‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’ books fans finally witnessed the arrival of the Disney+ series on Tuesday night. A decade-plus after a less-than-stellar reception of two movies based on Rick Riordan's beloved novels, the series, co-created and executive-produced by Riordan, made its streaming debut.
Adding to the excitement, Disney+ surprised fans by moving up the premiere by a few hours, treating viewers to the first two episodes at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT — a day earlier than the initially scheduled debut. (For added convenience, the first episode will also be available on Hulu through the end of January.)
The show wasted no time delving into the narrative. By the conclusion of the first episode, Percy (played by Walker Scobell) found himself expelled from school, discovering his divine lineage as the son of a Greek god and a mortal woman (Virginia Kull portrays Percy's mother), and engaging in a fierce battle with a minotaur before reaching Camp Half-Blood, the haven for young demigods.
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In the second episode, Percy navigates camp life, unravels the mystery of his best friend Grover (Aryan Simhadri) keeping silent about Percy's demigod status, faced off against the formidable kids from the Ares cabin, and forged connections with characters like Annabeth Chase (Leah Sava Jeffries) just before embarking on an intense game of capture the flag.
Staying true to the early chapters of "The Lightning Thief," the series faithfully follows the source material for the season. Co-creator and co-showrunner Jonathan Steinberg, in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, emphasized the invaluable role of having Rick Riordan deeply involved in the series.
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“It wouldn’t really be possible any other way. Not only is the story so personal to Rick and [wife and producing partner] Becky and their sons and their family, but the relationship between Rick and the fans is really specific,” Steinberg said. “It’s a testament to how personal the story that he created is and how deeply it affects these people that they connect to him directly. We felt really fortunate to be able to build this thing with the guidance of the people who had the only standing, really, to make determinations about what belongs in and what belongs out. What is Percy Jackson and what is not Percy Jackson.”
The early premiere not only met but exceeded colossal expectations, making the epic arrival of Percy Jackson on Disney+ a monumental event for fans worldwide. As the series unfolds, viewers can anticipate a journey that stays true to the beloved source material, guided by the hands of those who understand the essence of Percy Jackson – Rick Riordan and the dedicated creative team behind the scenes.
