Warning: Minor spoilers ahead for Percy Jackson and the Olympians episodes 1 and 2.
Percy Jackson & the Olympians is bringing the beloved characters from Rick Riordan’s books to the small screen, and the series’ best Greek god casting choice makes one complex character even better. Set in a world where demigods — the children of Greek gods and humans — are in constant danger from monster attacks, Percy Jackson is finding new life on Disney+. The best-selling children’s books were adapted once before, but the Percy Jackson movies failed to capture the magic of the source material.
Fortunately, the Percy Jackson series is doing better on that front, taking a more faithful approach to Riordan’s story. Many of its characters feel as though they’re pulled straight from the pages. And one Greek god casting is so impressive that it makes the character in question better than their book counterpart, leading to a well-rounded and entertaining portrayal.
Percy Jackson And The Olympians Cast & Character Guide
The cast of Percy Jackson and the Olympians for Disney+ includes a mix of rising talent and veteran actors to bring Rick Riordan’s books to life.
Casting Jason Mantzoukas As Dionysus Was The Percy Jackson Show’s Best Call
Percy Jackson & the Olympians makes a lot of good casting calls, with some actors embodying their book characters well and others adding new layers to the source material. Jason Mantzoukas as Dionysus does the latter, bringing Camp Half-Blood’s director to life with the same backstory and attitude as Mr. D in Riordan’s books — but with some newfound charm as well. One could say Mantzoukas is the perfect choice to play the role. Looking at Mr. D’s description on the page, it’s clear it fits with many of Mantzoukas’ previous performances.
Mantzoukas proves in shows like Parks and Recreation and Brooklyn Nine-Nine that he’s good at over-the-top comedy, something required to bring the Greek god of wine and festivals to life. His humor is also biting at times, which is necessary for a Greek god who’s been sentenced to life at Camp Half-Blood and is bitter about it. From the first couple of episodes alone, it’s clear that Mantzoukas will embody these aspects of his Percy Jackson character well. However, he also promises to be more engaging than the book version of Dionysus.
How Jason Mantzoukas’ Mr. D Is Even Better Than The Percy Jackson Books’
Mantzoukas is the ideal actor to play Dionysus, and his take on the character in Disney’s Percy Jackson show tops the portrayal of Mr. D in the books. While Mr. D is still cynical and comedic in the source material, he doesn’t have the entertaining charm Mantzoukas brings to the role. Much of this can be attributed to the actor’s energy, but the series also seems determined to make him more sympathetic. He can’t get Percy’s name right, but his entrance underscores how he’s struggling with his punishment from Zeus. Percy Jackson & the Olympians may dig into this subplot further, which would be a welcome change.
