The much-anticipated Disney+ television adaptation of Rick Riordan’s bestselling young-adult series, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, has finally arrived. Fans of the beloved Greek mythology-inspired books, which follow the story of a 12-year-old boy thrust into a conflict among the Greek pantheon after discovering he’s the forbidden demigod son of Poseidon, have been eagerly awaiting a worthy screen adaptation since the series’ debut in 2005.
Enduring two disappointing movies that failed to meet financial and fan expectations, fans are now hopeful that, with Riordan actively involved in this new attempt, they will finally get the faithful series they’ve been yearning for.
Disney+
To understand the significance of this new adaptation, it’s essential to revisit the history of the original films. Fans, not exaggerating, assert that the first movies were chaotic, a sentiment shared by Riordan himself. In 2018, the author released a statement detailing his negative experience consulting on the production of the initial film, even including emails from 2009 in which he warned against aging up the cast and criticized the script. Unfortunately, his advice went unheeded, evident in the cast’s ages, resulting in a darker tone, the removal of comedic elements, and the inclusion of less child-friendly language—alienating the novels’ core audience.
Fortunately, Disney, having acquired 20th Century Fox in 2019, has learned from past mistakes. Walker Scobell, a 14-year-old, takes on the role of Percy, joined by Leah Sava Jeffries (14) as Annabeth and Aryan Simhadri (17) as Grover. Not only do these actors align with the proper ages for their roles, but they also contribute to a more diverse ensemble than depicted in the books.
Addressing concerns about the casting choice for Annabeth, it’s important to remember that these characters are demigods with divine parentage. More crucially, the cast authentically embodies the main trio’s personality traits: Percy’s sarcastic humor, Annabeth’s headstrong loyalty, and Grover’s lovable peacemaking qualities. The ensemble as a whole, with notable improvements in character development for figures like Luke (Charlie Bushnell), promises a more faithful adaptation that does justice to the journey portrayed in the books.
