Scobell, who plays Percy Jackson on Disney+, has been a fan of the books long before he was cast in the role. He first picked them up in third grade — nearly nine years ago — which makes letting go of certain details especially tough.
“It’s hard for me to let it go, because it’s been engraved in my head since I read it in third grade,” Scobell said in a recent interview with Backstage.
That long history with the books gives him plenty of reason to feel protective. Nine years is more than enough time for a story to feel permanent in your mind. But Scobell also understands the reality of adapting novels for television.
“I know that some things have to be cut; things change, and I think there’s not a lot I can do as an actor,” he explained.
Rather than fighting the changes, Scobell has chosen to fully commit to the show’s direction.
“I kind of just fully embrace whatever they’ve changed because joke’s on me if I don’t go all out and try to do my best every day,” he said.
Many fans agree that the Disney+ series stays far closer to Rick Riordan’s books than the earlier film adaptations starring Logan Lerman. Still, the show has introduced both big and small changes to better fit the TV format. Books and television simply tell stories differently, with different pacing and character needs.
Season 1 expanded Percy’s relationship with his father Poseidon, played by Toby Stephens, and added more depth to Luke, the Camp Half-Blood traitor. Season 2 continues that trend by giving Clarisse, played by Dior Goodjohn, a much larger role than she had in the books.
One of the biggest changes comes in season 2, episode 5, titled “We Check In to C.C.’s Spa & Resort.” In the episode, Percy and Annabeth — played by Leah Sava Jeffries — face the witch Circe, portrayed by Rosemarie DeWitt, along with the deadly Sirens.
In the book Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters, these dangers appear separately. The show combines them, forcing Percy and Annabeth to confront their fatal flaws at the same time and rely more deeply on each other. The decision streamlines the story, improves pacing, and gives Circe more complexity — similar to how the show reworked Medusa’s storyline in season 1.
For lifelong fans, even smart changes can be hard to accept. Scobell admits it’s still difficult at times, saying it can be hard to simply “let it go.”
But his honesty about that struggle — while still standing behind the show’s vision — highlights what makes his performance resonate. He isn’t just playing Percy Jackson; he’s also a fan learning, like everyone else, how to make room for something new while respecting what came before.
And even when it’s not easy, Scobell seems fully committed to getting it right.
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