I’m sure we’ve all heard the news by now…
Pssst. Hey, demigods . . . pic.twitter.com/7ep4aeyS3I
— Rick Riordan (@rickriordan) May 14, 2020
That’s right, we’re finally getting a proper adaptation of Percy Jackson and I could not be more excited!!!
As every Percy Jackson fan knows, there has already been one attempt at adapting these books, aka The Movie That Shall Not Be Named. (Oh wait, two attempts – I forgot that they also made The Sea of Monsters 🤢.) But that was such a disaster that we all collectively decided never to acknowledge it. Pretty much everything that they could have done wrong in those movies, they did.
Then, of course, there is the amazing musical, The Lightning Thief, which is 10000x better as an adaptation than the movie. I got to see this musical last year, and it was a DELIGHT. But as a stage musical that isn’t even showing anymore, it’s not exactly the most accessible, and they were only able to include the first book of the series. (Still, if you haven’t already, go listen to the music from this show – it will tide you over until we get the TV series!)
But now, at long last, we will (hopefully) get the adaptation of Percy Jackson that we all deserve. It feels like a dream come true!
As someone who has loved the Percy Jackson series since childhood, who bought The Last Olympian the day it came out and saw the movie in its opening weekend (what a disappointment THAT was), I am beyond thrilled about this announcement. Actually, I first started reading the series in 2008, which means that I can accurately say:
(yes I already made this joke on Twitter, shhh)
The fact that there is going to be an entirely new generation of kids who get to discover this series in a new medium and grow up with it fills my heart with joy. Percy Jackson is already a beloved series to so many people, but I don’t think it’s ever had the chance to be as influential as something like Harry Potter or The Hunger Games, mainly because there just hasn’t been a good adaptation to help it along. But now that it finally going to change! The Percy Jackson Renaissance, which I can feel has already begun, is going to be a thing of beauty.
There is still a lot to learn about this series, and I’m sure I’m going to have plenty more concerns and questions as time goes by. And we don’t know how long it will be before we even get this show – it could still be years away! But right now, all I’m feeling is excitement.
The fact that Rick Riordan is involved with the production this time gives me lots of hope! Obviously, he’s going to make sure that Disney does his books justice (if you have any questions about how hard he’ll fight for this, take a look at the emails he sent to the people making the movie in 2009 telling them everything they were doing wrong). Not only that, but he has been a major proponent for including diversity in the books he’s published since Percy Jackson, so I wouldn’t be surprised if we see even more diversity on the screen than we did on the page!
I know that I’m getting my hopes way up very early, but there’s so much I’m excited for, such as:
- Seeing actual kids playing these characters! Even though Logan Lerman was a great choice for Percy, he was MUCH too old to play a twelve year old at the time. I would love to see teen actors for the main roles, then watch them grow up over the course of the five seasons, a la Harry Potter.
- Does this mean we get to see Percy and Annabeth fall in love?? We get to see Seaweed Brain? Flirting while fighting off monsters? Everyone assuming that they’re dating?? Percy thinking of Annabeth as his lifeline when he goes into the River Styx?? Annabeth jumping in front of a knife to save him?? Percy choosing to give up immortality to be with her??? THE BEST UNDERWATER KISS OF ALL TIME???
- THEY HAD BETTER DO ALL OF THESE CHARACTERS JUSTICE OR I WILL SUE.
- This is small, but I really want them to use the chapter titles as episode titles, because that’s too good an opportunity to pass up. Who wouldn’t click on a pilot episode entitled “I ACCIDENTALLY VAPORIZE MY PRE-ALGEBRA TEACHER”??
- Someone on Twitter suggested that Rick Riordan do Stan Lee-esque cameos and I WANT IT SO BADLY.
imagine rick riordan making cameos lile stan lee did…….. please….
— amber🖇️ (@cvmpjupiter) May 14, 2020
- I would love it if the show is narrated by Percy so that we can get his voice properly!
