Happy Sad Confused - PERCY JACKSON AND THE OLYMPIANS cast & Rick Riordan

Episode Date: December 18, 2023

Dive into the world of demigods as the "Percy Jackson" cast and author Rick Riordan talk about their new Disney series. Join Josh Horowitz on #happysadconfused for an exclusive sit-down with the stars and creators of "Percy Jackson and the Olympians." From hilarious auditions to magical moments on set, this interview reveals the behind-the-scenes enchantment of bringing the beloved series to life. Don't miss the chance to hear directly from Rick Riordan, Walker Scobell, Leah Sava Jeffries, Aryan Simhadri, and more! SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS! Earnin -- Download EarnIn today in the Google play or Apple app store. When you download the EarnIn app type in Confused under PODCAST when you sign up Factor -- Head to ⁠⁠FactorMeals.com/HappySad50⁠⁠ and use code happysad50 to get 50% off! UPCOMING EVENTS January 8th -- Dan Levy -- tickets here! January 10th -- Josh Hutcherson -- tickets here! January 11th -- Annette Bening -- tickets here! January 17th -- Clive Owen -- tickets here! February 6th -- Emily Blunt -- tickets here! Check out the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Happy Sad Confused patreon here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! We've got discount codes to live events, merch, early access, exclusive episodes of, video versions of the podcast, and more! To watch episodes of Happy Sad Confused, subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Josh's youtube channel here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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D.C. high volume, Batman. The Dark Knight's definitive DC comic stories adapted directly for audio for the very first time. Fear, I have to make them afraid. He's got a motorcycle. Get after him or have you shot. What do you mean blow up the building? From this moment on,

none of you are safe. New episodes every Wednesday, wherever you get your podcasts. I do want to see Percy versus Harry Potter at some point. It wouldn't be much of a fight, though. It wouldn't be much of a fight. Is that what you said? Yeah, I wouldn't be much of a fight. Meaning what?

It would not be a fight at all. Oh, my gosh. I don't know how you could say Harry Potter would win that. Prepare your ears, humans. Happy, sad, confused, begins now. I'm Josh Horowitz and today on Happy, Say I Confused, we're live at the 90 Second Street Y with the creators and the cast of Percy Jackson and the Olympians, guys. You ready? Is anybody wearing orange? Is anybody dreaming of going to camp tonight?

Okay. Welcome to this amazing crowd. We have packed the 92nd Street Y. The energy in here, as you can tell, is amazing. Thank you all for coming out here in New York. York. Thank you all for watching online around the world. Thank you for listening and watching the podcast. We're out of time. Sorry. No. That was whatever. No, I'm so thrilled to kind of be the MC of these festivities tonight. This show is going to please millions of you. And we're going to offer some sneak peeks tonight to you all who have been waiting. Waiting. December 20th is the day. Disney Plus. I've seen the entire show guys. Hate me if you want. It's fantastic. I wouldn't be here if I didn't love it. And I love this cast, and I love the folks that made this show.

We have a bunch of seats to fill up. Should we bring them on out? Should we do this? All right. Give a warm 90-second street while a welcome for playing Grover Underwood, Ariens, and Hodry. Playing Annabeth Chase, it's Leah Savay, Jeffreys, Leah! Playing Percy Jackson.

It's Walker Scovell. Executive producer Becky Ryard and everybody. And the executive producer and author of Percy Jackson. It's Rick Ryarden, everybody. Thank you. Could you guys get used to that? Is that pretty good? Is that a nice feeling? Congratulations to all of you.

all of you. This show is fantastic and finally you're able to share it with the world. First of all, I want to talk to our cast, our young cast here. You haven't had much of an opportunity to have these kinds of experiences yet. How does it feel to feel that kind of reception walking out on a stage like this? Stunned, stunned silence. I don't think I can get used to this. I mean, did you guys imagine when you signed on for this? I mean, you knew what you were getting into.

But did you know what you were getting into, Leah? No, no. I knew it was something, but I didn't know it was something. Like, oh my gosh, like I am nervous in a good way. Like, literally, like, I knew it was going to be, like, applauding and stuff. But when I came out here and I heard all those screens, I was like, oh, my goodness gracious. For you, Walker, I mean, you film this kind of, not in secret, but like you're a group of people making a fun project together. and now the world is ready to receive it.

