Entertainment Blog #196 | Percy Jackson and the Olympians [2023 -] - Cast is Too Young??

There were words circulating for about a year about a Live-Action Series of Percy Jackson novels. Yeah.. there are two Percy Jackson movies but a Web Series can cover more area than a movie. So it could be successful if it can be executed well. The execution is even more crucial when there's a movie based on same literature.

"Percy Jackson and the Olympians" is an American fantasy television series developed by Rick Riordan and Jonathan E. Steinberg for Disney+. The show's first season premiered on December 19, 2023, with all eight episodes released simultaneously for binge-watching. The first episode of the series is directed by James Bobin and stars Walker Scobell as Percy Jackson, Leah Sava Jeffries as Annabeth Chase, and Aryan Simhadri as Grover Underwood. The series' development began in May 2020, following Riordan's pitch to Disney Branded Television.

In "Percy Jackson and the Olympians," Percy Jackson, a twelve-year-old demigod, begins on an unexpected journey after discovering his true identity. During a school field trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Percy's encounter with mythological creatures reveals his extraordinary abilities and heritage. After being attacked by a Fury disguised as his teacher, Percy instinctively defends himself with a mysterious pen-sword, but everyone else appears to be unaware of the attack. His subsequent expulsion from school, combined with a lethal encounter with a Minotaur, thrusts him into the hidden world of Greek gods and monsters.

Following the discovery that Percy is a demigod and the son of Poseidon, he is led to Camp Half-Blood, a sanctuary for demigods, where he meets others like him. There, he navigates friendships and competition, developing bonds with Annabeth Chase and Grover Underwood. However, Percy's newfound status is quickly overpowered by a serious accusation: Zeus believes Percy stole his Master Bolt, leading to a quest to clear his name. Armed with a prophecy and the support of his friends, Percy embarks on a perilous journey to recover the bolt from the Underworld, encountering dangerous monsters, moral dilemmas, and supreme challenges along the way.

As Percy, Annabeth, and Grover travel across the country, they encounter danger and moral confusion. Faced with betrayal, manipulation, and a forthcoming conflict between the gods, Percy realizes that the prophecy predicts a betrayal by a friend. Despite conflicts and misunderstandings, the trio overcomes mythical creatures, misleading monsters, and personal obstacles, laying the groundwork for an epic, destiny-driven battle against Olympian forces and an uncertain future.

The film adaptation of "Percy Jackson and the Olympians" attempted to compress a complex narrative into a few hours, frequently resulting in critical dissatisfaction due to its departure from the source material and rushed storytelling pace. In contrast, the Disney+ series adaptation aimed for a faithful retelling of Rick Riordan's beloved books, spanning multiple episodes to allow for a more in-depth exploration of the characters, world-building, and intricate plotlines. But the movie had a great cast and in the series, I think they are too young for the roles of the series. that's the biggest explain I have.

Critics praised the series for staying true to Riordan's novels, praising its worldbuilding, performances, and commitment to the essence of the source material. With a 96% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a Metacritic score of 73, the show captivated audiences with its engaging narrative, successfully capturing the essence of Riordan's iconic series while also providing a visually rich, emotionally resonant journey through the realms of myth and self-discovery.