Olympus Just Got a Serious Glow-Up: Ming-Na Wen, Jennifer Beals, and Hubert Smielecki Join Percy Jackson Season 3

If you thought the halls of Olympus were already crowded with ego and divine drama, buckle up. Disney+ just dropped a casting bomb for Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 3, and it’s safe to say the production team isn’t messing around. We finally have our Hera, our Demeter, and a very sun-kissed Apollo, played by Ming-Na Wen, Jennifer Beals, and Hubert Smielecki, respectively.

As the show dives into the fan-favorite third book, The Titan’s Curse, the stakes are higher, the monsters are weirder, and the gods are thankfully getting a lot more interesting to look at. Here is everything you need to know about the newest residents of the Empire State Building’s secret elevator floor.

The Queen of Mean: Ming-Na Wen is Hera

First up, the legendary Ming-Na Wen has been tapped to play Hera, the Queen of the Gods. Honestly, it’s about time. After decades of playing badasses in Mulan, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and The Mandalorian, Wen is the perfect choice to play a goddess who is as regal as she is terrifyingly petty.

In the world of Rick Riordan, Hera isn't exactly the "warm and fuzzy" mother figure. She’s the no-nonsense CEO of Olympus who spent most of the previous books being mildly annoyed that Percy exists. Expect Wen to bring a sharp, icy sophistication to the role that will make the trio wish they were back in the Underworld instead of sitting at her dinner table.

Mother Nature With an Attitude: Jennifer Beals as Demeter

In a casting move that has Gen X (and anyone with taste) cheering, Jennifer Beals joins the fray as Demeter. The goddess of the harvest is often overlooked in favor of her flashier siblings, but Beals is set to change that.

According to official Disney+ production notes, this version of Demeter is haunted by the original war with the Titans and is dead-set on making sure her father, Kronos, stays in pieces. If you were hoping for a soft, flower-crowned grandmother, think again. Beals is bringing a "don't touch my cereal or my daughter" energy that Season 3 desperately needs.

The Sun King Arrives: Hubert Smielecki as Apollo

Finally, we have the god of music, poetry, and being incredibly full of himself: Apollo. Relative newcomer Hubert Smielecki has landed the role of the charismatic sun god.

Apollo is a pivot point for The Titan’s Curse, acting as both a helpful (if arrogant) ally and a reminder of just how chaotic the Olympian family tree really is. Smielecki has the unenviable task of playing the twin brother to Dafne Keen’s Artemis, but early buzz suggests his chemistry with the younger cast is exactly the kind of chaotic "cool uncle" energy the show requires.

Why Season 3 is the One to Watch

With filming expected to wrap in early March 2026, the hype for The Titan’s Curse is reaching a fever pitch. We’re not just getting these three heavy hitters; the cast list for the upcoming season also includes Kate McKinnon as Aphrodite and Holt

McCallany as Atlas.

For those of us at The TV Cave, the shift toward a more veteran, powerhouse cast suggests that Disney is leaning into the darker, more mature themes of the later books. The "kids' show" labels are falling away, replaced by a high-fantasy epic that actually has some teeth.

Between the search for a missing goddess and the literal weight of the sky, Percy, Annabeth, and Grover have their hands full. But let’s be real: we’re all just here to see Ming-Na Wen put Zeus in his place.

What do you think of the new Olympian lineup? Is Hubert Smielecki the Apollo you pictured, or are you just here for the Jennifer Beals comeback? Drop your thoughts in the comments and keep it locked to The TV Cave for more Percy Jackson updates, recaps, and snarky deep dives.

Are you ready to see how these gods handle the Titan's Curse?