Is this a daunting part of the process to kind of like share it with the world? I mean, yeah. Well, I know if I wasn't up here, I'd be sitting in there. So. So it has been a journey to get here, Rick and Becky. Let's talk a little bit about how this came to pass. Did you think this was, did you know in recent years this was the way to go?

How did this, in short, how did this happen? How did we get to the point where we have this wonderful series on Disney Plus? So how did it cut? First of all, thank you guys for being here. It's like, it's amazing. I feel like we organized a flash mob on social media. It's like, we told you guys like four days ago, here you are. So thank you.

So how did it come to pass? Like, how did we get this series? I'm actually asking you because I don't remember. Well, Rick, yeah, no. You know, in 2019, we were looking at a picture the other day. Rick is standing there in Hollywood, you know, smiling to the camera. I think we posted it on social media. And that was when we were starting to have conversations with Disney about the show.

because we had an opportunity. You want to talk a little bit about that. Yeah, I mean, it was kind of a moment where everything kind of clicked into place and we knew that Fox had been bought by Disney and Fox had the film rights and Disney has always been my publisher for Percy Jackson and so we started thinking,

you know, we could maybe do this with Disney and have Percy kind of come home and do the television show with them. And we knew really right away that we wanted it to be a TV, show. Because, well, it's more time. I mean, you have eight episodes to tell the story of the Lightning Thief better than you can do it in a feature film, which obviously is only two or whatever hours, and you're going to end up cutting a lot of stuff. So it made sense, and fortunately,

after 4,223 meetings, you know, we... And lots of notes. Lots of notes. The casting has to be perfect for something like this. You've nailed it with these three cast members and the extraordinary character. What do you guys remember about the audition process? Did you feel like when you walked in the room you had a read on your respective characters? Or were you like, take me into the room, the audition process for each of you? Who felt good about it? Who was worried?

Okay, so, oh my goodness, so, like, I had self-tapes before, of course, and when I got the, when I, like, got the chemistry parts and stuff for it, I had went to this building. Actually, me and my mother were walking in, and I think we were lost for a second, and Mr. Rick came out the door, and was like, you over here. I was like, oh, okay, hey, you know. And I start, like, tiptoeing and start walking fast and stuff. But the audition process, it did take a while, well, not as long as what Walker had. That was like two years almost. But seeing Mr. Rick there, and I was like, what the heck? I was like, I cannot believe this right now.

Like, I am standing here with Mr. Rick, and it was crazy. But even doing the audition, there was something in me that I still, how do I explain this, felt like Leah? And I was still doing the part. But then I feel like at one point, Mr. Rick, you had said something to me. And it literally changed me the next time I came to my chemistry read. And I felt like from then on, I just, like, got better and better at trying to be Annabeth, really. And now, you know, but, you know. Thank you.

Thank you so much. But yeah, that was basically my motivational audition process. Aren, for you, did you familiar with the books, connect with Grover? Take me through the process a little bit. Yeah, I mean, I think we were all huge fans of the books before we even knew that there was a show. My friend had to send me the open call. And, you know, eventually when I got the audition, I, I mean, this is such an eye. iconic series. I honestly didn't think I was going to get it. And I was in New York doing a different project and I submitted a tape. And I was like, I don't know, might as well just see what happens. And then I didn't hear back for like three months. And then I got a proper callback with new sides. They remembered who I was. And I started freaking out in my little New York apartment. And yeah, I kept going and I made it to the chemistry reads, which is where I met these guys. And it was just, it was a blast.

when you get the call that you've got in the role is that pretty much the best news you've had in your young career yet like take what was that moment like oh yeah definitely was I think well I thought they told me it was just like an interview with Dan and John and so I broke out my old camp athlete t-shirt from third grade that still somehow fit me um I and then Rick and Becky showed up and told me I got the part um on Zoom. And then like two weeks later we were doing chemistry reads with Ari and Leah. Did you guys immediately go back to the books? It's useful to look. Obviously the movies did a different kind of thing, but like, what did you do?

