The Percy Jackson franchise certainly got off to a rocky start thanks to two film releases from FOX which were a mixed bag at best. While the movies certainly included some competent storytelling, they failed to capture the real spirit of the novels.
Disney+ has announced that they are working on an adaptation of these stories, which will see an episodic series following the adventure of Percy and the other half-bloods. While the movies did manage to get a few things right, there's also quite a lot for the series to improve upon, as Disney+ puts together its own version of this Greek mythology.
Films Got Right: Pacing
The pacing of both films actually matched that of the books. The general essence of these adventures is that they are fast-paced, but they leave room for more emotional character-driven beats.
The issue with the films is that they were indeed paced correctly, but poor writing perhaps let these emotional moments down when the movie actually took a breathe to explore the characters further.
Can Improve: Casting
The casting for the Percy Jackson films was certainly mixed. While some incredibly actors were brought in to play the various deities and half-bloods, some of them didn't quite fit the descriptions of the novels.
The ages of the main cast were a real issue, but some of the gods didn't quite bring the levity to the roles that they needed. It may be best for the show to look for character actors rather than big names, in order to fill out the cast.
Films Got Right: Spectacle
One of the things the novels and the films share in common is that they know how to produce big spectacles. There are large action set-pieces and incredible moments of magic that really define the fantasy genre.
That may be in part due to the first film being directed by Christopher Columbus, who is no stranger to bringing a little mysticism to the cinema. Disney+ can certainly try to replicate this tone and atmosphere.
Can Improve: Long Term Storytelling
The films definitely rushed through what the young adult novels took years to create. A couple of different books were actually thrown into The Sea of Monsters movie adaptation.
Disney+ has the advantage of having a number of series to work on this franchise. Nothing needs to be rushed and some long term story beats can be set out to build upon as the show progresses.
Films Got Right: Camp Half-Blood
Camp Half-Blood wasn't quite what fans were expecting in the first film. It lacked the charm of the novels and the film didn't seem to grasp the concept that it was a learning environment.
The second film drastically improved on this. The cabins were more accurate and there were even group games, although capture the flag is a long way off of the fun activity that it is in the books. There's some great groundwork here, although the series could improve it further.
Can Improve: Authentic Re-telling
The new series can be a much more authentic version of this tale. The original films certainly glamorized aspects of it and made it feel a little bit more like a big blockbuster series.
There's an emotional grit that comes with this story that wasn't there in the films. With Rick Riordan involved and understanding these characters so well, the show should feel far more authentic to the novels fans love.
Films Got Right: Prophecy
The films did actually decide to include the prophecy which was supposed to set up the rest of the franchise. They changed a few elements to make it fit the ages of the actors.
However, what was unfortunate is that the prophecy never fully came to fruition because there were no more films, with the second movie ending with the return of Zeus's daughter. Hopefully, the show can demonstrate where that plot was really going and how the prophecy would end.
Can Improve: World Building
The world-building for the films was a little bit lacking. While it tried to showcase that there was a broader landscape of Greek myths in the real world, it didn't really sell the concept.
Many moments felt as if they were designed for the characters to interact with and didn't exist once they were gone again. The series can easily change this through the correct writing and even production design.
Films Got Right: Character Introductions
The introduction of a character can make or break a movie. Luckily, the films managed to perfectly display the core cast of misfits and warriors. A first impression is everything and thanks to the casting and direction, first impressions were good.
Annabeth and Percy especially came across more like their characters (despite the age) than any of the others on screen. The series will have to be equally impactful in introducing the audience to these new heroes.
Can Improve: Fan Engagement
Fans were overall disappointed by how their favorite novels were portrayed on screen. There will clearly be quite a big effort to try and change this perception.
The first step was bringing on the original writer. Casting and set design will be the next big points of contention, as will the long term plan for how this story can be told. With the fan support this show could achieve big things.