“Percy Jackson and the Olympians” was a childhood staple for many around the world. The story follows Percy Jackson, the Greek god Poseidon’s son, who goes to a camp for modern-day demigods. The series has captivated fans for nearly two decades.
Unfortunately, though, the first Percy Jackson screen adaptation failed to capture the book’s magic.
I saw “The Lightning Thief” movie in 2010 with my sixth-grade class. We all buzzed with excitement as the movie started, but our joy quickly dwindled. The adaptation was bad. And its sequel, which came out a few years later, was somehow worse than “The Lightning Thief,” tanking the entire movie franchise.
Now, Disney is working on a Percy Jackson television series adaptation on its streaming service. While I understand the fans’ apprehension about yet another Percy Jackson adaptation, this one improves greatly on the film. I had the opportunity to attend an early screening of the first few episodes, so here are five reasons why book fans should get excited.
1. The author approves.
Rick Riordan, the author of Percy Jackson, has been expressing his approval and excitement for the series since its announcement. Back in 2010, he showed his obvious disappointment in the Movie That Shall Not Be Named, so he won’t say the show is good just out of politeness.
I went to one of Riordan’s book talks for his latest Percy Jackson installment, “The Chalice of the Gods,” a few months ago. At this talk, he said, “This is finally an adaptation we can all be proud of” before excitedly screening the show’s trailer. He even dedicated this latest book to the actors playing Percy, Annabeth, and Grover. This leads me to…
2. The casting is spot-on.
While some have concerns about the quality of the show’s child acting, the actors play their characters perfectly here. Do they look exactly how Riordan wrote them nearly 20 years ago? No. But the increased diversity only makes things better; it ensures the actor who most embodies the spirit of the original character has the role regardless of what hair or skin color the original had.
This also extends beyond the golden trio, with the side characters acting exactly how I imagined them when I read the books. (Whoever thought to cast Jason Mantzoukas as Dionysus deserves a raise.)
3. The show can breathe.
A movie can’t include all the details a TV show can. With several hours to tell the story, the show can hit all the important story beats and give them the proper space to develop. It even expands on some characters who didn’t get a lot of attention in the book.
4. The kids can be kids.
While Logan Lerman, who played Percy in the 2010 movie, looked the part, he and everyone else in that movie were way too old. The series started when Percy was 12, but he looked closer to 20 in the films.
The new adaptation lets Percy and the others be kids. This helps the story’s longevity (especially with how long we tend to wait between seasons these days).
Also, many screen adaptations assume that you want a darker and grittier version of the original. But this Camp Halfblood is vibrant and fun. The set design perfectly encapsulates the childhood wonder of discovering you’re part of a magical world.
5. It captures the spirit of the books.
So many people love the book series because it has lots of heart alongside entertainment value and quippy lines. And the show balances these elements well. The serious moments get the full weight they deserve, but don’t overshadow the times with fun, godly shenanigans!
You can make your show deep and relatable to families while also leaning into the craziness of a teacher turning into a Fury and trying to kill a student. That’s what makes Percy Jackson such a lovable series.
The series hits Disney Plus on December 20. Which Percy Jackson moments are you most excited to see play out on screen? Let us know in the comments!
Feature Image by Disney+ on Facebook
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