“Percy Jackson & the Olympians” is a beloved series that has garnered a fandom similar to “Harry Potter” or “The Hunger Games,” but with a Greek mythology twist. Out of the five-book series, only two films were made. While fans were excited about the adaptations, they fell short of a lot of people’s expectations. 

What went right

With the two films getting 49% and 42% on Rotten Tomatoes, they did get some things right when it came to the books.

Logan Lerman was cast to play the titular character Percy Jackson. The chemistry between Logan Lerman, Alexandra Daddario, and Brandon T. Jackson, the latter two playing Annabeth and Grover, was undeniable in the films. Reading the books, you got to see how the trio was formed and how it turned into a beautiful friendship. The trio’s relationship translated well to the big screen.

Another part of the film that was done well was the Lotus Casino scene in “Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief.” One could argue this was the best scene out of the two films. Fans have called it a “cinematic masterpiece” for its stunning visuals and camera work. “Poker Face” by Lady Gaga playing in the background really brought this whole scene together. 

What went wrong

A big problem in the first film was the “capture the flag” scene. In the books, Percy and Annabeth were on the same team, but for some reason, they were on separate teams in the film. Not to mention, Annabeth has been at Camp Half-Blood training for five years prior to Percy’s arrival, but he beats her in a sword fight after getting claimed by his father Poseidon. 

In the books, Percy wasn’t claimed until after the “capture the flag” scene and after his team had already won. It may have been changed for pacing reasons, but was confusing for fans who read the books first.

“The Lightning Thief” was based around the trio going across America trying to retrieve Persephone’s pearls, but in the book the pearls were given to them by a sea nymph. 

“Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters” was released three years after the first film and was met with even more disappointment. It almost felt like the writers knew this was going to be the final film because they crammed so much into the plot with so little time. 

A major plot hole in the second film is the trio had to defeat the Titan Kronos, but he doesn’t show up until the fourth novel in the series. 

TV redemption

On Jan. 29, Rick Riordan, the author of the “Percy Jackson” series, announced on his website that the TV series adaptation was greenlit by Disney and would begin casting and production soon. 

Riordan also mentioned how he and his wife are involved in the entire process, which was a relief to many fans. It is expected that the first season of the Disney+ series will focus on “The Lightning Thief” with Easter eggs and backstory to keep the story fresh.

As of now, there has been no cast reveals or premiere date for the series. With Riordan being a part of the creative process, there are hopes that the cast will be age-appropriate so audiences can see all five books come to life. Fans have expressed their want for Logan Lerman to return to the “Percy Jackson” world, but this time as Percy’s father, Poseidon. It would be great to see Lerman return, but it’s time for new actors to take over and showcase their talent.