im not sure about the casting. im not hating on the kids more so confused about the casting directors decisions and thats just because they dont look like the book descriptions
i have spent the majority of high school and college surrounded by theater kids, so let me tell you some information i learned against my will about the acting business:
the job of a casting director isn’t to find the actor that’s gonna look the part. it’s to find the actor that’s going to act the part.
when they cast percy, they weren’t looking for a black-haired green-eyed boy. they were looking for a funny motherfucker. a good actor. someone who could portray percy jackson, in all his preadolescent impertinent glory. walker scobell is that guy. even though he’s blonde, even though he’s not how you pictured book-percy, he’s gonna embody percy jackson. would you rather have an actor who’s good at their job and dedicated to the part, or one who looks right but can’t deliver the iconic personality?
a big part of annabeth’s character and journey is that people underestimate her because of her looks. back when PJO was first published in the early 2000s, the dumb blonde stereotype was rampant (this was the era of movies like legally blonde and clueless, after all). annabeth was made blonde in the books to combat that stereotype.
now, in the year of our lord 2022, the dumb blonde stereotype is no longer as present. you know what is present? racism. people thinking black girls aren’t as smart or as good as white girls. stereotypes like “the angry black woman”. i’m not being very eloquent about this, please forgive me, but my point is this: casting annabeth as a black girl is the perfect way to preserve this part of her character, this journey of her defying stereotypes.
the story is more important than the appearances of the actors. the personality of the characters is what we adore, not their looks. the show is an adaptation of the books, not a carbon copy of them. and it’s gonna be great. these kids are talented. they have experience. in opera, it’s more important for your actors to sing well than to look right. do you understand?
i’m not looking to console anyone or hold any hands anymore, because i am thrilled. i am ecstatic. i am rereading the books and picturing walker scobell and leah jeffries and aryan simhadri as our beautiful trio. i am celebrating. there is nothing to be unsure or worried about. disney threw a billion dollars behind this show, and rick riordan is at the helm. what are you worried about?
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