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By the time you read this, Logan Lerman and Alexandra Daddario could very well be on their way to becoming major, major stars. The two young actors join a Who's Who of Hollywood A-list talent in the big-budget, family-friendly fantasy film Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010). By now, if you've been reading ScreenStar, you know all about the film, a February 12 release based on the first of Rick Riordan's five Percy Jackson novels. Lerman plays the title character, Percy Jackson, a teen demigod who must answer the call when he emerges as the only thing standing between a few angry Greek gods and the destruction of our planet as we know it. Daddario assumes the role of Annabeth, also a demigod, who joins Percy and his best pal, Grover (Brandon T. Jackson), in a race against time to recover a stolen lightning bolt and return it to the almighty Zeus (Sean Bean).
ScreenStar recently met up with Lerman and Daddario, grabbing a few minutes with each of them, separately, at the film's New York City premiere. Here's what they had to say in our exclusive interviews.
Logan, what did you feel the film had to capture in order to do the books justice?
Just right off the bat they're different mediums and there are different visions in doing them. (Film director) Chris Columbus, I think, changed it a little bit so it could work on screen better. He flipped some things around (like making Percy older and dropping certain creatures and characters), but I think it flows really well.
What was the biggest challenge for you in playing Percy?
It was mostly making him into a character that was the challenge. You often find in these movies that it's just the person playing the character, and I wanted to make sure that Percy wasn't me, that I could tap into the role and have fun with it and make it a little bit of a challenge. So I tried to to create different characteristics for him, whether it was the way he walks or talks, giving him an accent, stuff like that. That allowed me to have some fun with the role.
What was the OMG moment on Percy Jackson, the one that really made it sink in just how big this movie was?
It was the first day we walked on set. The first thing we film were these big CGI/special effects sequences, so that we could get them all done, so that they'd be (ready) by now, so that people could see them. I remember walking on to the Parthenon set and just being like, "I can't believe I'm a part of something so big that they're creating this huge set, and right next door is a museum set." It's an out-of-this-world feeling, and I feel like I cheated so many people to get to the center of this film that I really had to perform.
If this first film is a hit, how ready are you to play Percy again in a few sequels?
I'm so ready. I want to make them all, all five books. I'm so passionate about the series and working with Chris and everyone that I'd love to make them all if everybody comes and sees them.
Alexandra, what if anything did you know about the books before this project came your way?
I'd not heard of it, actually. I think because it's geared toward a little younger audience. I read it on the plane on the way to the screen test, and I fell in love with it. And I was so excited to get the call that I was going to be able to play this character.
What do you like most about Annabeth?
I really liked playing a very strong female character. She has a little bit of sarcasm to her. She's tough. She was just fun to play. It's fun to kick butt and be this really tough, smart girl.
Logan told us that his OMG moment was seeing the Parthenon set. What was yours?
I had those moments a lot and still am, like right now, walking into this (premiere), it was another "Oh my goodness" moment. It's exciting. When I got the movie I never screamed so loud. When I first walked onto the Parthenon set, which was the first set we walked into, that was amazing. The first cast read-through, when I sat with Chris Columbus, whose movies I grew up with, and the wonderful cast, it was like, "Wow, this is really happening. It's very hard to believe it."
How about the possibility of sequels? You ready for more?
If we get the opportunity to make more of these films, I'd be honored.