I'm being diplomatic. I'm being diplomatic. But like what did you do when you got the part? Like what was the first step? The first thing I did after I got the part? Yeah. I don't remember. I just remember getting the part, and then...

Fair enough, fair enough. When did it become real? You step on set. What's the first, like, oh, I'm in Percy Jackson moment that you guys remember? I think it wasn't really, like, you don't feel like it's actually happening until it's happening.

Like, I never really imagined it how it came out, you know what I mean? Like, I think the day that it really made me realize that we were filming Percy Jackson, was when we went to Camp Athlete for the first time. And I don't know, it's just something about being there was just, and I was in a real Camp Athlete T-shirt, not like a fake one.

For you, Rick, for you, Becky, I mean, again, being very involved in the process this time, being a writer on episodes and being truly a part of the process. What were like, I know it's probably hard to pinpoint, but were there a couple of things that you kept saying to the writers, the executive producers, that were important to you that you wanted to done in a certain way this time.

That it had to be authentic to the books. It had to have that. And it's not about some of the, you know, how it looks, or it has to be how it feels, you know? Yeah, I mean, exactly. I mean, if it doesn't say one line of dialogue from page 35, you know, I'm, that's fine, you know, whatever, but it needs to feel like Percy Jackson. It needs to have that humor. It's got the heart. It's got the action. It's

going to feel a little different just because TV's a different medium than a book. I mean, in the book, you're in Percy's head the entire time. And so you're hearing his internal monologue. And that's where you're getting that snark, those comments. You can't really do that 100% of the time in a television show. At least I don't know that you could do it well. And so we had to figure out a way to introduce these great

characters that didn't rely on that single narrative point of view. And that's why it was so important to find three great actors who not only were excellent on their own, but worked incredibly well together. And as

we've been saying all day in how many interviews did we have? 52. As I've said 52 times today, we were very fortunate to get these three. There are literally millions and millions of people that are very anxious to see this show finally. One of them hit me up and wanted me to convey a message to you guys, to you Walker, that I think is pretty interesting. This is from Logan Lerman to you Walker. Logan asked me to tell you this. The show looks amazing, and I can't wait to see you all crush it in your roles.

You're making a lot of people happy, bringing these characters to life. I can't imagine a better fit for Percy Jackson than Walker. You were so brilliant in the Adam Project. I hope you like eating blue food the next few years because I think you've got a hit show on your hands, Logan. That's easy. That's got to feel pretty good. What do you think? Definitely does. A bit, a little bit. So you haven't met Logan yet, but now this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Clearly he wants to meet you. Did I have DM'd him before about, I watched one of his movies, Perks being a Wallflower. I really liked it. I thought it was so good that I, I, like, DMed him, and I told him what's good. Amazing. Well, he's a class act, and he's right. You guys are, you're going to be busy the next few years, I have a feeling. So, guys, Walker, what does that feel like on set?

Like, that's a lot, that's acting. You have to pretend. You have to really, like, focus up. Like, was that hard to, I don't know. go to that place in your imagination. Well, I think one of the things that kind of helped us kind of get the feel of the scene fast and feel like we're really there was the volume stage,

which, I mean, all of that, I mean, except the Minotaur, obviously, it's all there, you know what I mean, in the rain, and that's all the volume stage. Yeah, do you guys know about the volume, like Star Wars does that too, where it's like this amazing thing where you can see, you essentially can see the environments around you thanks to this state-of-the-art, essentially old school green screen, right?

So for that, did you guys also, and you also get to really, I don't know, mix it up with stunts too in this. Did all of you take to that equally? Do you enjoy doing stunt work? Yeah. Yeah? Leah? Yes. What's the hardest stunt you had to do in the shoot?

I feel like the water scenes really, like all the practicing with, like, in the water. Obviously, because I had to go, like, 17 feet down into the water and stuff, which is something that you normally don't do when you go to a pool. So, you know, like, they were like, yeah, you're just going to get in and stuff. And I was like, okay, cool. I'm just, like, swimming, you know, my little doggy stuff, whatever. And then they're like, okay, so we're going to slowly pull you down. And I was like, okay, that's fine. I'm going to hold my breath.

