FYI, Percy Jackson is (finally) having a reboot from those god-damned movies that upset every true fan. The Percy Jackson and the Olympians series on Disney+ seems like it's going to tell the main character's story in a satisfying way. This TV series is based on Rick Riordan's popular book series, and it looks like they're trying to stay true to the books.
The episode titles of Percy Jackson and the Olympians match the chapter titles in the book, which is a good sign. Rick Riordan is closely involved in making the show, so we can hope they stick more closely to the original story compared to the movies.
The cast of Percy Jackson and the Olympians includes Walker Scobell as Percy, Leah Jeffries as Annabeth, and Aryan Simhadri as Grover. The main trio is the right age, which has already made fans happy. Unlike the movies that changed details like the trio's journey to the Underworld, the TV show is showing us before its release on December 20, 2023, that it's following the books closely.
From Percy being quick-witted, as we see in the trailer, to Riptide's shiny design, Percy Jackson and the Olympians gives a chance to fix the mistakes made in the movies.
The Trio's Casting And Character Design Deserves A Chef Kiss
Source: Disney+
According to Comicbook.com, Disney has unveiled three new character posters featuring Percy Jackson, Annabeth Chase, and Grover Underwood. Each poster showcases the trio in both casual and armored attire.
While all three characters are seen wearing their Camp Half-Blood T-shirts on both sides of the posters, Percy and Annabeth's right sides feature them wearing ancient Greek helmets. On Grover's poster, his satyr horns and pointed ears are included. Annabeth and Percy are also depicted wearing the traditional Camp Half-Blood necklace, but Percy's necklace lacks beads since he is a new camper. (The necklace is a beaded necklace with a single bead for each summer a camper has spent at Camp Half-Blood.)
These posters are part of Disney's ongoing promotion for Percy Jackson, building excitement ahead of its debut on Disney+. Previous character posters portrayed Percy, Annabeth, and Grover against symbolic backgrounds, while more recent ones showed them standing together against a mythological threat.
In contrast to the 2010 movie adaptation of "The Lightning Thief," Percy Jackson's creator, Rick Riordan, has emphasized that this new series will align more closely with the original books. Riordan has been actively involved in the series since its early stages, contributing to discussions about the adaptation's format and ensuring a faithful portrayal.
In a September interview, Riordan assured long-time book readers that this adaptation is the one they've been waiting for and that they are involved in the production, expressing confidence that fans will love it.
type of picture sally jackson would have in her home pic.twitter.com/5gi34ywACf
— percy ⚢ FREE ???????? (@nicosangelss) December 7, 2023
Aryan Simhadri as Grover Underwood as #PercyJackson & The Olympians. pic.twitter.com/iYj0UCBTf9
— Percy Jackson News ???? (@updatespercy) December 4, 2023
Even Side Characters Like The Minotaur Gets A Better Treatment
Source: Disney+
Creating the Minotaur for "Percy Jackson and the Olympians" involved a meticulous focus on details to bring the mythical creature to life authentically. The team, led by Erik Henry and Jon Steinberg, emphasized attention to detail, incorporating elements like breath and water texture to enhance its believability. They aimed for a unique design, deviating from conventional Minotaur representations, and faced the challenge of making it operate as both a quadruped and a biped.
To strike a balance between terror and child-friendly appeal, the design drew inspiration from the Brahma breed of bull. Physical construction for filming included a motion base and a giant head, with about a third of the Minotaur being physically created. This blend of CGI and physical elements aimed to create a creature that felt both fantastical and real for the audience.
“We even have a moment where Percy jumps on the minotaur and uses the elastic band of its underpants to help him gain purchase,” Henry laughs. “Little moments like that help take the edge off that tension in the middle of the battle.”
Great character design, attention to detail, and an unprecedented adhesion to the original books, I think, are what make this series really promising.
"Percy Jackson and the Olympians" is set to make its debut on Disney+ on December 20. Stay tuned for more details in the upcoming days!