Percy Jackson author confirms Disney Plus series is in the works
Rick Riordan has a special message for all demi-gods out there
We’ve got big news for you fantasy fans: a Percy Jackson TV series is in the works at Disney Plus.
Rick Riordan, author of the Percy Jackson book series, announced the news on Twitter alongside wife and collaborator Becky Riordan.
The video was followed up with a statement: “We can’t say much more at this stage but we are very excited about the idea of a live-action series of the highest quality, following the storyline of the original Percy Jackson five-book series, starting with The Lightning Thief in season one.
“Rest assured that Becky & I will be involved in person in every aspect of the show.”
Although not confirmed, Riordan’s comments indicate Disney Plus could be planning five seasons of the show, each season adapting one novel from five-part Percy Jackson & the Olympians saga.
The first of these books, 2005’s The Lightning Thief introduced readers to Percy Jackson, a teen who discovers that he is the son of the Greek god of the sea, Poseidon. In subsequent books – The Sea of Monsters (2006), The Titan's Curse (2007), The Battle of the Labyrinth (2008) and The Last Olympian (2009), Percy encounters various demigods, quests and battles.
The first two books were adapted into movies, Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010) and Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters (2013). Despite achieving box office success, both screen outings received mixed reviews, with many critical of their deviation from the books.
The series is currently in early development, with a filming and release schedule not yet confirmed.
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Authors
Thomas is Digital editor at BBC Science Focus. Writing about everything from cosmology to anthropology, he specialises in the latest psychology, health and neuroscience discoveries. Thomas has a Masters degree (distinction) in Magazine Journalism from the University of Sheffield and has written for Men’s Health, Vice and Radio Times. He has been shortlisted as the New Digital Talent of the Year at the national magazine Professional Publishers Association (PPA) awards. Also working in academia, Thomas has lectured on the topic of journalism to undergraduate and postgraduate students at The University of Sheffield.