Percy Jackson author Rick Riordan slams the movie adaptations of his YA series, but also admits he hasn't seen them because it would be too painful. Riordan's Percy Jackson & the Olympians series began in 2005 with The Lightning Thief and soon became a best-selling sensation. All five books told the story of Percy, a young boy who discovers he's the son of the Greek god Poseidon. Alongside other demigods and mythological creatures, Percy embarks on several quests in order to protect the world from ancient forces who wish to destroy it. Riordan's novels have been praised for their humor, world-building, and well-developed characters, and it came as no surprise when Fox secured the rights to adapt Percy Jackson into a series of movies.
Unfortunately, however, Fox's two films (based on the first two books, The Lightning Thief and The Sea of Monsters) failed to impress fans. Many felt they couldn't capture the magic of Riordan's world, while others took issue with the changes made to the plot and characters. For example, Percy (who is 12 when The Lightning Thief begins) was aged-up considerably to be played by Logan Lerman, and the film deviated from the book's plot in numerous ways.
In the years since the Percy Jackson movies, Riordan has been open about his displeasure with them, and The Lightning Thief's arrival on Disney+ has brought those feelings back. Riordan's latest comments were spurred by a fan asking him why Disney+ censored a portion of The Lightning Thief where Percy and his friends enter a casino. Riordan quipped, "I don't know, but clearly it's a mistake. They should censor the entire thing. Just two hours of blank screen." He then went on to describe the films as "my life's work going through a meat grinder," and, in a third tweet, revealed he has never seen the movies and doesn't "plan on ever doing so." However, Riordan holds no ill-will towards the actors involved, as all of his issues come from the scripts. You can read his full comments below.
Going back to Riordan's second post, he assured fans he intends to fix the issues with the movie adaptations. This will be through a Disney+ series, which Riordan announced alongside his wife just last month. Fans have long hoped Percy Jackson could get a shot at a better adaptation, and the possibility seemed promising when Disney acquired Fox and thus all of their properties. There were rumors of Percy Jackson becoming a Disney+ show ahead of the news, but fans were still overjoyed when Riordan confirmed it's happening.
Considering Riordan's deeply negative feelings toward the Percy Jackson films (the "meat grinder." phrase really hits it home), it's definitely a massive endorsement for the Disney+ series that Riordan is letting it happen. What's more, Riordan is actually excited about what's to come, which bodes well for the quality of the show. The streaming series format certainly seems like the best way to properly delve into Riordan's world and carry out the stories as they were meant to be told. Percy Jackson fans are ready for this second chance, and it's a relief that Riordan is too.
Source: Rick Riordan/Twitter