Camp Half-Blood, the fictional training camp for demigods in the Percy Jackson series, is set to reopen at the end of 2023. This exciting news was announced by Disney+ on August 18, which also happens to be Percy Jackson’s birthday. The highly anticipated series, based on Rick Riordan’s beloved Percy Jackson and the Olympians novels, is scheduled to premiere with two episodes on December 20, 2023, followed by weekly releases of subsequent episodes.
The upcoming series will introduce fans to Walker Scobell, who will be playing the lead role of Percy Jackson. Percy is a 12-year-old boy who discovers that he is a demigod, the son of a Greek god and a mortal woman. Joining him on his adventures are his friends Annabeth Chase, played by Leah Sava Jeffries, and Grover Underwood, played by Aryan Simhadri.
Unlike the previous films based on the Percy Jackson books, this series has the advantage of direct involvement from Rick Riordan himself. Riordan worked closely with the production team and even co-wrote the first two episodes with executive producer Jon Steinberg. The first two episodes were directed by James Bobin.
Riordan expressed his commitment to preserving the essence of the Percy Jackson series, stating, “We should do everything we could to preserve what makes Percy Jackson, Percy Jackson. That’s a combination of modern-day setting, classical mythology, action, and humor.” He also emphasized the importance of casting actors appropriate for the characters’ ages, allowing viewers to witness their growth on-screen just as readers experienced it through the five-book series.
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The first season of the Disney+ series will follow the events of the first book, “The Lightning Thief.” Percy, still grappling with his newfound powers, finds himself accused by Zeus, played by the late Lance Reddick, of stealing his lightning bolt. Supported by Annabeth and Grover, Percy embarks on an unforgettable adventure to locate the stolen item and restore peace to Olympus.
The series boasts an impressive guest cast, featuring Lin-Manuel Miranda as Hermes, Megan Mullally as Alecto/Mrs. Dodds, Toby Stephens as Poseidon, Virginia Kull as Sally Jackson, Jason Mantzoukas as Dionysus/Mr. D, Jay Duplass as Hades, Glynn Turman as Chiron/Mr. Brunner, Adam Copeland as Ares, Charlie Bushnell as Luke Castellan, Dior Goodjohn as Clarisse La Rue, Jessica Parker Kennedy as Medusa, Olivea Morton as Nancy Bobofit, Suzanne Cryer as Echidna, Timm Sharp as Gabe Ugliano, and Timothy Omundson as Hephaestus.
The showrunners for the series are Jon Steinberg and Dan Shotz, both of whom have worked on various successful television projects. Filming for the series began earlier this year and wrapped up before the onset of the current writers and actors strikes. The executive producers include Rick Riordan, Rebecca Riordan, Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, Jeremy Bell, D.J. Goldberg, Bert Salke, James Bobin, Jim Rowe, Monica Owusu-Breen, Anders Engström, and Jet Wilkinson.
Fans eagerly awaiting the series can catch a glimpse of what’s to come by watching the teaser released by Disney+. The teaser gives a taste of the vibrant world of Camp Half-Blood and the thrilling adventures that await Percy and his friends.
In conclusion, the announcement of the premiere date for the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series on Disney+ has sparked excitement among fans. With Rick Riordan’s involvement and a talented cast, the series aims to stay true to the heart of the beloved books. As Camp Half-Blood prepares to reopen in 2023, audiences can look forward to immersing themselves in the magical world of Percy Jackson once again.
