Walker Scobell opens up about the dangerous chariot sequence that left him stunned as Percy Jackson season 2 premieres on Disney Plus
A star from Percy Jackson and the Olympians has revealed details of a “crazy and terrifying” stunt filmed for the second season.
The newest chapter of the Disney Plus series has arrived on the streaming service, with the opening two episodes now available. Viewers will need to tune in weekly as Percy and his companions embark on a fresh quest into unexplored territory.
This season adapts the second novel in Rick Riordan’s hugely popular book series, the Sea of Monsters, with Disney Plus promising “action packed mayhem and higher stakes than ever”.
The streaming giant reveals: “After Camp Half-Blood’s protective border is breached, Percy Jackson embarks on an epic odyssey into the Sea of Monsters in search of his best friend Grover and the one thing that may save the camp – the legendary Golden Fleece.
“With help from Annabeth, Clarisse and his newfound cyclops half-brother Tyson, Percy’s survival becomes essential to stopping Luke, the Titan Kronos, and their impending plan to bring down Camp Half-Blood – and ultimately, Olympus.”, reports the Express.
Despite only two episodes being released, there’s already been plenty of thrilling moments for audiences – with one sequence leaving the cast particularly impressed.
Viewers will remember scenes featuring chariot racing, an ancient mode of transportation and competitive sport that involves controlling a two-wheeled vehicle drawn by horses.
Leading star Walker Scobell, portraying Percy Jackson, has spoken candidly about the chariot sequences and the “crazy” and perilous nature of filming them.
Walker revealed: “So on the first day of filming I didn’t know I was going to do any chariot riding, right? Because it’s so dangerous: I got to watch some test footage of them going out and messing around out there before we were filming and it looked terrifying.
“I was like, ‘Okay, I’m not doing that.’ But I get there on the day and they’re like, ‘Hop in! Just kind of drive the chariot around the second part of this oval stadium and then park right in between these two horses…’ So, I had to learn right there. It was crazy.”
For Leah Jeffries, who portrays Annabeth Chase, the chariot sequences proved equally memorable, describing it as “one of my most fun days.”
Executive producer Jonathan Steinberg acknowledged the ambitious nature of the scene, explaining it was among the elements he was most eager for audiences to witness: “Our goal was to push this thing as far as it would go and then push it a little further. The chariot race was scary.
“I mean at the end of the day, we want the show to be great and we take that really seriously, but we also want everybody to be safe and okay. And strapping kids to horses at full speed… it just doesn’t seem like a good idea when you start planning it.
“So, the fact that we were able to do that and have it turn out great and also have everybody walk away from it smiling was a big deal.”
Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 2 is available to stream on Disney Plus.