The world of Percy Jackson is set to expand just a little bit more. There's already been a series of fantastic books from author Rick Riordan, graphic novel adaptations, and two films that were released to a mixed reaction from critics and fans alike. Dedicated fans and readers saw the potential of these stories, but were left hanging with the subpar adaptations. Thankfully, their long wait is finally over.
With Disney+ announcing that the Greek mythology franchise will be heading to his streaming service in the form of a television series, fans have been getting excited about what that could mean for the future of their favorite characters. Here are 5 reasons why these fans are beyond excited about this new re-telling of the Percy Jackson books and 5 more reasons why they're concerned.
NOT EXCITED: The Previous Disappointments
There have already been two films that have attempted to take the material from the page to the big screen. These movies had a number of flaws, which even good writing couldn't overcome.
To keep it brief, some of the casting was off, the locations chosen weren't ideal and some of the books were cramped into one film. The franchise didn't get off to the best start, so what's to say that this show will be an improvement on those?
EXCITED: Ideal Casting Opportunities
Since the franchise is starting from scratch once again, there's a great opportunity here to cast the characters the correct way. And to be frank, the original Percy Jackson cast is already far too old to reprise their respective roles (that's not to say they can't take on the older roles, though).
Much like the Harry Potter franchise did before it, this series needs to look to younger actors that can grow with the roles as time goes on. The supporting cast will be key in order to help these youthful actors on their journey.
NOT EXCITED: There's Too Many Stories In The Series
Rick Riordan is an incredibly talented writer that has spun out dozens of fascinating stories about Greek, Roman, Norse and Egyptian mythology.
The problem is, with the Trials of Apollo, The Kane Chronicles and even the Heroes Of Olympus to explore, alongside the main Percy Jackson series, there's perhaps too many stories to try to weave into a Disney+ TV series. But fans will want to see it all!
EXCITED: The Author Is On Board
An advantage that the show has over the original films is that the author is actually on board and working on the series. The movies had Rick Riordan on for more of an advisory role, but this time around he has a more active presence behind the scenes.
This project seems far more collaborative and may mean that Riordan can protect his characters and his world. This could lead to a far more authentic re-telling of the series, and one that knows how to stick to the source material.
NOT EXCITED: There's Already Too Much Modernized Mythology
There's so much mythology in today's TV and film world that there's a fear that this fantasy show could actually be overlooked in some way. It seems that ancient myths are slowly making a comeback, and an over-saturation isn't too far behind.
A prominent example of this include Dwayne Johnson's own version of Hercules from a few years back and the upcoming live action adaptation of the Disney animated classic of the same name. Even the Norse gods of Asgard have been in the public eye thanks to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. With the likes of American Gods and more already modernizing ancient myths on TV, Percy Jackson and the Greek pantheon may be a bit late to the party.
EXCITED: It's A Disney+ Show
The Disney+ brand is already building a name for itself for big budget, high quality, genre television. The Mandalorian is an early example of the type of production value and budget Disney can put into its programming.
Percy Jackson may also receive a similar treatment, getting the kind of financial attention and production needed to really make these stories jump from the page and feel as epic as they should.
NOT EXCITED: This May Be Percy's Last Chance
Sad as it may be, this really could be the last chance for the Percy Jackson franchise. With two films that flopped both financially and critically, the son of Poseidon may never be seen on any screen again if his upcoming Disney show fails as well.
It would be a great shame considering the depth of the franchise and how beloved the books (and to an extent, the movies) have become. There's such a great core story within the pages of those novels that it would be a great loss to not get to see all of it adapted.
EXCITED: The Episodic Format
The idea of putting this series into a TV show format is an interesting one. With the concept being that each book could provide enough material for a whole season, this could lead to a lot of success.
Other young adult novels have found success in having a film per book, but much like big franchises like Game of Thrones or His Dark Materials (which had a failed cinematic adaptation in The Golden Compass), there may be a lot more value in taking the time to unfold the sprawling narrative and lore properly and gradually.
NOT EXCITED: Too Many False Starts
One of the problems that many fans of the books have had to face before is false hope. While Disney's latest announcement does seem very official, until the show is officially on Disney+ or a trailer is dropped, it's difficult to get too excited.
There's been a lot of false starts for the Percy Jackson revival and/or reboot and with a release date not even confirmed yet, there's definitely a pinch of salt to be taken with every piece of news or update that gets released.
EXCITED: Returning To The Story's Fantastic World
The world and characters that Rick Riordan has created are nothing short of incredible. With such a depth of heroes and villains to explore, there's a lot of great reasons to be excited.
There's a genuine possibility that an accurate Camp Half-Blood could be appearing on the small screen, or perhaps the genuine battle between the Titans and the demi-gods could be looming. There's so much to be excited about for this mythological adventure, one of which is revisiting this amazing world of ancient heroes and villains making their way through a modern world.