The wait is finally over. If you've been doom-scrolling through Disney+ waiting for the next chapter of Rick Riordan’s universe, you know the second season—adapting The Sea of Monsters—hit screens in late 2025. It’s a lot to process. Honestly, seeing these kids grow up in real-time is starting to give the Harry Potter cast vibes, especially with Walker Scobell hitting 17 this year.
But it’s not just about the original trio anymore. This season effectively blew the doors off Camp Half-Blood’s roster. We’ve got new gods, a massive Cyclops, and a recast for the King of the Heavens that everyone is talking about. Let’s break down who’s who in the Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Sea of Monsters cast and how these new faces are actually changing the vibe of the show.
The Trio We Know (And The New Tensions)
You can't have Percy Jackson without Walker Scobell. He’s back as the titular son of Poseidon, but he’s notably different this time around. He's taller, his voice is deeper, and according to recent interviews, he’s feeling the "daunting" pressure of the role more than ever. Beside him, Leah Sava Jeffries returns as Annabeth Chase. She’s still the smartest person in the room, but The Sea of Monsters introduces some serious emotional hurdles for her, specifically regarding her history with Thalia Grace and her internal bias against Cyclopes.
Then there’s Aryan Simhadri as Grover Underwood. For much of this arc, Grover is actually away from the main group. He’s trapped in the Sea of Monsters by Polyphemus. It’s a weird spot for the character—basically spending a chunk of the season in a wedding dress trying to outsmart a giant.
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The New Heavy Hitters
The biggest casting news for Season 2 was undoubtedly Daniel Diemer as Tyson. If you’ve read the books, you know Tyson is the heart of this story. He’s Percy’s half-brother, a young Cyclops who was living on the streets of New York. Diemer, who many remember from The Half of It, brings that "big heart" energy that the character needs.
Actually, the chemistry between Scobell and Diemer is what makes the first few episodes work. It’s awkward. It’s messy. Percy isn't exactly thrilled to find out his dad had another kid, especially one that doesn't fit the "hero" mold.
The Daughter of Zeus Finally Arrives
For years, fans wondered who would play Thalia Grace. Tamara Smart eventually landed the role. It’s a heavy-hitting choice for a few reasons. Smart previously worked with the late Lance Reddick (the original Zeus) on a different project, where she also played his daughter. Rick Riordan has called the connection "poignant" and "electric." While she spends a lot of the season as, well, a tree, her presence looms over everything Luke and Annabeth do.
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A New Zeus in the House
Speaking of Zeus, we have to talk about Courtney B. Vance. Taking over for Lance Reddick was never going to be easy. Reddick’s performance in the Season 1 finale was iconic. However, Vance is a powerhouse. He brings a different kind of regal weight to the King of the Gods. It’s a necessary shift, and it’s one that the production team handled with a lot of respect for Reddick’s memory.
The Villains and the Vexing
Luke Castellan is no longer just the cool older counselor. Charlie Bushnell has officially stepped into his "villain era." He’s working for Kronos now, and he’s much more dangerous.
But he’s not the only headache for Percy. Dior Goodjohn returns as Clarisse La Rue, and this time, she’s actually the one who gets the official quest. Dior is terrifyingly good at playing Clarisse. She’s brash, she’s a bully, but beneath that, she’s just a kid trying to make her dad, Ares (Adam Copeland), proud.
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Here is a quick rundown of the other faces you'll see popping up in the Bermuda Triangle:
- Timothy Simons as Tantalus: The new activities director who replaced Chiron. He's a spirit from the Fields of Punishment and, frankly, he’s a nightmare. Simons plays the "cursed with eternal hunger" bit with a great balance of comedy and genuine malice.
- Aleks Paunovic as Polyphemus: The big bad Cyclops. Interestingly, Paunovic actually played a different Cyclops in the 2013 movie version. Talk about a full-circle moment.
- The Gray Sisters: This was a fun bit of casting. Sandra Bernhard, Kristen Schaal, and Margaret Cho play the trio driving the Chariot of Damnation. It’s chaotic. It’s exactly what you’d expect from those three.
- Andra Day as Athena: We finally get to see Annabeth’s mom. Day brings a certain cold, strategic brilliance to the goddess of wisdom that explains a lot about Annabeth’s personality.
Why This Cast Works Better Than The Movies
Look, the 2013 Sea of Monsters movie had its fans, but it fundamentally missed the ages of the characters. By keeping the cast of the Disney+ series age-appropriate, the stakes feel real. When Tyson looks at Percy as a "big brother," it actually feels like a sibling dynamic, not two grown men standing in a field.
The inclusion of more gods like Hermes (Lin-Manuel Miranda) and Poseidon (Toby Stephens) also grounds the show in the family drama that Riordan always intended. It’s not just a monster-of-the-week show. It’s a story about neglected kids trying to find their place in a world where their parents are literally all-powerful and often absent.
What You Should Watch For
If you’re just starting the season, pay attention to the scenes between Percy and Tyson. That relationship is the emotional anchor of the entire series moving forward. Also, keep an eye on Kevin Chacon as Chris Rodriguez. His character arc starts small this season but becomes a major plot point as the war with Kronos heats up.
Next, you might want to look into how the production handled the underwater filming for the "Sea of Monsters" sequences, as they used some pretty advanced "Volume" tech similar to The Mandalorian. It makes the interaction between the cast and the mythical environments feel way more seamless than the green screen of the past.