“Looks like Stranger Things”: Disney’s New Percy Jackson Series First Look Destroys Internet, Divides Fans

Last Updated on: 22 July, 2023 | 1:03 AM

Percy Jackson and the Olympians is the first series of fantasy books by popular American author Rick Riordan. It is a part of the Camp Half-Blood Chronicles. Director Chris Columbus’ 2010 movie, Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief was successful at the box office but was criticized for how little it resembled the books. The second movie of this franchise, Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters directed by Thor Freudenthal had the same fate.

The development of the literary series into a television series was announced back in 2020. The show was officially in the making by January 2022 with Disney Branded Television, 20th Television, and the Gotham Group as producers. Rick Riordan is an executive producer of the show.

Percy Jackson Series Aims to Be a Better Attempt at An Adaptation

The film series had been left unfinished because none of the two films had done well for a franchise with a readily established fanbase. While the first movie grossed $226 million worldwide, the second could only manage to earn $200 million. So, the idea for a third movie had been dropped.

This time, however, Rick Riordan will be personally involved in the series that will be released in 2024 on the streaming service, Disney+. Upon being asked how the chance for this adaptation came about since Riordan himself wasn’t a fan of the films, he said:

I knew that the fans of the books really, really wanted a good adaptation, another try. So it was really for them. We dove in with both feet, and for the last three years, that’s been a major part of what we’ve been up to.

The series follows a 12-year-old demigod who tries to save the world from the Titan god, Kronos. If the series stays faithful to the source material and doesn’t deviate too much from it, Disney+ might have a chance at having a hit series.

Percy Jackson Series Is Getting Criticized Already

Recently, the first look at the show was released, and it doesn’t seem to be making a good impression so far if the fan reactions to it are anything to go by.

Looks like stranger things

— Renaldo_Jnr (@Junior28944017) July 20, 2023

Damn, clearly they didn’t read the books.

— The Based Ninja (@Based_Ninja_San) July 20, 2023

I think that’s an Urban Outfitter’s ad.

— E. Lee Zimmerman 🇺🇸 (@ELeeZimmerman) July 20, 2023

We will not be watching

— John F. Kennedy’s Burner (@JFKburner69) July 20, 2023

Looks like a Walmart ad

— Matt (@catt_masey) July 20, 2023

The movies had Logan Lerman as the titular character, Alexandra Daddario as Annabeth Chase, and Brandon Jackson as Grover Underwood. This time Riordan has hand-picked the cast. Walker Scobell, Leah Sava Jeffries, and Aryan Simhadri will be seen as Percy Jackson, Annabeth Chase, and Grover Underwood respectively.

The casting of the Black actress Leah Sava Jeffries received a lot of backlash from netizens. It was to the point that Jeffries’ TikTok account was banned, thanks to the racists who were upset with her casting. Riordan and his wife issued statements to tell off the critics.

Source: THR

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