I’ve been a fan of the Percy Jackson series for as long as I can remember. Back when The Lightning Thief hit my school library shelves, I devoured it and every subsequent book, all the way to The Last Olympian in 2009. Greek mythology, science fiction, and fantasy were my obsessions at the time, and Rick Riordan’s series hit that sweet spot perfectly. It felt modern, funny, and a perfect send-up of the Greek myths I loved. That’s precisely why the first Hollywood adaptation in 2010 was such a gut-punch to fans like myself. I hated it so much that I never even bothered to watch the sequel. For years, it felt like I would never see the definitive on-screen version of Percy’s world.
Then, season one of Percy Jackson and the Olympians dropped on Disney+, and I was ecstatic. It was the adaptation I’d been waiting for since I first checked out The Lightning Thief. It captured the spirit of the book, and more importantly, improved upon the parts of the book I felt were a little weak. The silence during the production of the second season has been agonizing (you can bet I’ll have my review ready when it drops December 10th!), but thankfully, the silence has ended.
On August 28th, The Hollywood Reporter broke the news that Dafne Keen, whom I’ve been a massive fan of since Logan, and Saara Chaudry, an actor I haven’t followed closely but have heard nothing but praise about, have been cast in recurring roles for season three. So, who are they playing?
The Hunt is On
Keen will play Artemis, the Greek goddess of the moon and the hunt. Artemis “prefers the freedom of the outdoors to the politics and formality of Olympus,” according to the show’s character notes. She’s regal, relentless, and sometimes out of touch with human ways, making her a perfect outsider figure with immense authority. Keen’s casting is a stroke of genius. She has built her career on playing fierce, complex young women who feel ancient and wise beyond their years.
Joining her is Chaudry as Zoë Nightshade, Artemis’ fiercely loyal lieutenant. Zoë is one of the series’ most tragic and compelling characters, carrying millennia of grief, duty, and strength on her shoulders. Her arc is critical to The Titan’s Curse, serving as the story’s emotional core. Chaudry’s casting suggests the show is ready to transition from the lighthearted road trips of the first two seasons to the darker, more haunting elements of the back half of the books. Zoë is described as a “crucial quest member, willing to strive and sacrifice for the good of all,” and I’m already bracing myself for the gut-punch her story will inevitably deliver.
A Quest for the Ages
Thinking about what this means for the show, I’m afraid Percy, Annabeth, and Grover are going to have to grow up fast. The Titan’s Curse dramatically raises the stakes for the rest of the series, and the addition of Keen and Chaurdry alongside Levi Chrisopulos and Olive Abercrombie as the di Angelo siblings shows how much care the creative team is taking to build out Percy’s world with the attention it’s always deserved. This is the live-action adaptation I dreamed of when I was a kid, racing to finish each Percy Jackson book before it was due back to the library.
Final Thoughts
Casting Keen and Chaudry isn’t just a win for fans. It’s a declaration that this show is willing to tackle the most complex, emotional arcs of Riordan’s world head-on. Artemis and Zoë aren’t simply side characters; they’re catalysts for growth, sacrifice, and change in the story of Percy Jackson. For someone who grew up with these books, this feels like the moment where Percy Jackson and the Olympians moves away from being a great adaptation and becomes the definitive story of Percy Jackson.
Season two of Percy Jackson and the Olympians premieres December 10th on Disney+, and season three is currently filming in Vancouver. The quest is only getting more dangerous from here, and I couldn’t be more ready.
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