Rick Riordan hasn't been excited about a Percy Jackson adaptation for more than a decade. When the initial films were released in theaters, the author was saddened by the lack of appreciation for the source material. In a series of Tweets, Riordan said, "I still have not seen the movies, and don't plan on ever doing so."
He continued, "I judge them from having read the scripts, because I care most about the story. I certainly have nothing against the very talented actors. Not their fault, I'm sorry they got dragged into this mess." When fans applauded the author for despising the films as much as audiences, Riordan said, "Well, to you guys, it's a couple hours' entertainment. To me, it's my life's work going through a meat grinder when I pleaded with them not to do it. So yeah. But it's fine. All fine. We're gonna fix it soon."
Luckily, Riordan has found a way to fix it. The upcoming Disney+ series Percy Jackson and the Olympians promises to never stray too far from the source material, with Riordan heavily involved in all aspects of the show's creation. In an update from the author's personal website, Riordan shared his excitement as the series progresses through production.
"Our fourth full week of filming is well underway in Vancouver, BC! We are receiving 'dailies' of the scenes recorded each day, and they look... dare I say, divine. This cast is electrifying. They own their characters and turn their lines into magic on screen. That's even before editing, soundtracks, or special effects."
Riordan couldn't be more enthusiastic about the latest Percy Jackson project, and it's great to see his vision come to life as he intended. The Disney+ series stars Walker Scobell (The Adam Project), Charlie Bushnell (Diary of a Future President), Leah Jeffries (Empire), and Jason Mantzoukas (Big Mouth).
Percy Jackson Will Utilize New Technology
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In the same post from Riordan, the author announces their partnership with Industrial Light and Magic and shares his excitement about the limitless possibilities this will bring to the series. Read the full quote below:
"I am pleased to reveal a secret that I have been dying to share with you for over a year: Percy Jackson and the Olympians has partnered with Industrial Light and Magic to build a new Volume stage here in Vancouver, and we are the first people to use it! Based on the groundbreaking technology that created The Mandalorian, our new Volume stage is an even more cutting-edge version of that wraparound virtual environment, making it one of the most advanced production stages in the world. We are using it for things that have never been attempted before, creating settings so realistic that if we do it right, you should never be able to guess which scenes were done on location and which were done on the stage."
This should not only excite Percy Jackson fans, but fans of the television and film industry as a whole. The new technology, which surrounds the set with a virtual environment, has led to shows like The Mandalorian, The Midnight Sky, and the upcoming Thor: Love and Thunder having fantastic effects. In addition, with the increased use of the technology, green screens may soon be a thing of the past.
Audiences will have to wait for some time before Percy Jackson and the Olympians arrives on Disney+. However, fans can get excited to see groundbreaking visual effects and a faithful adaptation when it airs in the next few years.