Percy Jackson & The Olympians reveals how much of the stunts are done by the actors themselves, details revealed

During the 2025 San Diego Comic-Con, the group behind Percy Jackson & The Olympians got together to share a few things about the show’s second season. Most of it followed what people expected: some updates on the characters, a glimpse at what’s next in the story, even a few new faces. But one comment stood out. Charlie Bushnell, who plays Luke, mentioned that the cast had taken on almost all the stunt work themselves.

Bushnell mentioned that around 95 percent of the stunts were done by the actors themselves. That number stood out. In most large-scale fantasy shows, stunt doubles usually handle the action. Dior Goodjohn, who returns as Clarisse, also spoke during the panel and referenced her character’s costume as being ironclad, suggesting a shift in Clarisse’s role toward something more physically active.

A closer connection between action and acting

Bushnell summed it up directly:

“We all do 95% of our own stunts […] if you thought the action was good in season 1, just wait for season 2.”

It wasn’t framed as a challenge, but as a glimpse into how the production evolved behind the scenes.

The cast worked with stunt professionals, as expected. Safety remained a priority. Still, the actors stayed involved in nearly all of the physical scenes. In Percy Jackson & The Olympians, this approach reduced the need to cut away during fights or action moments, which often happens when doubles are used. Keeping the actors in frame throughout allows expressions and reactions to stay consistent from start to finish.

Scenes built this way tend to feel more connected. The actor delivering a line is the same one falling, dodging, or running. The sequence plays out without disruption, which can enhance how viewers experience the tension or rhythm of a moment.

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Physicality in a mythological world

The world of Percy Jackson & The Olympians is still built on mythology, with gods, monsters, and quests that stretch beyond reality. That part remains the same. What changes is how those elements are shown when the main cast takes on the physical side of their roles.

This shift doesn’t make the series more realistic, but it does bring the story’s demands closer to the performances. When someone looks worn out or reacts to a hit, that moment often reflects what actually happened during filming.

In scenes like that, the detail helps things feel more grounded. Even with magical creatures and ancient powers in play, there’s something real layered into the fantasy.

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What’s new in Percy Jackson & The Olympians season two

The upcoming season of Percy Jackson & The Olympians adapts The Sea of Monsters, the second book in Rick Riordan’s series. The story expands the world introduced in the first season. New locations, higher stakes, and tougher challenges appear early on.

Daniel Diemer joins the cast as Tyson, a Cyclops and Percy’s half-brother. Tyson’s presence affects group dynamics and introduces a character who brings strength and vulnerability. Scenes involving Tyson may shift how Percy, Annabeth, and Grover approach their journey, adding new tension to the group’s path.

Walker Scobell, Leah Sava Jeffries, and Aryan Simhadri return as the central trio. Their chemistry shaped much of what worked in the first season of Percy Jackson & The Olympians. With Tyson now in the mix, the group dynamic changes — bringing a new energy to how the characters face what comes next.

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Clarisse and Luke step into larger roles

In Percy Jackson & The Olympians, Clarisse takes on a more central role this season, with a solo mission that pushes her into more intense action scenes, which puts her in a more active position. Her armor, briefly mentioned during the Comic-Con panel, isn’t just a design update. It marks a shift in how she moves through the story.

Luke, played by Bushnell, is also heading in a new direction. He begins to distance himself from Camp Half-Blood and faces situations that demand more from him. According to Bushnell, doing his stunts helped shape how he understood Luke’s posture and mindset. The physical work became part of the performance, not just something layered on top.

Both characters now relate to the action more directly. Their roles aren’t defined only by what they say or feel. The way they move, react, and carry themselves has become part of how their stories unfold.

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Production timeline and release date

Filming for season two has already been completed. The series is now in post-production. According to Disney+, the new episodes will premiere on December 10, 2025. Although a full trailer hadn’t been released at the time of Comic-Con, the panel confirmed that the rollout of promotional content had begun.

The official date gives a clear window for fans waiting to see what’s next. It also suggests that the production is staying on track and progressing toward release without delay.

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Why the stunt work matters

Choosing to let the main cast perform most of the stunt work does more than streamline production. It changes how the show feels. When the same actor appears throughout an action sequence, without the need for substitutions, the scene feels more cohesive.

That choice ends up shaping how the characters come across. Viewers tend to pick up on that connection when what’s being said lines up with what’s happening on screen. If someone looks tired or afraid or pushes through something hard, it lands differently when the actor is going through that moment too.

It’s part of what keeps the cast tied to the world around them. The show doesn’t just tell a story; it lets the actors move through it in real time. The fantasy remains intact, but it’s supported by a layer of effort that doesn’t rely entirely on effects or edits. While it may not change the plot, that detail plays a big role in how audiences connect with the show.