The search is on for Percy Jackson, all ethnicities are welcome to audition

Photo credit: Rick RIordan/Website, Percy Jackson/Twitter

Who will be the next Percy Jackson? Disney and Percy Jackson book series author Rick Riordan are searching far and wide for the lucky person who will take on the titular demigod.

Photo credit: Rick Riordan/Twitter

The upcoming Disney+ show called Percy Jackson and the Olympians was announced to be in the works as early as last year. However, this official casting call marks a major development in the production process. 

Demigods (the nickname for Percy Jackson fans) were over the moon since it’s been more than a decade since the first film adaptation, Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief came out in 2010. 

Photo credit: laylayounn/Twitter

When it comes to the original source material, the books go even further back with the first installment in the monster franchise released in 2005. The Percy Jackson books were definitely peak 2000s millennial culture with a lot of us growing up reading the stories and its spin-offs. Reading the adventures of Percy, Annabeth, Grover and more helped a lot of millennial kids and teens develop a love for mythology. The books also promoted a better understanding and acceptance of dyslexia, a condition that causes difficulties in reading. ICYDK: The hero of the story happens to be dyslexic as well, which becomes the catalyst to unlock his super abilities. This was a deliberate choice by Riordan as his son Haley, who also has the same condition, was the main inspiration for the character. 

Speaking of our favorite Demigod, as we mentioned earlier, the Percy Jackson films were iconic and Logan Lerman did a great job portraying the son of Poseidon. 

Photo credit: Percy Jackson/Twitter

Has it really been that long since the last film? Yes, Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters, was released in 2013. Funnily enough, you can probably tell it was made in the mid-2000s due to the generous amount of skinny jeans, fitted hoodies, and shaggy emo bangs that befell most of the cast. Despite the dated fashion in today’s context, the films will always have a special place in our hearts. 

What does Logan Lerman think about the new series?

Photo credit: Logan Lerman/Twitter

The OG Percy Jackson actor was definitely on board when it was announced last year. Does this mean he could potentially have a role in the Disney+ show?

Photo credit: Logan Lerman/Instagram

There have been rumors circulating among the fandom that Lerman could possibly portray Percy’s father Poseidon. Based on the actor’s recent photo, we think that he’s grown up enough to become the Greek god of the sea. Here’s hoping the OG cast does make an appearance in the new series.

Now that the search is on for the new Percy Jackson, are you curious for more details? Rick Riordan posted the full announcement on his official website, even extending the invite to aspiring actors who aren’t tied with any agency. According to the post, the next Percy Jackson should be someone who can portray a 12-year-old character. The best news to come out from this casting call is that the main role is open to all ethnicities. Riordan elaborates this further saying, “We are looking for the best person who can embody the character we all know and love from the books. As with all casting choices, we will be following Disney’s company policy which says: ‘For every role, please submit qualified performers, without regard to disability, gender, race, and ethnicity, age, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other basis prohibited by law.’”

That said, fans are now clamoring for a POC Percy to make their debut! Who do you think should be the next Percy Jackson? What do you want to see in the new series?