In a career that spans deserts, Berlinale red carpets, and billion-dollar franchises, Catriona McKenzie has made her mark by doing what many in Hollywood overlook—listening. Whether she’s working with Indigenous elders in remote Australia or bringing epic mythological creatures to life in Percy Jackson and the Olympians, McKenzie leads with empathy, curiosity, and a deep respect for character. Fangirlish sat down with the trailblazing filmmaker to talk about her journey, the transformative power of kindness on set, and what we can expect from her upcoming episodes of The Boys and Percy Jackson Season 2. Ready?
Here we go!
Making Waves with Percy Jackson
As one of the directors for Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2, McKenzie got to play in one of television’s most imaginative sandboxes—and she’s not taking that lightly. “I directed three episodes, including the finale,” she shares. “One of my episodes has the Sirens, which Rick Riordan told me are fan favorites. So, no pressure!”
Her work on the show involved extensive collaboration with Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), the powerhouse behind Star Wars and Marvel visual effects. “I actually shadowed Ridley Scott on Alien: Covenant, and I learned how important it is to do as much in-camera as possible. With Percy Jackson, we used some cutting-edge tools—I might be one of the first filmmakers to work with ILM on this particular software.”
McKenzie hints at appearances by fan-favorite characters like Polyphemus the Cyclops and teases that the visual effects in Season 2 will be something special. But what’s just as exciting is her admiration for the cast. “Walker Scobell is growing into an incredible actor. I’ve watched him evolve from a boy in Season 1 to a young man in Season 2. Leah [Sava Jeffries] is also phenomenal as Annabeth.”
MORE: ’Percy Jackson and the Olympians‘ Season 2 Shares a First Look at D23
The Controlled Chaos of The Boys
Switching gears from mythology to mayhem, McKenzie is also deep into directing the final season of The Boys—Amazon’s gory, no-holds-barred superhero satire.
“I can’t say much because of NDAs,” she laughs, “but this episode changes everything.” Without giving away plot points, she assures fans they’re in for a wild, character-driven ride. “We’ve got stunts, emotional arcs, and things happening to the human anatomy that I didn’t even know were possible.”
One particular scene stood out for both her and her editor. “Ian, my editor, said cutting that scene was his favorite of his career. That’s how powerful this episode is.”
McKenzie praises showrunner Eric Kripke for cultivating an environment where creativity and kindness coexist. “Eric is a genius. He knows exactly what he wants but he’s kind, and he listens. I’ll walk over broken glass for that man.”
MORE: Catriona McKenzie Talks Directing ‘The Boys’ & Her Approach to Different Projects
Championing Indigenous Voices—Then and Now
Before she was directing big-budget episodes for Disney+ and Amazon, McKenzie was alone in the Australian desert, capturing oral histories of Aboriginal elders. Her earliest work as a filmmaker involved cultural mapping—an intimate process of documenting endangered languages and sacred artifacts.
“That was one of my first experiences as a filmmaker,” she reflects. “It taught me to listen. To be a tuning fork for the people and the stories in front of me.” That sensitivity has become a cornerstone of her style—one she’s carried into Hollywood’s biggest sets. “Even now, on The Boys or Percy Jackson, I bring that clarity, that meditation. I have to be very present.”
Though she now lives in Los Angeles, McKenzie’s creative foundation is grounded in character-driven storytelling, a value sharpened by working alongside greats like Jimmy McGovern (The Street) and Meg LeFauve (Inside Out). “Jodie Foster used to say, ‘I don’t care about the story—what’s the character?’ And that really stuck with me.”
Long before Hollywood opened the door, McKenzie was kicking it down. She was at the helm of Redfern Now, the first Indigenous-written, produced, and directed TV series in Australia.
“That show changed the narrative,” she says. “We made it, wrote it, and directed it ourselves. It opened the door for so many Aboriginal stories.” She’s since carried that mission to Hollywood, directing Echo for Marvel and working on Alaska Daily with Hilary Swank, focusing on missing Indigenous women.
“Representation matters. It’s just competing narratives, right? The more voices we hear, the richer our cultural landscape becomes. I always have an ear to the politics and culture of what I’m making—even if it’s not a Native story, I bring that sensitivity to every project.”
MORE: ‘The Boys’ 4×08 Review: “Assassination Run”
Dream Collaborations and What’s Next
After six years in the U.S., McKenzie feels ready to tell new stories—ones that reflect her experience as an outsider looking in. “There’s something beautiful about being new to a country. I have a film and a TV project that are both love letters to America. They’re about everything that’s happening here, all the contradictions.”
But first, she’s planning to take a few months off. “I’ve been working nonstop. I’m ready to dive into something character-based. I do genre, I do action, but I’m really excited to go deep.”
When asked who she dreams of working with, Catriona McKenzie’s eyes light up. “Frances McDormand, Catherine O’Hara, Pedro Pascal, Sarah Polley—too many to name! Christopher Guest, of course. And Paul Reiser. I love actors who bring truth and humour and who aren’t afraid to be raw.” She’s equally enthusiastic about America Ferrera and Courtney B. Vance, calling them “terrific talents” she’d love to work with. “There are just so many stories to tell, and so many incredible actors to tell them with.”
Catriona McKenzie isn’t just a director. She’s a force of nature—curious, collaborative, and constantly evolving. Whether she’s capturing oral histories in the desert or leading 200-person crews on set, one thing is clear: she listens. And in doing so, she reminds us that the best stories are the ones told with care. With McKenzie behind the camera, expect stories that are bold, emotional, and utterly unforgettable.
You can catch her episodes of Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2 soon on Disney+, and stay tuned for the epic finale of The Boys’ final season on Prime Video.
