One of the actors inPercy Jackson and the Olympiansseason 2 addresses his casting. Adapting the beloved Rick Riordan novels,season 1 of the Greek mythology-based series came out in 2023.Unlike the underwhelming 2010 moviePercy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief, the Disney+ series was well-received.Percy Jacksongot positive reviewsoverall, getting a 91% Tomatometer from critics. One of the show’s champions wasScreenRant’s Mae Abdulbaki, who wrote that “Percy Jackson & the Olympians has the book’s spirit.”
In an interview withScreenRantonThe Handmaid’s Taleseason 6 red carpet,Percy Jackson & the Olympiansseason 2 actor Timothy Simons addresses his role in the series. Simons describes his experience as “an incredibly fun, wildly good time.” He notes that the adult actors in the series get the opportunity to be “so silly” while “all the kids have to take everything deadly seriously.” Simons also jokes thathis own kids respected him more after he got the part.Check out the full quote from Simons below:
ScreenRant:I’m so excited to see you in Percy Jackson season 2. Some have said you are born to play Tantalus. How did you answer that call?
Simons:I found that one to be an incredibly fun, wildly good time. All the adults in that show get to be so silly and just have a great time, and all the kids have to take everything deadly seriously.
But this provided me with a lot of street cred for my kids, who had just gotten into Percy Jackson when I got cast. It really helped out around the house.
What This Means For Percy Jackson & The Olympians Season 2
Tantalus Was Cut From The Movie
As referenced in the interview,Simons is slated to play Tantalus in the upcoming season.First appearing in thebookThe Sea of Monsters, Tantalus is a Greek demigod king who is one of Zeus' sons. He is a disliked figure in the book series, shown to be sadistic and cruel to campers at Camp Half Blood. Controversially, Tantalus was cut from theSea of Monstersmovie despiteStar Warslegend Mark Hamill being cast to play him. As such, thePercy Jacksonseries will be the first time that audiences get to see a version of Tantalus.
Simons' description of his time on the show speaks to hisinterpretation of Tantalus. Given the character’s antagonistic energy, there is a world wherein that character could be portrayed pretty unforgivingly. Simons, however, describes the experience as “fun” and “silly,” which would not indicate that he has to play the character particularly intensely. Instead, he likely offers a more caricatured or over-the-top version of the character that allows him to lean into the show’s whimsical elements.
Our Take On Simons As Tantalus
His Past Work Shows His Capabilities
His background proves he will have the ability to play Tantalus with ease. He played Officer Stevens in theGoosebumpsmovie, which was similarly aimed at young audiences. He’s also had roles inVeepandNobody Wants This, which show his abilities to play both a jerk and a more comedic role, respectively.I am confident in his ability to channel these qualities inPercy Jackson & the Olympiansseason 2, making him a great choice for the role.