And then they were like, we're going to keep going. 10 feet. We're going to keep going. 13. We're going to. I'm like, when? I thought we were. We're stopping at three feet.

Like, what happened to the little, like, shallow end? But I feel like that was my hardest part, but, like, my funest challenge at the same time because they taught me how to look like I'm breathing underwater, how to talk underwater, how to scream, how to, like, do weird flips and stuff. It was a lot, but it was very fun and challenging. They even took videos of it and stuff. It might look crazy, but it was good. Amazing.

All these new skills you picked up that I don't know where you're going to use again. outside of Percy Jackson. Ariane, who teaches one to walk like a goat? Is there a school for that? It's a process. They brought in this guy, his name is Rod. He's the coolest person I've ever met. And he does this as a job.

Sorry, that sounded a little rude. No, his job is like helping people look like, you know, otherworldly creatures in films. And we spent, like, on our first day of prep, We spent two hours dissecting how a goat's, like, leg looks. Turns out their heel is way higher up on their leg than you would think. And so now, and so he taught me how to walk like a goat. And I, like, couldn't stop doing it after we filmed.

Do you want to demonstrate for us now? You still got it in you? Like, get up and do it? I mean, we're all here. This is an exclusive, guys, just for you. So, like, what he taught me was there's, like, a bunch of different ways he stands when he's, like, happy or angry or sad. Sorry. Imagine a sad goat walking.

What? I said, imagine a sad goat walking. I did that. Yeah, let's see the sad goat walk. A sad gover walk? Oh. And so he kind of, like, the way. it was described as you know you're falling with each step and you catch yourself with the

ball of your foot and so you're just standing on like like your tiptoes for the entire shoot so now I have calves of steel you really rose to the occasion for that I congratulate you thank you on the spot and you did it man well done um where to go from there uh I'm lost, I didn't expect him to do it. I didn't expect it. Every time we do, like, an interview where they ask us what, like, how he does the goat walk, he finds some way to mention that he has calves of steel. Even if they don't...

It's true. I put the effort in. He's still mentioned... He's so proud. He's so proud. He should be. Thank you. The gold standard of online casinos has arrived. Golden Nugget online casino is live,

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We're coming back. We're picking snacks? We're eating snacks. We're raiding snacks. Like the snackologist we were born to be. Mates is back. Mike and Tom, eat snacks. Wherever you get your podcast. Unless you get them from a snack machine, in which case, call us.

What's the goose bump moment on set for you this time around? Like when you're on set through the series, there must have been so many surreal moments for you, sir. Yeah, I mean, I have to agree with Walker on that. I think the first time I stepped into Camp Halfblatt, and it was real. I mean, sure, we had helped with the art design. We knew what it was going to look like. We thought we understood, okay, fine.

And then you walk through this field into a forest, and there's a clearing, and they have constructed the camp. And... Now, keep in mind that some of the cabins are not there. They're blue screens. And that's really weird. Okay, so you walk into half a camp. But it was still so incredible.

And I knew we were doing it right when we looked up in the tree, and there were two owls. just literally just wild owls just sitting there looking and we got it in the footage they they said get the camera crew on those owls i don't know if they paid him scale or or what but it was pretty cool Athena's looking out for us the scale is obviously huge of this of this series also the cast is huge and you work with some amazing talents from top to bottom. Lin-Manuel Miranda, Megan Malawi.

The list goes on and on. Now, were you guys familiar with all their work? I don't want to put you on the spot, but did you know Win Manwell Miranda? Yes? I mean, I knew of him from Hamilton. I watched Hamilton before that, and

I did like a Mary Poppins play in fifth grade, so I watched the movie before that. Okay, okay. The newer one. Was it intimidating to have those folks on set or were they pretty chill around you guys? They were really, really chill, but like in a fun way. Like, I definitely had a really crazy experience with Mr. Lin, and I just have to get that out there really quickly.

