that think about me, it teaches me a lot. It lets me know that I am doing a good job, and that the show is still running because all of us are so great in it,” she elaborated.

“The little fragment of people that tell me how good I am, that means a lot to me, and it humbles me because I am not just doing this for the money or for the fame. This is the job that I’ve wanted to do forever, and I am very happy about that,” she acknowledged.

Aryan Simhadri as Grover

On the lessons learned from the script and from portraying Grover, Simhadri said, “It helped me recognize that Grover is someone that I think I want to be more like. I am constantly striving to be more like him.”

“I think Grover is a perfect friend, and everyone can be more like Grover. I think that is something that everyone should strive for… to be like him,” Simhadri added.

Charlie Bushnell as Luke

On the lessons learned from the screenplay and from portraying Luke, Bushnell said, “That’s an interesting question because I feel I don’t really relate to Luke too much in my personal life.”

“I think Luke is a character that has really pushed me as an actor in a lot of ways, which is really fun and challenging in the best way. I have yet to start any rebellions in my personal life either,” he elaborated.

“I have yet to play a character as intense as Luke is this season… that really took me out of my comfort zone in a lot of ways, and it made me realize that I can do it, which I was a little nervous going into it,” he revealed.

“Luke’s energy is completely different from Season 1, so that was great and it was a lot of fun. It’s all coming from — what Luke believes — is a good place,” he added.

Dior Goodjohn as Clarisse

On the lessons learned from the screenplay and from playing Clarisse, Goodjohn said, “The journey that Clarisse goes through this season was something that I had to navigate through at the exact same time that I was shooting, coincidentally.”

“It’s a very female, teenage experience and I am very, very excited that it is being showcased like this on television… with a happy ending as well for other young girls to see, relate to, and know that they are not alone. That’s what I learned from this season,” Goodjohn explained.

Daniel Diemer as Tyson

On the lessons learned from the screenplay and from playing Tyson, Diemer responded, “I don’t know if it taught me anything, but I think it re-introduced the ideas of love, openness and sensitivity being a superpower. I think it’s really important.”

“Life is difficult but if can you step into those places, relationships and connections will be much more organic and much more real,” Diemer added.

Please Note: This journalist was credentialed for the red carpet event of PaleyLive’s ‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’ at The Paley Museum in New York.