Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson & the Olympians novel series is one of the most beloved among young adults of this generation. The first book, “The Lightning Thief,” was published in 2005 and has cemented itself as an instant classic, selling 1.8 million copies in just five years. After 18 years, the critically acclaimed book series has been made into a tv show.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians has been incredibly well received by critics, with a 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The talented cast elevates the mystical atmosphere of the show, starring young actors Walker Scobell, Leah Jeffries, and Aryan Simhadri, as well as famous names such as Lin Manuel Miranda. The high expectations of fans have also been met. Gabby DeNicola ‘24 shares, “It’s so nice to see an adaptation that’s so close to accurate to the books I used to love as a kid.” After years of pleading for an accurate Percy Jackson adaptation, fans have finally been given what they wished for.
The first two episodes of Percy Jackson and the Olympians were officially released to Disney+ on December 19, 2023, and new episodes are released every Tuesday. Much to the fans’ approval, the show stays relatively true to the book, with each episode even named after a chapter from the book. This is, in part, thanks to the help of the series’ author Rick Riordan. In 2018, Riordan explained in a blog post on his website how authors have a lack of control in the production of film adaptations, and included two emails he sent to the producers in 2009. He gave his concerns regarding the change to age up the characters to teenagers, details in the script, structure, and much more. Riordan emphasizes that he sent the emails to the producers, along with another 12 pages of notes, because “[he] care[s] too much about the project to see it fail.” Now that he has been given these creative opportunities as an executive producer on the series, as well as a co-writer for the pilot, his visions have finally been fulfilled.
In 2010, The Lightning Thief was given its film adaptation, starring notable names such as Logan Lerman, Alexandra Daddario, and Uma Thurman. However, with a 49% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the film received varying reviews among critics and is generally disliked in the Percy Jackson fandom due to its diversion from the original storyline. Due to the success of Riordan’s novels and the disappointment brought by the movie adaptation, fans were ecstatic upon receiving the news of a Percy Jackson TV show.
At the time of this article being published, seven episodes have been released, and season one will conclude after eight. Due to its widespread popularity and success, Percy Jackson and the Olympians will most likely be renewed for more seasons, continuing to deliver the story told throughout the series.
