When Percy Jackson and the Olympians introduces Tyson this season, fans are finally getting one of the books’ most lovable characters. And according to Daniel Diemer, stepping into the role meant embracing the joy, awkwardness, and heart of being an outcast.
Before Tyson, though, Diemer was just another Percy Jackson fan.
“I was picturing myself as Percy,” he said of reading the books as a kid. “I was his age when I was reading them, so I wanted to be the hero.”
That dream stuck around longer than expected. Diemer revealed he even pitched himself to Disney years ago.
“I think five years ago when I first started coming on the scene a little bit more internationally, I had a meeting with Disney TV and I pitched myself as Percy,” he shared. “But I think I was 24 at the time and they were like, ‘No, Dan, he’s 13 and we’re going to try to actually cast 13.’”
WALKER SCOBELL, DANIEL DIEMER
Instead of disappointment, watching Season 1 wiped away any lingering rivalry. Diemer had nothing but praise for Walker Scobell, calling his performance phenomenal and saying joining later felt exciting rather than bittersweet.
“I was just so excited to become his little brother for a little bit and play around and see what we could create there.”
Leaning Into Being the Outcast
While joining the Demigods on another quest, Tyson isn’t immediately welcomed by everyone he meets, and Diemer leaned fully into that reality.
“I think we all deal with certain aspects of that feeling,” he said. “I kind of go through my life as best as I can with love at the forefront, but everybody interprets kind of energy and words differently.”
That disconnect, he explained, felt deeply familiar.
“There’s been times where people have seen me differently than how I see myself,” Diemer said, adding that playing Tyson opened up an internal dialogue he’d been needing to have. “To be able to find love for myself in those ways.”
It’s that mix of softness and strength that makes Tyson hit so hard.
“The bravery that Tyson moves through that with and decides to just be himself in every situation is something that I really looked up to.”
Yes, He Really Does Lift Everyone
If you’ve noticed Diemer lifting his castmates in photos, that wasn’t a carefully planned bit.
“Most of the time it’s kind of the moment,” he laughed. “I think the PR team has also enjoyed that kind of dynamic, and so they’ve encouraged it.”
Luckily, Walker was on board.
“Walker seems comfortable enough in that situation that I don’t feel too bad about it.”
That physicality even became part of the show, helping sell Tyson’s protective instincts in a big way. “It’s such a great moment in the series and it portrays Tyson’s protectiveness really, really well.”
Brad Pitt, ‘Troy,’ and Early Crushes
When the conversation turned to Greek mythology beyond Percy Jackson, Diemer dropped a very relatable confession.
“Probably my first crush was Brad Pitt in Troy,” he said. “I was like, ‘That is who I want to be.’”
Fantasy epics clearly left a mark. He also cited The Lord of the Rings as a major influence, cementing his love for big, mythic storytelling.
Still, he’s not chasing a specific god or hero next.
“I’d love to do something original or to do an adaptation that hasn’t been done before,” he said.
For now, fans can enjoy Diemer’s Tyson: a gentle giant, an unapologetic outcast, and proof that sometimes not being the hero you imagined turns out even better. Percy Jackson and the Olympians is streaming now on Disney+ with new episodes arriving every Wednesday.
