With the upcoming Percy Jackson TV show, many people are looking back at the film duology and wondering why Logan Lerman’s Percy looks so much older than Walker Scobell. In December 2023, Disney+ will begin releasing the new TV show Percy Jackson and the Olympians. This show, based on the book series of the same name, tells the story of a 12-year-old boy named Percy Jackson who learns that he’s the demigod son of Poseidon. This TV series isn’t the first time the books have been adapted for a screen, though.
In 2010 and 2013, a Percy Jackson movie duology came out with Logan Lerman playing the main character. The Percy Jackson and The Olympians show will beat the movies for many reasons, as the characters are more in tune with the book counterparts. When looking at the movie in comparison to the TV show, it’s obvious that the primary actors are different ages. Walker Scobell, the new Percy Jackson, looks and sounds much younger in the trailer but this is because it comes from a logical place.
Logan Lerman Was 17 When He Filmed 2010’s The Lightning Thief Movie
When filming Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, Logan Lerman was 17 years old. Due to the gap in time between the first film and the sequel, Lerman was 21 years old when he filmed Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters. Though fans of the book rightfully criticized Lerman’s age, he gave a phenomenal performance as Percy Jackson. His anxious demeanor plus his hesitant charisma made Lerman’s Percy a relatable hero worth rooting for.
Walker Scobell Was 13 While Filming Disney’s 2023 Percy Jackson TV Show
Rather than casting an older actor in the role of a pre-teen, Disney decided to find someone who matched closer to Percy Jackson’s intended age. They struck gold when they cast Walker Scobell in the role. Scobell started acting in elementary school (via TV Buzz), showing passion and talent. By the time he filmed the Percy Jackson TV show, Scobell was 13 years old and dedicated to a career in the acting business. With his age and skill level, Scobell was the perfect choice to play the eponymous 12-year-old.
Why Lerman’s Percy Jackson Is So Much Older Than Scobell & The Book Character
In the book series, Percy Jackson receives a prophecy that will come to pass in his sixteenth year. Given the book’s four-year timeline, that makes Percy twelve years old at the start of the book The Lightning Thief. The movie changed the prophecy to his twentieth year, making Lerman’s Percy sixteen at the start of the film duology. This discrepancy can be attributed to Lerman’s age at the time of filming. The usual rule of thumb in acting is that a performer can play five years above or below their real age. However, this formula doesn’t apply to teenage actors.
A 17-year-old teen doesn’t look the same as a 12-year-old teen because puberty occurs within that time span. The facial structure, height, voice, etc. all drastically change within that period due to hormonal changes. As such, they needed to change Percy Jackson’s age in the books to match closer with Logan Lerman’s physical appearance. Since Walker Scobell was 13 at the time of filming, he could realistically play a 12-year-old boy. As such, the Percy Jackson TV show will match up with the books.
