Logan Lerman Returns In First First Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters Pics

It’s taken a couple of years to get a sequel to Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief together, but Percy Jackson: Sea Of Monsters is now in the can and heading for release this August. The first pictures from the movie have been released, via USA Today, along with some comments from director Thor Freudenthal and star Logan Lerman, which you can see below.

Logan Lerman (Percy Jackson), Alexandra Daddario (Annabeth Chase), and Brandon T. Jackson (Grover), all return, along with new cast members Leven Rambin (Clarisse LaRue), Douglas Smith (Tyson the Cyclops), and Stanley Tucci (Dionysus). The story, adapted from Rick Riordan’s best-selling novel series, follows Percy and his friends on a quest to find a golden fleece, which is integral to saving a magical tree that protects his home, Camp Half-Blood.

Click on the pics below for larger versions and the director and star’s thoughts.

: Director Thor Freudenthal spoke about how Percy and Annabeth’s relationship has blossomed: “They are the best of friends. There is deep affection, but they are not a couple. You don’t know until the end where the relationship is really headed.”

: Leven Rambin’s Clarisse LaRue, pictured between Douglas Smith’s Tyson the Cyclops and Brandon T. Jackson’s Grover, becomes an ally to Percy in this sequel, according to the director: “This is the first movie we meet Clarisse. She goes from camp rival to unlikely ally to Percy.”

: Thor Freudenthal reveals Percy, Annabeth, and Grover have to take covert measures to complete their mission: “They basically have to sneak out of their own camp.”

: Logan Lerman revealed it’s easier to play Percy Jackson this time around: “It’s nice to go back to a world having a knowledge and a background in this kind of stunt work.”

: Stanley Tucci’s Dionysus, the God of Wine, is not allowed to drink anymore as punishment, according to Thor Freudenthal: “Zeus punished Dionysus by not allowing him to drink and that makes him incredibly frustrated. Stanley Tucci does a great comedic take on it.”