The Young Percy in Percy Jackson & The Olympians: A Closer Look

Introduction to Young Percy

Disney's Percy Jackson and the Olympians episode 1 opens with flashbacks to a younger Percy Jackson, with another actor taking on the role for the brief scenes.

Walker Scobell as Perseus Jackson in Percy Jackson and the Olympians

Following the portrayal of the titular character by Logan Lerman in the 2010 and 2013 movies, The Adam Project's Walker Scobell takes over as 12-year-old Percy Jackson in the Disney+ TV show adaptation of Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson and the Olympians book series.

Walker Scobell as Percy Jackson next to the poster for Percy Jackson and the Olympians

However, Scobell isn't the only actor who gets to play the demigod in the long-anticipated streaming show, as he shares the role with a younger actor during flashbacks to the character's elementary school years.

Walker Scobell As Percy looking pensive In A Percy Jackson And The Olympians

The Actor Behind Young Percy

The actor who plays Young Percy Jackson in Percy Jackson and the Olympians' cast is Azriel Dalman. Unsurprisingly, given how compelling the young actor is during his short scenes in the Disney+ show's flashbacks, Percy Jackson is far from Dalman's first professional acting role.

Azriel Dalman as Young Percy Jackson in Disney's Percy Jackson and the Olympians episode 1

Rather, Dalman already boasts over 40 acting credits in addition to Percy Jackson, including appearances in movies and TV shows like Joe Pickett, Moonfall, Joy for Christmas, Debris, and A Season for Family.

After numerous stints in Christmas movies and short films, Azriel Dalman now takes on his biggest role yet with Percy Jackson and the Olympians.

Significance of Young Percy's Role

While the focus of the show is on pre-teen Percy discovering his role in the world as the half-blood son of the Greek god Poseidon, his upbringing is extremely important to the character's development and later acceptance of his new position.

Percy Jackson next to his father Poseidon and Annbeth Chase from the Percy Jackson TV show

Riordan's books are able to give substantial context to Percy's childhood with his mother and feelings of abandonment from his father that can be difficult to portray as effectively on the screen.

Percy's Mom Sally In Percy Jackson And The Olympians Trailer

From highlighting Young Percy's confusion around his differences from his peers and hints at his godly parentage to providing a deeper background on his relationship with his mother, the flashbacks add another layer to the understanding of Scobell's iteration of the character.

There's much about Percy's younger childhood that foreshadows his later conflicts and experiences, so Young Percy's inclusion is significant in emphasizing that his demigod powers and training have been there all along.

Additionally, following Sally Jackson's fate in Percy Jackson and the Olympians episode 2's ending, the scenes with Young Percy give his mother a more prominent role and necessary screen time.