The production team behind Disney+'s Percy Jackson and the Olympians has adopted a strategy to prevent its young actors from aging out of their roles too quickly, unlike Stranger Things. By shooting Seasons 2 and 3 consecutively, they aim to maintain the show's timeline integrity. This approach comes after a two-year wait following the 2023 debut of Season 1.
Since its 2016 premiere on Netflix, Stranger Things has faced challenges with its young cast members growing up noticeably. The characters are now portrayed as 17-year-olds, but actors like those playing the original kids are in their early-to-mid 20s, creating a visible gap that affects the show's realism.
Disney+'s Percy Jackson and the Olympians, adapted from Rick Riordan's novels, risks a similar issue with its teen ensemble. To counter this, the production filmed Seasons 2 and 3 almost back-to-back after Season 1 aired in 2023. This decision allows for a quicker release of future episodes, potentially shortening the wait times that fans of Stranger Things have endured—often up to three years between seasons.
Executive producer and author Rick Riordan reflected on the production timeline in an interview with TheWrap. "One thing I did not fully appreciate when we started this whole process is how long a season of television takes to produce, especially big television like this," he said. "I naively thought, 'Yeah, we'll hire the kids of the right age, and we'll do a season a year, no problem.' In reality, that's very difficult to do for a number of reasons."
Walker Scobell, the 16-year-old actor playing Percy Jackson, addressed concerns about his own aging. "[If we're renewed for] Season 4 next year, I'll be the same age Logan [Lerman] was [when he starred in] the first [Percy Jackson] movie, you know?" he noted. "So, I think we're still behind the movies."
With Season 3 already underway, this back-to-back filming could set a new pace for the series, helping it stay true to the books' youthful protagonists while delivering content more efficiently to viewers.
