The production of the chariot race scene in season 2 of Percy Jackson and the Olympians left showrunner Jonathan E. Steinberg genuinely concerned for the safety of the young actors. Despite meticulous planning, the intense sequence involving horses and high-speed turns tested the crew's limits. Steinberg shared these insights in a December 2025 interview with SFX Magazine.
The chariot races at Camp Half-Blood, a pivotal moment from Rick Riordan's novels "The Sea of Monsters" and "The Battle of the Labyrinth," posed significant challenges for the Disney+ series Percy Jackson and the Olympians. Showrunner Jonathan E. Steinberg revealed that the scene was the first major decision point in the writing process for season 2. "It was the first thing, at the beginning of the writing process, that we all had a moment to decide, 'Can we do this? Can we do it safely? Can we do it well?'" Steinberg told SFX Magazine in its December 2025 issue. "When you think about this book, the race just pops into your memory, so we felt like, 'All right, let's figure out a way to do this without hurting anyone.'"
To bring the race to life, the production team committed to practical effects, incorporating real animals and choreographed action. This approach heightened the risks, as horses introduced unpredictable elements during filming. The young cast, including Walker Scobell as Percy Jackson, Leah Jeffries as Annabeth Chase, and Aryan Simhadri as Grover Underwood, participated in the demanding sequences featuring full-speed hairpin turns.
Steinberg described the ordeal as one of the largest shoots he has overseen. "It was a big deal, and something I'm really proud of," he said. "It's one of the biggest things I've ever been a part of shooting, having however many horses and children doing full-speed hairpin turns. It was an ordeal, but it looks pretty good, and nobody got hurt."
Safety remained the top priority throughout, balancing the need to capture the books' dynamic energy with the well-being of everyone involved. This iteration of the series emphasizes grounded, immediate portrayals of iconic novel moments, distinguishing it from previous film adaptations.