Like, I had this Nirvana sweatshirt on, and this is when we were doing, like, the, like, just a rehearsal beforehand. And he was, oh my gosh, I feel so embarrassed. He literally, he was like, oh my gosh, I love that band. I used to listen to their songs all the time. I turned around, I was like, that's a band. And I feel so bad saying that right now. And then he literally, he fell, he died, and then he came back to life, and then he rolled over the chair, and then he did all, like, this, oh, my God.

And, like, went crazy. Then he came back up and looked at me and said, wait, so what did you think it was? I was like, oh, I thought it was a clothing brand, you know? Because it said Nirvana right there, I promise you guys, I feel so bad now. But later on that day, I had this full-on lecture in a music theory. I came back in the trailer and literally, like in the makeup trailer, while he was getting his makeup off and stuff, it was crazy. Like the lady was doing his makeup, he was like, Leah, I want you to come here for a second, honey. I was like, I was like, yes, sir.

I was like, please don't be mad at me. And then he was like, listen to this. started blasting the Nirvana music, the whole album, literally in the makeup trailer, and that day I had a lot of things on me. So I was in there for like an hour listening to all the music. I was like, I think I've heard this from Mr. Lin like three times already. He's like, he's like, no, just listen again, listen again.

I was like, so now I know every single song. Very, very well. Season two, all Nirvana soundtrack. It's going to be amazing. Who's got the best musical taste in the cast? Do you guys... Dior. No, no, Dior.

Who were you going to say? I just said Leah. Oh, that too. I feel like me and Dior. Actually, no, Leah said JZ was bad in an interview. Did you, wait, when? Okay. Oh, yeah, you're right.

It's the most controversial moment of the night, guys. What happened? I did... That was just because I was, like, trying to get Oriente to, like, Okay, I get that. I understand that. You heard the calves of steel won too many times, and you were fighting back. Like, I like his songs.

I feel like I just picked him because I don't listen to him as much. So I feel like just, like, that was the first person that just came to my mind. I didn't even think you want to know the number range, though. Like, it wasn't that bad. It was a six, but, you know, like, um, you know. I'm going to save you. We're going to move on. We're going to go, we're going to move on.

Can I just say something real quick? Please. Just from watching that. I just remember this. So, you know the scene where I, after I got snapped Dior Spear, and she, like, screams and runs at me? I'm sorry, I just remember this. I'm sorry for, like, budding in, but I was actually afraid. Like, looking at that, she had pure, malicious intent in her eyes.

I thought she was going to hurt me. Wow. This is, like, therapy tonight for Walker. going back. Are you okay now? You feel you're safe up here with us. Not with her. We have so many audience questions. I want to get through a bunch of these. Okay, firstly, we love each of you so much. What connects you to your character the most? Anyone can take that. How do you feel most connected to your respective characters? What do you like about them? Wait, chiropractors or characters?

Yeah. How's your back? How's your back? Is it okay? I think we're all very connected to our chiropractors. Yeah. I'm so sorry. It's my enunciation. It's not you. Don't worry. No, no.

I don't know why my ears are still like popped from like the elevators. Say that one more time. I feel like you said characters. What connects you most to your respective characters? What do you connect with? All the characters. Okay. All right.

Anybody? I guess I will. So what I really connected? What I really connect with my chiropractor is, I'm just joking, I promise. But I really feel like I connect with Annabeth in like so many ways that like I didn't know I could. You know, definitely I feel like, like I'm very independent. I'm very strong.

I can be fierce when I can be. Like, I don't know how that makes sense. But like, and also she has like this vulnerability to her inside of her. You know what I mean? Like, even though what you see on these episodes, you see Annabeth always, like, you know, she wasn't really sorry when she pushed them, actually. So, like, obviously she had no emotion. Neither were you. Sorry.

Didn't mean that. But I feel like, you know, like you don't really know her vulnerability until you really see it in her eyes. And I feel like that's how it is with me. Like, I can always be independent, but I feel like at any time. Like, if something is mentioned, I feel like there's a sensitivity, but, like, it could be in a good way or a bad way. You know what I mean? Like, sometimes you'll see Annabeth have, like, that little light in her eyes, like, wow, this is where it all started. Like, this is where I am again.