- We get to finally see Nico di Angelo?? My ghost boy??? 😭
- And Thalia! And Rachel Dare! And Zoë! And Selena! And Blackjack! And Calypso! And Charlie! And so many of the gods! And more of Grover and Tyson and Chiron and Clarisse and EVERYONE.
- BLUE FOOD BLUE FOOD BLUE FOOD BLUE FOOD BLUE FOOD.
- Plus we’ll actually get to see Kronos, the villain of the whole series, which the movies seemed to conveniently forget about??
- The entire Luke storyline is going to kill me. That’s not a wish for the show it’s just a fact.
- I’m already envisioning all of my favorite scenes from the later books (and many from the first two books) that we’ve never gotten to see on screen, and I could not be more excited. I can’t wait to relive my childhood!!!
And honestly, I’m just excited for non-book readers to stop associating Percy Jackson with those terrible movies.
Anyway, I don’t know what this post was other than me dumping out all of my emotions!! But thanks, Rick Riordan, for saving 2020.
So, how long are we gonna have to wait for this thing?
What are your thoughts about the upcoming Percy Jackson adaptation? What scenes or characters are you most excited about seeing?
x Margaret
I’ll admit, I haven’t jumped into the Percy Jackson world (yet) and I think hearing how badly the movie turned out delayed my getting started. But my interest is piqued again and after reading Rick Riordan’s letters, I have to say, wow. He really fought for the film adaptation. I’m definitely picking up the series ASAP.
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I can definitely understand being put off by the movie! And yep, it’s really nice to see how hard Rick Riordan has fought for a good adaptation. I hope you enjoy reading the series! 😀
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Okay. I think I’ve died and gone to heaven…This is a dream come true!!!! I swear I was watching The Lightning Thief just the other and explaining to my family everything that was totally wrong about it and told them how badly I wished a show would come out which would (hopefully) be much more authentic that the movie was. And now I see this!!! I started reading the PJO series in 2009 and it is still my favorite book series of all time. I can’t wait to binge watch the entire series the day it drops!!
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I know, right?? I’m so glad we can all finally put those terrible movies behind us and watch something worthy to call itself Percy Jackson! I’m definitely going to be binging it too 😀
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I feel like the only person in the world who actually enjoyed the Percy Jackson movie. I think it’s mainly because I’ve always had the hugest crush on Logan Lerman, eheheh. However, I am SO excited to see this new adaptation! Rick looks so freaking happy in his video! I still need to finish the series one day but I hope to soon 😀
-Amber
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I don’t think I’ve met anyone before who did like the movie! I do think that Logan Lerman was great casting for Percy 😊 And yes, ahhh, Rick Riordan’s happiness to share the news was contagious! I hope you enjoy finishing the series!
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I haven’t read the books yet, but maybe I eventually should??
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I mean, they’re definitely for a young audience and I’m sure a lot of my love comes from nostalgia…but they’re still worth a read in my opinion 😊
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I CANT WAITTT!!!!! my childhood has returned ❤ ❤ they bETTER cast 12 year olds this time but also it's so weird for me to think that whoever will play Percy wasn't even born when the books first came out wowow I feel so old. we were rOBBED of the chance to grow up with Percy in the movies :((( but I'm SO HAPPY that a new younger generation can grow up with them and we had the books and everyone is happy and PJO will take over the world
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WOAH I didn’t even think about the fact that a twelve year old Percy would be younger than the book itself?? That’s so weird!! And yes, I’m so sad that we never got to grow up alongside a proper adaptation…but it is wonderful that so many kids now get to 😀 I can’t wait for PJO to take over the world!
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I haven’t read any of the books yet either, but I think I’ll probably get onto that now… 😂
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You should! They’re definitely for a younger audience, but I still love them and think they’re worth reading 😀
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Oof, so I am one of those tragic broken souls who actually discovered the books through those movie adaptations… but! The books are an absolute delight and your excited happy post here made me smile!! I hope Disney does they justice – Disney has a track record for ruining adaptations of some of my favorite childhood books (A Wrinkle in Time, I’m already braced for Artemis Fowl) BUT this long form format is bound to make a huge difference and you’re right! With the Riordan’s involved, there is so much hope!
