The Intriguing Connection Between Jessica Parker Kennedy and Percy Jackson's Medusa

The Impact of Jessica Parker Kennedy's Medusa in Percy Jackson and the Olympians

Medusa debuts in Percy Jackson and the Olympians episode 3, 'We Visit the Garden Gnome Emporium,' as portrayed by actress Jessica Parker Kennedy, who previously starred alongside another actor from the Disney+ series in a pirate show from 2014. Previously played by Uma Thurman in Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief movie, the Disney TV show’s version of the gorgon brings plenty of complexity to Medusa’s tragic backstory connected to Athena and Poseidon.

Jessica Parker Kennedy as Medusa in Percy Jackson and the Olympians

While Kennedy’s Medusa largely conceals her face with a hat throughout Percy Jackson season 1, episode 3, the actress makes a lasting impact as she highlights the cruelty of the gods and the moral dilemmas that those who were wronged by them, such as Percy, face in response. Since Percy decapitates Medusa after she tries to turn him, Grover, and Annabeth to stone, episode 3 seemingly marks Jessica Parker Kennedy’s final appearance on Percy Jackson and the Olympians – unless she returns simply as Medusa’s head.

Medusa standing in front of her stone garden in Percy Jackson and the Olympians

The Black Sails Connection: Jessica Parker Kennedy and Toby Stephens

Moving from historical pirates to Greek mythology, Percy Jackson’s Medusa actress Jessica Parker Kennedy and Poseidon actor Toby Stephens both had lead roles in Black Sails. The historical adventure series, which was also created by Percy Jackson’s show co-creator Jonathan E. Steinberg, ran for four seasons on Starz between 2014 and 2017 to critical acclaim. Black Sails was envisioned as a prequel to the classic 1883 Robert Louis Stevenson novel Treasure Island, with Stephens starring as the fearsome Captain James Flint and Kennedy playing the sharp-witted sex worker and power player Max.

Jessica Parker Kennedy as Max in Black Sails

Both actors starred in all four seasons of Black Sails, giving them a long-standing collaborative connection to Steinberg before Percy Jackson season 1. While Kennedy’s Medusa and Stephens’ Poseidon don't have any scenes together in Percy Jackson season 1, episode 3, their characters are revealed to have an important past. According to Medusa, her romance with Poseidon is what led to Athena turning her into a gorgon, indicating the Sea God will have a strong reaction to seeing her decapitated head delivered by Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hermes. If Percy Jackson and the Olympians includes a scene of Poseidon witnessing Medusa’s head, then Kennedy and Stephens will have a more direct Black Sails reunion on the Disney+ show.

Percy Jackson standing on a beach next to Toby Stephens as Poseidon from the Disney+ SHow

Comparing Jessica Parker Kennedy's Medusa to Uma Thurman's

Jessica Parker Kennedy’s appearance as Medusa may be brief, but it’s a memorable outing that marks a high point for the Disney+ adaptation of Rick Riordan’s book series. While Uma Thurman’s Medusa was a more campy take on the gorgon that leaned further into her antagonism, Kennedy’s Medusa is written with more nuance that inspires additional sympathy for her tragic fate. Thurman’s Medusa was also treated more humorously by Percy Jackson’s heroes than Kennedy’s, with the movie’s decapitated gorgon simply being given sunglasses to cover her eyes, while the show’s version is given an invisible cap to hinder her powers.

Uma Thurman as Medusa holding an iPod in Percy Jackson movie

Furthermore, Thurman’s Medusa adapts her as a more villainous monster, whereas Kennedy’s Medusa is more gray. Though Thurman, who still gave a great performance in the 2010 movie, had less screen time than Kennedy did in the TV show, it seemed as if Disney+’s series could have done even more with the character. Certain aspects of Medusa’s story from Percy Jackson’s book were changed in episode 3, so it’s possible that her character could continue to be evolved should she return simply as a head. Medusa’s story plays an important part in foreshadowing the conflicts over the morality of the Greek gods that continues throughout Percy Jackson and the Olympians' future, and seeing Kennedy come back as the gorgon would help further emphasize these themes.