Leah Jeffries defends Percy Jackson, embraces individuality
Leah Jeffries defends Percy Jackson, embraces individuality – Much has been said about the cast of the new Percy Jackson series. The Annabeth actress gives her opinion.
By Megan Sauer
Percy Jackson and the Olympians is now available on the Disney Plus platform and with it many comments appear. One of the most impactful issues is the cast, led by Walker Scobell, Aryan Simhadri and Leah Jeffries.
The latter, who plays Annabeth, was the most criticized of the cast due to her appearance in relation to her character, with many comparing her to Alexandra Daddario, an actress who took the role of the demigoddess in the films a few years ago.
In an interview with Essence, Jeffries defends herself and says that she doesn’t want to act like Alexandra , but rather like herself.
Evading monsters and overcoming gods, he must cross the country to return Zeus’ master lightning bolt and avoid a war.
After losing his mother, Percy finds refuge at Camp Half-Blood; a sanctuary for young demigods. He must prove his worth and confront his origins when he discovers that he is also a demigod, and embarks on a dangerous pursuit of his enemies in search of the Underworld.
Official poster
The series is receiving very good reviews from the press, however, the comments against Jeffries have not stopped. These are his recent statements:
“I hear people say things and they try to tear me down. They say you’re not her [Annabeth]. You can’t play her like Alexandra Daddario.
But you know what? They are right. I’m not her and I can’t play like her. But I’ll show you who I am and how I’m going to do it. I’m not trying to be like anyone else. I want to be myself and I want to make sure other girls understand that too.”
An old pattern
But the signing of Alexandra Daddario in the film adaptation of Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief was also not without criticism, mainly due to the lack of fidelity in the representation of the characters compared to the description in the book series written by Rick Riordan.
In the original work, the character of Annabeth Chase is described as having blonde hair and gray eyes, characteristics that contrast with the appearance of Daddario, who has dark hair and blue eyes.
This discrepancy in casting led to the disappointment of many fans who were hoping for a more faithful adaptation to the original source.
Additionally, the Percy Jackson film adaptation came under broader criticism for other creative decisions that diverged significantly from the plot and tone of the books, contributing to a general perception that the film did not capture the essence of the literary work.
In this context, the signing of Daddario became a symbol of poor choices in the production and served as a focal point for criticism from fans of the saga, who expressed their discontent with film adaptations in general.
Percy Jackson, the literary series written by Rick Riordan, has had a significant global impact since its publication. The story, which focuses on Greek mythology and follows the adventures of Percy Jackson, a demigod, has gained popularity among young readers around the world.
The series has contributed to fostering interest in classical mythology among teenagers, providing a unique and modern perspective on ancient myths.
Additionally, the saga has been praised for addressing themes relevant to young people, such as identity, friendship and acceptance, which has resonated with readers from various cultures.
Although the Percy Jackson film adaptations have not achieved the same success as the books, the literary series has left a lasting mark on youth literature and popular culture.
The global impact is evident in the constant presence of the series on bookstore shelves, the continuation of new installments and the creation of a loyal fan base that has contributed to keeping the work’s relevance alive around the world.