I hope you’re as absolutely delighted by the series as you are excited for it right now!!! ❤
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Well I’m glad to hear, at least, that the movie didn’t manage to turn you off from the books!! I really hope Disney does it justice as well…I never read Artemis Fowl, but from what I’ve seen, the new movie does look like an abomination 😬 I think the TV format and Rick Riordan’s contributions can make this adaptation amazing, though!
Fingers crossed for both of us that we love the series 😀 🤞
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I’m SO excited for this and this post just made me even more excited! I don’t think I had properly wrapped my mind around all the moments we’re going to get to see play out and now I’m emotional because wow, you’re so right, Percy Jackson is finally going to get the Harry Potter and Hunger Games-type hype that it has deserved all these years.😭I agree that the episode titles should be like the chapters, that would be beyond perfect!! And you’re absolutely right, cameos by Rick Riordan need to be made. Amazing post!!
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YESSS I’m glad I could get you excited about it 😀 There are so many scenes that I can’t wait to see on screen! And the fact that there’s going to be so much new hype around it!! Cameos from Rick Riordan would be perfect 😀 Thank you so much!!
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this post brought back such nostalgia because the PJO series was my absolute favorite when i was younger!! i haven’t seen the original movie adaptations (thankfully, i guess 😅), but i’m so excited for the Disney + adaptation… they better do it right this time!! The Percy Jackson Renaissance is such a great way to describe it haha, i couldn’t be more excited! and oh my goodness, it would be AMAZING if the episode titles were actually chapter titles. 😆 i loved reading this post, Margaret! 💖💖
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I love nostalgia! 😀 I think you’ve made a good choice by staying clear of the movies, but I’m SURE that this adaptation will be much better. The Percy Jackson Renaissance is going to be amazing 😀 Thanks so much!! ❤
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Okay, somehow I STILL haven’t read these books, which is a true tragedy, and I promise to rectify that as soon as possible (I also said this about His Dark Materials, bought the trilogy and everything, annnnnnd–), which I’m hoping will be even more true with a new adaptation to inspire me to get my butt in gear because they SOUND SO GOOD.
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You should totally read them!! (Okay, I haven’t read His Dark Material either, so you’re not alone.) They really are incredible – even though they’re definitely aimed for younger readers, there’s so much to enjoy about them even when you’re older 😀
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I really need to! I love middle grades, so I never really pay attention to the intended audience, haha, so I’m definitely going to! Just gotta get my butt in gear and actually do it, haha.
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Good luck!! 😀
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this is such exciting news!!
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I can’t wait!! 😀
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you share so many of the same thoughts as i do, margaret!! i’m definitely super confident that the show will be a faithful adaptation knowing that rick is involved/writing the script. i’m excited to see the characters + all my favorite scenes on screen, but i’m also really excited to see all the characters grow up over the course of 5 years 😭
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Yesss I’m so glad to hear it! 😀 Rick’s involvement has me SO excited. It’s going to be truly beautiful watching them all grow up – my heart isn’t ready 😭
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this really was one of the best news ever! as you said, it is exciting to think they will be able to introduce this series to a new generation. i think disney+ will be the perfect platform to do so! even though there is a lot of controversy around disney and especially after the love victor show was canceled and picked up by hulu, i am still hopeful that having rick riordan actually involved in the process will make so the representations are accurate!
i am SO excited for seeing these characters’ backstories, though! especially luke, thalia and nico, because they have some of the most interesting ones and the flashbacks are most certainly going to hurt, hahah.
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It truly is! 😀 I definitely agree that disney+ will be a great platform to bring this story to so many younger viewers, and I’m sure that Rick Riordan will hold them accountable about representation.
Ahhh yes, all the backstories are going to be amazing to see! Luke, Thalia, and Nico truly do have heartbreaking stories…I cannot wait.
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