Who Is Walker Scobell? All About thePercy Jackson and the OlympiansStar

Mar. 15, 2025

Photo: Monica Schipper/Getty

Walker Scobellwill soon be a household name.

The teenage actor found his love of performing at a young age and soon began starring in school shows and attending drama classes. When it comes to professional debuts, Scobell really hit the jackpot: His first-ever acting job came in 2022, when he played a youngRyan Reynoldsin the star-studded sci-fi hitThe Adam Project.

According toNetflix’s Tudum, casting director Carmen Cuba auditioned 376 kids, but the team knew right after his chemistry read with Reynolds that Scobell was the one.

“The second sentence out of [Walker’s] mouth, I looked atShawn Levy, my co-producer and director, and just said, ‘That’s our guy,’ '' Reynolds said on theTodayshow.

Now, Scobell is taking the small screen as Percy Jackson in the new Disney+ seriesPercy Jackson and the Olympians, which premiered on Dec. 19, 2023.

“Many of you recently discovered how great Walker is when you watched his movieThe Adam Project, in which Walker lit up the screen as a younger version of Ryan Reynolds' character,” Riordan wrote on hiswebsite. “It was obvious to me and the rest of the team that Walker had the perfect mix of comedic timing, sweetness, rebelliousness, snark and heroism to embody our hero Percy Jackson.”

Scobell — who has “seen both movies and read all the books” in thePercy Jacksonsaga — told PEOPLE that he had a mix of emotions when he learned he was cast. “I was really excited, but I wasa little bit nervoustoo. I didn’t want to let anybody down, you know?” he said. “It’s a massive fan base.”

From discovering his acting chops to playing extreme sports, here’s everything to know about Walker Scobell.

He grew up in a military family

Waker Scobell Instagram

Scobell grew up in a military family, moving throughout his childhood whenever his father, Lt. Pete Scobell, was deployed somewhere new. The teenage actor has lived all over the country, including in California, Colorado and Pennsylvania.

Pete is a former U.S. Navy SEAL who served for 17 years. He has spoken about his experiences as part of theAll American Entertainment Speakers Bureauand discussed his service withThe NAPA Networkin 2015.

He has a close relationship with his mom

ThePercy Jacksonstar has a close bond with his mom, Heather. In an interview withJ-14 Magazine, the actor revealed that he and his mom text frequently.

“Every time I go on a trip without her, she texts me like every second asking if I’m okay and that she misses me,” he explained. “She’s the best.”

While he was filmingThe Adam Projectin Canada, his mom made sure that she was always awake to send her son a goodnight text.

“[When I was in] in Vancouver, she’ll wait until I go to bed to text me, even though it’s way later there,” he added.

He began acting in elementary school

Walker Scobell Instagram

He’s a fan of superhero movies

Scobell loves superhero movies, his favorites beingAvengers: EndgameandDeadpool. The young actor evenrecited Deadpool’s R-rated speechduring a break in filming with the antihero himself.

“Introducing @Walker.Scobell,” Reynolds captioned a video of Scobell performing the expletive-filled monologue. “This innocent young boy plays 12 year old me in my upcoming @netflix film. And because he takes his job seriously, the role required significant research.”

He’s a prankster

The actor loves to joke around and pull pranks — so of course, he pranked hisjokester costaron theAdam Projectset.

In an interview onThe Ellen DeGeneres Showin 2022, the actor told hostEllen DeGenereshow he tried to scare Reynolds.

“I would always hide behind the set pieces and jump out and try to scare him,” he revealed. “But after like a month of that he just walked through and be like, ‘Hi, Walker.’ "

He plays adventure sports

The teen is also a fan of extreme sports — including skateboarding, snowboarding and parkour. Scobell takes after his dad, who is also a big sports fan and became a professional skier after retiring from the Navy, according toSki Magazine.

In January 2020, Scobellshared footageof himself performing some next-level parkour in Newport Beach, California. He latershowed offhis skateboarding skills in New Jersey’s Ocean City Skatepark, and an impressedJennifer Garner— who played his mom inThe Adam Project— liked the post.

The actor has also tried martial arts andindoor skydiving.

He wrapped season 1 ofPercy Jackson and the Olympiansin February 2023

The Walt Disney Company via Getty

In February 2023, Scobellposted a videoconfirming that he had finished filming the first season ofPercy Jackson and the Olympians.

In the clip, Scobell is underwater and holding a sign that reads: “That’s a wrap! PJO season 1.”

While talking toEntertainment Weeklyabout the series in December 2023, Riordan praised Scobell for the way he embodied the character.

“The whole team is in agreement: Walker Scobell was born for this part,” Riordan said. “Don’t get me wrong, he’s incredibly talented. I’m sure he was born for a lot of roles! But he really is perfect for this. He has that voice down so well, and he embodies who Percy is.”

source: people.com