And then it'll also be that time where it's, like, I can't believe I'm back here. You know what I mean? So I feel like I liked showing that in the scenes, of course, but I also feel like I'm like that in person. Love it. Love it. Walker, what do you connect most with about Percy, you think? I feel like, I feel like we have very similar sense of humor. I've always connected to him over that, I think.

Okay, here we go. To Rick, how does it feel knowing you've had such a big impact on generations of readers? Wait, we're skipping the calves of steel? Well, I just knew it would end up in, oh, by the way, I've got calves of steel. That was what I was going to say, so. You and Grover share what, besides Cavs of Steel? Right. Besides the Cavs of Steel, we all read it very early on,

and Grover, it was like the second book series I ever read, and Grover left a huge impact on me. He's an extremely empathetic character, and he's so gracious of people and, like, their flaws, and I'm not nearly arrogant enough to say I am that gracious of people and their flaws, but it is something, or even just that empathy, is something I tried to emulate on a day-to-day.

So I'm sorry, what was the question? No, that's okay. It's a big one, and I'm sure you've had years to kind of absorb this, but how does it feel knowing you've had such a big impact on generations of readers? Does that ever get absorbed fully

because it's a lot to take in, I would imagine? Generations. Yeah, it makes me feel old. But no, it's incredible, and it's hard to wrap my mind around. I think Becky and I have had this conversation a lot. Right, and our son is 29 now? Yeah, the little guy that I told bedtime story to that became Percy Jackson. He's 29 now.

So, by the way, he has ADHD and dyslexia like Percy, obviously. That's why I told him that story. Now he is an accessibility expert, a coordinator at a university in Boston, and he's doing that because he wants to help kids get accommodations like he needed. Pretty cool. I'm Amy Nicholson, the film critic for the L.A. Times. And I'm Paul Shear, an actor, writer, and director. You might know me from the League, Veep, or my non-eligible.

for Academy Award role in Twisters. We come together to host Unspooled, a podcast where we talk about good movies, critical hits. Fan favorites, musts season, and in case you missed them. We're talking Parasite the Home Alone. From Greece to the Dark Night. So if you love movies like we do,

come along on our cinematic adventure. Listen to Unspooled wherever you get your podcast. And don't forget to hit the follow button. Goodbye, summer movies, hello fall. I'm Anthony Devaney. And I'm his twin brother, James. We host Raiders of Ler, The Lost Podcast, the Ultimate Movie Podcast, and we are ecstatic to break down late summer

and early fall releases. We have Leonardo DiCaprio leading a revolution in one battle after another, Timothy Salome playing power ping pong in Marty Supreme. Let's not forget Emma Stone and Jorgos Lanthamos' Bougonia. Dwayne Johnson, he's coming for that Oscar in The Smashing Machine, Spike Lee and Denzel teaming up again, plus Daniel DeLuis' return from retirement. There will be plenty of blockbusters to chat about, too. looks exceptional, plus Mortal Kombat 2, and Edgar writes the running man starring Glenn Powell.

Search for Raiders of the Lost Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Okay, it's official. We are very much in the final sprint to election day, and face it, between debates, polling releases, even court appearances. It can feel exhausting, even impossible to keep up with. I'm Brad Milkey. I'm the host of Start Here, the Daily Podcast, from ABC News. And every morning, my team and I get you caught up on the day's news in a quick, straightforward way that's easy to understand with just enough context so you can listen, get it, and go on with your day. So, kickstart your morning. Start Smart with Start Here and ABC News, because staying informed shouldn't feel overwhelming. For your actors, if you could play any other character

the Percy Jackson universe, as he wants to know, which character would you pick? I'm going to say, not Poseidon, but Toby Stevens. You want to be Toby Stevens. I want to be Toby Stevens. Yes.

We all want to be Toby Stevens. It's the coolest accent ever. Yeah. Do you want to try it out? Can you do it? I can't. I mean, I don't know if I remember the lines, but I had a whole scene with him

and I think Dan, shots has a video of me reciting the whole scene with Virginia that plays my mom she was playing me and I was playing Toby I would have to hear it again to it's one of those things next time you're back here I expect the whole thing in Toby

oh yeah for you guys if you could choose another character who do you choose Mr. D but I would also want to be Jason Manzoukis yeah Yeah, yeah. I get it, yeah.

