In the Disney+ series Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Azriel Dalman plays Young Percy, with Walker Scobell playing Percy, and all episodes of Series 1 are currently available to stream, and it’s been recommissioned for a second series. Last year, Azriel played Cody in the Hallmark Christmas film A Season for Family, and Azriel has worked with Hallmark previously, playing Gavin in the 2021 release We Need a Little Christmas, had his first lead role with them co-starring as Noah Bailey in Coyote Creek Christmas (which also featured Janel Parrish and Ryan Peavey), and he is set to play Marvin Manetti-Hanahan in the upcoming series Holidazed. Over the past couple of years, Azriel worked on a number of short films including Dragon Fruit, Sleep Tight, AI Artist and How Tall Is Jeffrey?, and in 2022, he played Young Sonny (Charlie Plummer) in the science fiction film Moonfall, which is directed by Roland Emmerich. Amongst Azriel’s voiceover projects, he voiced Pipik in Sweet Tweets, worked on Disney Pixar’s film Soul and voiced Neptune in 22 vs. Earth. Azriel answered our questions about playing Young Percy in the Disney+ series Percy Jackson and the Olympians, filming for Hallmark including last year’s Christmas film A Season for Family and voicing Pipik in Sweet Tweets.

How did you feel finding out you’d booked the role of Young Percy in the new Disney+ series Percy Jackson and the Olympians and how much did you know about the franchise before auditioning?

I was so excited when I learned I got the role! I wanted to scream with joy but we are on set and the camera was rolling! I had read the first book prior and many of my friends were obsessed with it.

What is Young Percy like to play and how did you prepare for the role?

Young Percy is one of the first characters I’ve ever played where I’ve really had the chance to dive into the character. I read the book, checked out the fan pages, and I studied some footage of Walker (Scobell). What I did not do is watch the movies – I’ve never seen them.

What is it like working alongside the rest of the cast and how is it sharing the role with Walker Scobell?

Walker is the coolest kid, it’s an honour to play a younger version of him. Everyone in the cast was delightful.

How do you find the experience on set of the show and what do you enjoy most about being part of the series?

Every step of the way, from costume to finally filming, you can tell the people making this show care deeply about getting it right. It feels amazing to hear what the fans think, and it’s especially amazing when we know we nailed it.

How has it been seeing the fan response to Percy Jackson and the Olympians so far?

The fan response has been one of my favourite things! Acting is fun to do, but it’s extra special when you know it’s making people so happy.

Can you tell us about last year’s Hallmark Christmas film A Season for Family, in which you play Cody, and what was it like to work on?

A Season for Family was one of the best experiences ever because I got to work with Benjamin Jacobson. He is one of the smartest, kindest, and most talented kids I’ve ever met.

How was your time filming as Gavin in Hallmark’s 2021 Christmas release of We Need a Little Christmas?

It was on the set of We Need A Little Christmas where I found out that I booked Percy Jackson! That was also a great project because I got to travel to Kelowna for three weeks to film it.

What was it like being in the cast of Coyote Creek Christmas and how was it co-starring as Noah Bailey for your first Hallmark lead role?

Janel Parrish and Ryan Paevey made me fall deeply in love with acting and Hallmark, and it’s made me never look back since.

It has been announced that you will be playing Marvin Manetti-Hanahan in the upcoming Hallmark series Holidazed, is there anything you can tell us about this and what are you looking forward to for the release?

We can’t say much other than it will be a lot of fun for EVERYONE to watch!

Over the last couple of years, you have been part of a number of short films including Dragon Fruit, Sleep Tight, AI Artist and How Tall Is Jeffrey?, what are short films like to work on and can you say about some of them?

The beautiful thing about these films was that the creators are professionals who work on huge projects, but they took the time to make these projects from their own passion. I will never stop doing these quality short films. The people on these sets believe in the projects and truly want to be there.

What are some of your favourite memories from filming in Montreal for the 2022 science-fiction film Moonfall as Young Sonny (Charlie Plummer) and being directed by Roland Emmerich?

Grande Studios was an amazing studio to work at, and working with Roland was a dream. But one of the best things about this trip was I got to spend a week in beautiful snowy Montreal right before the holidays!

As a voiceover actor, you voiced Pipik in Sweet Tweets, what was this like to do?

Pipik was a sweet role to film, and I recorded all over the country since I was travelling filming while I was recording Pipik also!

Can you tell us about some of the other projects you have been part of over your career so far, which have included Heart of the Matter, Scaredy Cats, The Neighbour in the Window and Soul?

Soul and Scaredy Cats were extra special to me because I got to work with friends I had already known for a long time – my sister in Scaredy Cats is my long-time friend, Daphne Hoskins, and I did Soul and 22 vs. Earth with Adela Drabek!

Where does your love of acting come from and how did you get into it professionally?

I stole the love of acting from my older brother. We both fell into it sort of by accident. Once you get an agent and some auditions, before you know it, you’re doing it all the time!

Do you have any favourite films and TV shows to watch?

I love anything with Spider-Man! I also love The Office, Seinfeld, and Brooklyn Nine-Nine!

How do you like to spend your time away from acting?

I love to dance, play video games, play disc golf, swim, and draw!

What are you hoping this year brings for you and do you have any further projects coming up that you can tell us about?

I just booked a big role on a new TV series that shoots in LA… it’s going to be a wild one!

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