Percy Jackson and the Olympians has just made a startling casting choice for a key god, but it might end up being a genius move.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians has quickly become a major success for Disney+. The adaptation of the popular Rick Riordan YA books has been hailed by fans as far better than the ill-fated big-screen films, capturing the stories while putting a few twists into things.
Season 2 is set to premiere in December, while the show is already working on season 3. The second season will adapt the second novel, Sea of Monsters, as Percy (Walter Scobell), Annabeth (Leah Sava Jeffries), and Grover (Aryan Simhadri) are on a quest to find the fabled Golden Fleece to stop a deadly threat. Season 3 will adapt The Titan’s Curse, with Percy stepping up when Annabeth and her mother, Artemis, are abducted.
The season has been building up its cast and now, per Variety, it has added Kate McKinnon as Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love. The official description says she “can alter her appearance depending on the beholder and must be sure that Percy Jackson (Walker Scobell) respects the power and importance of love before she agrees to offer aid on his quest.”
It’s an offbeat casting choice, yet it also makes sense given the character and the actress.
Why Kate McKinnon is a great choice for Aphrodite
Most depictions of Aphrodite in movies and TV shows play on her being a woman so beautiful that she puts supermodels to shame. It's only logical that actresses playing her have ranged from Ursula Andress in Clash of the Titans to Serinda Swan in the Lightning Thief film.
That’s why it seems surprising to cast McKinnon, an actress recognizable more for her comedic timing than looks. McKinnon is best known for her Emmy-winning decade-long run in sketch comedy on Saturday Night Live, as well as movie roles like 2016’s Ghostbusters, Barbie and others.
In other words, this is a talented comedian who doesn’t seem to fit this part at first glance. However, McKinnon’s casting is perfect because of her amazing range as an actress, which is not only helpful but required for this version of Aphrodite.
As fans of the books know, a unique trait of Percy Jackson's Aphrodite is that her appearance constantly changes depending on who looks at her. That’s because everyone has their own definition of beauty, so no two mortals see Aphrodite the same way.
Anyone who saw McKinnon on SNL knows the woman has an incredible gift for changing her looks and vanishing into roles. One of the most gifted impressionists in the show’s history, McKinnon was brilliant playing Hillary Clinton, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Jeff Sessions, Elizabeth Warren, Rudy Giuliani and more.
Thus, it’s perfect that McKinnon can play Aphrodite, always transforming her hair, face, outfit, and more. She can give each version a separate voice (literally, with different accents) and play up the role to fit the book version of the goddess. Not to mention how well she can connect to other actors despite her ever-shifting appearance.
It’s a good sign that the team behind this series have cast an actress based on her talents, not just casting a stereotypically beautiful woman in the role. McKinnon should imbue Aphrodite with her usual spirit and make this version of the goddess more than just a pretty face (or ten).
The first season of Percy Jackson and the Olympians is streaming on Disney+. Season 2 is set to premiere on December 10.