Sure we may be getting an (unnecessary, shameless, way too soon) TV remake of the Harry Potter flicks, but it seems JK Rowling is getting beaten to the punch by American author Rick Riordan, whose signature book series a) has also previously been adapted to the big screen and b) is now coming to streaming. And they say lightning never strikes twice…
When is Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief being released in New Zealand?
Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief debuts in New Zealand on Disney+ on December 20.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians: Season 1
What is Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief about?
The young adult series takes its cues from Greek mythology, presumably with the horniness dialled waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back (seriously, those Greek gods, man…). Our titular hero is the half-human son of Poseidon (one of many—seriously, those Greek gods, man…), whose life gets turned upside down when he discovers his divine heritage and, shortly thereafter, is accused by Zeus, the king of the gods, of stealing his magical lightning bolt. Across the eight episode first season, we plunge into a hidden world of magic and myth as Percy struggles to clear his name before we winds up chained to a rock and getting pecked by an eagle or something.
The cast of Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief
Newcomer Walker Scobell is Percy, Leah Sava Jeffries is fellow young demigod Annabeth Chase, and and Aryan Simhadri is satyr best mate Grover Underwood. And on the staff of secret demigod school Camp Halfblood (sounds familiar), we have Jason Mantzoukas as Dionysus, aka Mr. D (perfect casting right there), Megan Mullally as math teacher Alecto, and Glynn Turman as Latin teacher Mr. Brunner, who is actually the centaur Chiron. And on a bittersweet note, we’re getting the late Lance Reddick as Zeus—his final TV role.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief trailer
Why we’re excited about Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief
While the great Young Adult Fiction Boom seems to be over, Rick Riordan’s series was one of the best to come out in those heady post-Potter years. While the previous screen adaptations have their charms, a series should give Riordan’s mythic world room to breathe.
