Percy Jackson's Ares: Unveiling the WWE Star Behind the Character

Percy Jackson has just brought another Greek god into the mix, and Ares is no stranger to the WWE ring.

The new series has been well-received by fans for its faithfulness to the books, a significant improvement from the 2010 Logan Lerman films. Author Rick Riordan had a greater influence on the show, making it more faithful to the source material. A notable example of this faithfulness is the character of Ares, a major player in the books but absent from the movies. This has led to questions about the character's portrayal in the show and his connections to the WWE.

Who is Ares?

As one of the Twelve Olympians, Ares is the God of War, and as a son of Zeus and Hera, he is technically Percy Jackson’s much older cousin in the series.

He admires violence and war, overseeing conflicts throughout history, and is willing to fight Percy and the other demigods if necessary. He believes a war among the gods is inevitable due to their messy family dynamic, and he loves them for it.

His relationships with the other gods can be unpredictable. He and Aphrodite were once lovers, a significant factor in Episode 5, while he harbors resentment towards Athena, displaying hints of sibling rivalry.

Like many of the gods, he has his own demigod children. However, he makes it clear that he doesn’t like children, mainly due to how innocent they all are. This even extends to his own children, who he admits he only likes slightly more than other kids. With his lack of parental care apparent, it’s easy to understand why his children, namely Clarisse, the bully of Camp Half Blood who battled Percy in Episode 2, acts the way she does.

Disney+Clarisse had a vendetta against Percy – like father, like daughter.

Who plays Ares in the Percy Jackson Disney+ series?

In Percy Jackson & the Olympians, Ares is played by Adam Copeland, otherwise know as Edge, previously in the WWE and now found in AEW.

Ares had only a small cameo with no dialogue in the movies, but in this show, he first appears in Episode 5. In our 4-star review, we highlight how Copeland manages to be both threatening and humorously brutish, making him a significant obstacle for a show like Percy Jackson. The scenes between him and Grover are especially entertaining, as Grover uses Ares's prideful need to outsmart Athena in order to extract information from him about who may have stolen the lightning bolt.

Adam Copeland, who is also known as Edge from WWE, has transitioned to acting, following in the footsteps of other wrestlers such as Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Dave Bautista. Prior to his role in Percy Jackson, he appeared in the 2017 series Vikings.

Check him out in the Percy Jackson trailer below:

Check out our other Percy Jackson coverage here, how and when you can watch it here, and the rest of our Movies & TV coverage here.

Editor's P/S

As a hard fan of Percy Jackson, I am thrilled to see the series come to life on Disney+ with greater faithfulness to the books. The introduction of Ares, the Greek God of War, played by former WWE star Adam Copeland (Edge), adds an exciting dimension to the show. Copeland's portrayal of Ares is both menacing and humorously brutish, making him a formidable adversary for Percy and his friends. The scenes between Ares and Grover are particularly entertaining, showcasing Copeland's acting skills and his ability to bring the character to life.

Overall, I am impressed with the casting of Adam Copeland as Ares and believe he embodies the character's essence perfectly. His presence adds a new level of intensity and excitement to the series, and I can't wait to see how his character develops as the show progresses. I highly recommend Percy Jackson & The Olympians to fans of the books and those who enjoy a thrilling blend of mythology and modern storytelling.