“Percy Jackson and the Olympians” Series Made Official After Disney+ Gives the Green Light

“Look, I didn’t want to be a half-blood.

If you’re reading this because you think you might be one, my advice is: close this book

right now. Believe whatever lie your mom or dad told you about your birth, and try to

lead a normal life.”

Jan. 25 marked the day author Rick Riordan announced that the “Percy Jackson

and the Olympians” TV series has been given the official green light on Disney+. 

In light of the announcement, fans of the popular franchise have expressed excitement in finally

being able to hear one of the most iconic opening paragraphs in YA literature on their

screens.

Since the releases of “The Lightning Thief” and “The Sea of Monsters” films, fans lost

hope for a proper on screen adaptation, faithful to the original series. 

With this recent Disney+ announcement, and news that Rick and Becky Riordan are heavily

involved in its production, those doubts may finally be put to rest.

The PJO series could be getting a second chance at getting right what the movies failed to.

As of now, Riordan has stated that they are in the process of revising the first four

scripts and completing the outline for the rest of the season.

So far, it seems to be following the fan theory of covering one book per season, with Riordan claiming this one will be focused on “The Lightning Thief.” 

The green light was a result of a long two-year process involving Disney executives and

the Riordans. In an attempt to conserve the essence of his novels, they had multiple

hour-long meetings with higher-ups to negotiate the terms of an adaptation.

Indeed, keeping core elements of the books are important because as the series

progresses, we see more and more representation. This comes in the form of LGBTQ+

representation, with Nico Di Angelo being the first of the characters to come out as gay. 

Later with increased ethnic diversity, Riordan features Native American, Hispanic, Black, and

Asian characters.

In a recent update, Riordan has announced that director James Bobin is on board to

direct the pilot of the series and that the plan is to begin filming in Vancouver this

summer. He has also stated that despite rumors online, the main cast has not yet been

decided.

They are still relatively early on in the process, but people online are already excited for

the show to be out. One general consensus is that fans would like to see Logan Lerman, who portrayed Percy in the movies, return as the Greek god Poseidon, since he and the original cast have aged out of their characters. 

Others wonder how the story will be narrated, since the original features an intimate first-person point of view.

There is also the question of how Disney+ will handle the more sensitive topics in the

series.

Though the books are targeted toward a younger audience, there are plenty of themes that, while hinted at in the books, can be difficult to transfer on-screen.

In the first book alone we are introduced to Percy’s verbally and physically abusive

stepfather, mentions of children dying in horrible ways, and said stepfather’s ultimate

demise by the hands of Sally Jackson. 

As the books progress, we see more backstories unfold which feature parents with addiction, abandonment, and the inevitable struggle these characters have with their mental health.

“Harry Potter” was written in a similar way, featuring the protagonist in an abusive

household and having many child deaths as well.

Perhaps the “Percy Jackson” series will go the route the “Harry Potter” movies did, starting off more lighthearted and getting gradually mature as the characters grow older.

Whichever way they choose to go, the series is certain to be a success. 15 million

copies of the original Percy Jackson series have been sold in the U.S. alone, so one

can only imagine the viewership the Disney+ adaptation will get once it is released.

According to a blog post by Riordan, Disney+ seems aware of this as well.

“This is a massive project. It is one of the biggest shows the teams at Disney have ever

produced-and that is down to you all, the Percy fans,” Riordan states. “They know you

are important, and want to do right by you!”