Unleashing A New Annabeth: Percy Jackson Actor Inspires Girls Worldwide
Playing a different character, the Percy Jackson actor discusses the inspiration he hopes to provide to girls through his portrayal of a unique Annabeth Discover how this new Annabeth diverges from the original and the impact it may have on viewers
Summary
Leah Sava Jeffries opens up about playing a different version of Annabeth in the upcoming Percy Jackson Disney+ series.
Jeffries will present a contrasting depiction of Annabeth, both in terms of her physical attributes and personality, deviating from the original representation in the books. Nonetheless, Jeffries' version of Annabeth will continue to encompass her characteristic qualities of intelligence, strength, and competence as a demigod.
Leah Sava Jeffries, known for her role in Percy Jackson and the Olympians, recently discussed her portrayal of a unique version of Annabeth. The highly anticipated Disney+ show is based on Rick Riordan's book series, which has previously been adapted into two films. The show features an impressive cast, including Walker Scobell as Percy Jackson, Jeffries as Annabeth Chase (the daughter of Athena), and Aryan Simhadri as Grover Underwood, a satyr.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly's 2023 Fall TV preview, conducted prior to the SAG-AFTRA strike, Jeffries provided insights into her approach to the character of Annabeth in anticipation of the show's release later this year. As an aspiring role model for young girls, the star expressed her hopes of inspiring others. Furthermore, Jeffries described her experience filming the Disney+ series as "phenomenal and unbelievable." Read on to discover more about her thoughts:
How Percy Jackson's New Annabeth Is Different
Playing a character who is completely different from me, with a different hair color, skin tone, and all, was the initial concept. But to hear that I am portraying her in a unique way made me realize the potential I have to inspire other girls. Filming the series has been an incredible and surreal experience.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians were previously adapted into two feature films, with Logan Lerman, Alexandra Daddario, and Brandon T. Jackson starring as the main trio. However, these movies, namely The Lightning Thief (2010) and Sea of Monsters (2013), faced heavy criticism for straying away from the original source material. The upcoming Percy Jackson show, on which Riordan plays a significant role as a writer and executive producer, is expected to faithfully depict the books in a much more satisfying manner.
Jeffries' portrayal of Annabeth in Percy Jackson and the Olympians is expected to deviate significantly from the character described in the books. While Riordan depicts Annabeth as a blonde and white individual, the Disney+ series controversially cast a Black actress for the role. However, the star assures that her portrayal of Annabeth will not solely be distinguished by her skin tone and hair color, but also by her overall persona.
It is worth noting that the character of Annabeth was previously portrayed by Daddario in the Percy Jackson movies. Prior to gaining recognition for her performance in The White Lotus season 1, Daddario faced backlash for not having the same hair color as the character described in the books. Despite these disparities in appearance, Jeffries' portrayal of Annabeth is anticipated to showcase the character's intelligence, strength, and capability as a demigod, aligning with her depiction in the original source material.
Source: EW