Leah? This is hard. Oh my gosh, I was going to say it for anything. I feel like I would play. I don't know why I went to like that accent. I'm sorry. I feel like, goodness gracious. I feel like I would be Medusa.

You know, like. Like, that was actually pretty cool how I said that. Sorry, but, like, I would feel like I would be Medusa and also Miss Jessica Parker by herself. I love her. Also, I don't know if you guys know, but she was also in another Cinderella story. Love that show movie. But I feel like I would be Miss, I would feel like I would be Medusa because, you know, like, if I don't want to talk to someone, you know, I can just be like, now you see me. You know, and then, you know, never have to hear from him again.

You've thought this through. It's where he was. Percy, Emily wants to know. Percy lives in New York with so many superheroes in New York. If Percy could battle any comic book hero. Oh, everybody likes Emily's question. Emily's taking my job. Great. Superhero versus Percy. Who do you want to battle? Verses. Or team up. You can team up. I think there's only one, like, team up option. It's Spider-Man.

I don't know about verses, though. I do want to see Percy versus, or Percy versus Harry Potter at some point. It wouldn't be much of a fight, though. It wouldn't be much of a fight. Is that what you said? Yeah, it wouldn't be much of a fight. Meaning what? It wouldn't. It wouldn't.

It, oh my God, I'm sorry, but like, I'm just going to elaborate on this real quick. It would not be a fight at all. Oh, my gosh. I don't know how you could say Harry Potter would win that. Sure. I do not have a message from Daniel Radcliffe here. He did not, he did not like anything to you. He's in town, too.

He is in town. Right. What episode are you most excited for fans to see? Let's start with you. Rick, Becky, anything? Wow. I love, what is it, episode five, the one where we meet Ares. Yeah?

I've been talking about this all day. It's a great episode. All three of you have amazing parts in that particular episode. I mean, all the way through, but that particularly stands out in my mind is a great episode. And it's one we've never seen adapted before, and it's so good.

Anyone up, Becky? Oh, people have gone tired of me all day, talking about Grover and Aries, having their little moments together. A scene and episode, you guys are excited for the audience to see? Anything jump out? That specific, that specific episode? I'm saying just generally, is there any scene that you shot?

You're like, oh, I can't wait for the world to see it. I mean, there's one answer. The Ari's fight. Ari's fight. Yes. Yes. One of our audience members wants to know, what song do you associate with your character?

I think this is kind of directed towards me. Rip-tide. Rip-tide. Anyone else want to take it? No? Any songs? Definitely nothing from Jay-Z. We know that.

Actually. Rick. I don't know. Unless you have something. All good. Rick, what part of yourself did you put into these characters? Do you see those qualities in your young cast? must all be in all of them, I would imagine.

I mean, I think the most obvious one, correct me if I'm wrong, Becky, but is the sense of humor. The kind of that snarky middle school sense of humor that I've never matured past, that's me. And Percy shares that, which was why it was so incredible to find Walker, because I think Walker's right. You do have his, you are Percy Jackson, you have his voice, you have his sense of humor. This is another question for Rick.

Where is your favorite place to find magic asking for the newly big kids out there? Honestly, the public library. incredible place check it out open any book it's a door into any world you want to go to that's pretty magical i mean that must be the greatest compliment i know you hear this all the time but like that these books introduce so many to reading to a passion for for reading that's it doesn't get any better than that does it oh we hear that from parents all the time i'm freaking what since the book came out i mean the letters from parents it's just incredible the letters from kids you know, adult

kids, you know, now that said I would never have picked up a book if it wasn't for Percy Jackson. Is your relationship to the books and the characters different now than when you were kind of writing it in solitude? I mean, it's now, you

share these characters with the world. Yeah, at first my older son, he was kind of miffed because it was his bedtime story, right? And it's like, what do you mean you're sharing it with the world? It's in my story. But it has. I mean, we have had Percy and Annabeth and Grover and the rest of the gang as members of our family for decades now. And we've gotten to know them and they have grown. And, you know, it's been really amazing to have them in our lives for that long.

