It could have been a hit, but it flopped: What went wrong for ‘Percy Jackson’?

The two films based on the book series ‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’, written by Rick Riordanwere ‘Percy Jackson & the Lightning Thief’ (2010) and ‘Percy Jackson: Sea of ​​Monsters’ (2013).

The first film was directed by Chris Columbus, known for his work on films such as ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’ and ‘Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets’, while the second film was directed by Thor Freudenthal.

Both films, starring Logan Lerman as Percy Jacksondid not achieve the expected success, both in terms of critics and box office.

Despite the franchise’s great potential, the third film was not produced, in part due to the low performance of the first films.

Both ‘The Lightning Thief’ and ‘Sea of ​​Monsters’ received negative reviews upon their releases.

What bothered viewers the most?

Main characters from the first adaptations of ‘Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief’ – Image: Reproduction

One of the main points of criticism was the lack of fidelity to Rick Riordan’s books.

Many fans and critics pointed out that the films diverged significantly from the original plot and failed to capture the essence of the story.

Another point that was often criticized was the age of the main actors, especially Logan Lerman, who was 21 at the time of the first film, while the character Percy Jackson was only 16 in the books.

In addition to criticism from the public and the press, the author himself, Rick Riordan, expressed his dissatisfaction with the films.

In public statements, Riordan has discouraged teachers around the world from using the films in the classroom when studying Greek mythology.

He was clear in his recommendation, stating that the films were not an adequate representation of his works and suggested alternatives, such as the films ‘Clash of the Titans’ and ‘Jason and the Argonauts’.

The truth behind the cameras

At another point, Riordan also shared information about the little influence that authors have on the film adaptations of their works.

He emphasized that movie studios often try to create the impression that writers are satisfied with the final product because they all worked together. However, in reality, they have limited influence over the creative process.

Now, with the announcement of the new series ‘Percy Jackson and the olympians‘ by Disney, fans are hopeful that the television adaptation will be better and provide a more satisfying experience for lovers of the saga.

The launch on Disney+ will take place on December 20th and promises a new approach that will go beyond that seen in the first adaptations of the books.