Although it has been in discussions for months, the Disney+ Percy Jackson adaptation has just been officially announced, which means that it's no longer just an idea being tossed around. It's coming to screens soon, although not soon enough for fans. The books were previously adapted into a series of films by 20th Century Fox, but fans disliked the adaptations, feeling that there are many things that the Percy Jackson TV series could learn from the movies but that ultimately they didn't capture what made the original books so universally beloved.
After the official announcement dropped, fans took over Twitter, making "PERCY JACKSON" trend as they excitedly posted about casting hopes, expected controversies, and general buzz about everything the series is likely to bring.
Sharing Fanart
One thing that Percy Jackson fans have always been great at is making fan art and this artist is no exception. One excited fan shared their fan art of the book series, showing off everything the books have to offer and everything they hope to see in the upcoming series.
This piece of fanart includes the central trio of the series, along with fan-favorite characters from other books, like Nico Diangelo, Thalia Grace, and Tyson.
Disney+ Mockups
They say that you have to see it to believe it, so this fan went all out, making their own mock-up for the show once it's completed and available for streaming on Disney+. The excited fan edited a fake page for the show, using chapter titles as the episode titles and imaging that the episodes will be approximately 25 minutes each.
For all of those who wish the show could be done and available to watch immediately, this mockup might even trick them into running to their TV and turning on Disney+ on the off chance it's the real thing.
Jokes And Happiness
This Twitter user plays on the idea that smiling at your phone has to be a sign of romantic interest. If asked why they were smiling, this fan can answer that it isn't because of a cute comment from their partner, but because a long-held hope has become reality.
Fans have been pushing for a show to be made of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series ever since the movie adaptations failed, and the joy at finally getting it would put a smile on any fan's face.
Acknowledgement Of How Important Percy Jackson Was
In addition to all of the excitement, many fans took to Twitter to try to make others understand just how important the Percy Jackson series of books was to them and their friends. One user compares the book series to a drug and another says it raised a generation, showing just how important the books were to those who read them around a decade ago.
Fans and creators can only hope that the same bug bites new fans when the series comes out, catching the newest round of middle schoolers in its grasp and leading them to read the series and its spinoffs after the TV series sucks them in.
Remembering Best Moments
Some fans took advantage of the excitement to talk about their favorite moments in the Percy Jackson books that they want to see adapted on screen. One such example is when Percy Jackson, in a fit of anger, sends the gods Medusa's head, which can turn anyone who looks in its eyes to stone. It is a critical part of Percy Jackson's character arc as he learns to accept Poseidon as his father.
The scene is a favorite for many fans and captures the spirit of the Percy Jackson that fans know, love, and want to see when they tune into the Disney+ show.
Expected Lines For The First Episode
The first Percy Jackson book begins with a short tirade from the main character about how terrible being a demigod is (a tirade that fans simultaneously love and ignore). This fourth-wall-breaking moment is iconic and is something that tells the audience so much about the main character.
Fans want to see this line and the fourth-wall-breaking in the new television show, with the whole show as a warning to audiences.
Opinions On Episode Titles
Another element of the Percy Jackson series that fans love is the chapter titles, which absolutely sound like they were written by a 12-year-old boy. Chapter titles like "I Become Supreme Lord of the Bathroom" and "I Battle My Jerk Relative" add flavor to the books, and are beloved elements of the series that were not present in the films.
An easy way to include these elements in a television series is by putting them as episode titles. Episodes don't necessarily have to line up directly with chapters or their original titles, but fans are expectant that they will at least come in the same style.
Controversies About Casting
Rick Riordan was explicit in the casting call for Percy that ethnicity was not in the casting call description and that they are simply "looking for the best person who can embody the character we all know and love from the books," while honoring Disney's commitment to diversity and representation, so it can be expected that this will be the case for main characters Annabeth Chase and Grover Underwood. However, Annabeth's appearance was a great source of controversy when the films were made, because she is repeatedly described as blonde and grey-eyed.
Some fans are still devoted to the book's descriptions, while others are open to anyone playing any role. It's sure to be a source of controversy going forward, but fans, like this poster, can hope that the majority of fans won't let something like this impact their excitement for the new series and recognize that diversity and the best actor for the role are the most important things.
Hopes For Logan Lerman
One thing most fans agree on when looking at the Percy Jackson films is that the problems with the movies are not lead actor Logan Lerman's fault. In fact, many think he did a great job as Percy, despite being quite a bit older than the 12-year-old character was in the books.
To honor that legacy, fans have been passionate on Twitter for a while now that Lerman needs to come back in the Percy Jackson series as Poseidon, or at least as one of the major gods. As this Tweet shows, that desire is not going away any time soon.
Explaining How Everybody Feels
The thousands of Tweets about Percy Jackson might seem confusing to those who never connected with the series, but they make perfect sense to the adult fans who are seeing a childhood dream come true. Fans laughed and cried over the announcement, and will be certain to do so even more as details and episodes begin to drop.
It may be hard to explain why this series means so much to so many people, but it isn't hard to prove that it does. Percy Jackson fans around the globe are rejoicing, and that's not likely to stop anytime soon.