And they are kind of reflections of ourselves. Of us. I mean, we're old, but yes. Just pretend we're not old. And then, yeah, no, it's true. Like, you know, Anna, Beth and Percy, their relationship. You're looking at it. This is Persebeth, right here. Of course, our ship name is Brick. Every good relationship needs a ship name, doesn't it?

Right? What did playing your character teach you about yourself, guys? Ooh, big, big question. How does this change you, this experience? That's a very good question. It's deep. I know. How are you different on the next job?

I mean, you've survived and conquered Percy Jackson. Do you feel more confidence on the new jobs? Like, oh, I can hold my own in something like this. Absolutely, yeah. I mean, I don't want to speak for them, but this is the biggest job I've ever worked on by a mile, and all of that experience and getting to work with such a supportive crew

I mean they were there with us every step of the way and looking back I know for a fact I asked some stupid questions like the stunts team was probably sick of me like what? We all asked them stupid questions yeah but everyone was so like kind and supportive and I learned so much just from that first season alone

they're like yeah I'm 100% different coming out of it what of your I mean I would imagine you're getting more recognized day-to-day by fans and starting to have these kind of fan interactions have any stuck out with you yet? What's the sentiment that you see in real life when a fan recognizes you?

Leah? I mean, it must be like mind-boggling to like have that kind of love come at you. Yes, it's, how do I explain this? This is in a good way when I see this, I promise you. I'm not really good we're putting words together, so it might come out wrong.

But, you know, like, I've been on shows and movies before, and, of course, there's been people that's like, oh, I know you and stuff, but this is different. This is a whole different level in a good way. And I just, like, when, how do I explain this? When I went to, where did I go? It was somewhere in L.A. I went somewhere, and it was, like, all these people were just, like, all fans of Percy Jackson. and it was crazy because I was actually trying to get around them because they weren't in line so I was like oh excuse me

but they were actually talking about the series right there I didn't even know and then I was like excuse me and then they turned around they were like I was like and then they started laughing and then I was like what did I just do wrong I was like oh my goodness I hope I didn't just like push somebody or something or like trip and then they were like are you coming to like surprises? Oh my gosh. I was like I was like no no no I'm just buying something I'm just I no no and then and but I still didn't know what they were talking about so I was like what's going on they were like you're Anna bet on

Percy Jackson I said and then just for that whole entire second I was like I am and like I was like what are you talking about what and then and then I just it got to me and I was like oh yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah and then like It's just, it's so amazing seeing that these people are watching, like, are waiting and being so patient to watch something that you're in. And it's even better because, like, that's also motivational because you're like, oh, I'm going to do this for them, you know? So I did this and I filmed this for you guys, and I hope you guys really like it. Thank you. We're just about out of time, but I do want to look, look, I don't want to get greedy, but what is the future?

plan. What's, you guys must be ready to, you want to do this again, I would imagine tomorrow. You're ready to do season two? Oh yeah. All of us. Yeah. Are you writing already? How far along are you? I mean, the audience has to be there. The audience, by the way, will be there. What's the plan going forward? Can we keep this just in the room? Yeah, obviously. Don't say anything. Yeah, yeah. Well, I mean, we are, we are doing what we can to prepare on the eventuality that we get the green light. We don't know. It is not official. You know, we're getting reactions like we've had tonight, amazing reactions from everywhere. And so... The studio, too. Yeah. I mean, so if I was the Oracle, I would say

the auguries are good. But we have started writing. what those episodes would look like, sort of doing the series format, talking about the first few episodes, and that's about as much as we can do right now until we get the go ahead. So the best way to assure that that goes forward, tell all your friends to tune into Disney Plus and watch.

December 20th is the dates, Percy Jackson and the Olympians. I have a feeling this audience will be watching. Congratulations on the show, guys. What an achievement. It's fantastic. Get used to this kind of reception. It's going to continue.

And thank you so much for your time tonight, guys. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. And so ends another edition of happy, sad, confused. Remember to review, rate, and subscribe to this show on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm a big podcast person.

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