Exclusive Insights: Unveiling 5 Deeper Revelations from Percy Jackson's Creator, Rick Riordan

Summary

Rick Riordan was inspired to revisit Percy Jackson after Disney's acquisition of Fox, hoping for a better adaptation.

Riordan developed new books to incentivize Disney to make a TV series

Riordan had full involvement in the creation of the TV series, being present in casting and writers' rooms.

The show, named "The Lightning Thief, as envisioned by Riordan," is part of Rick Riordan's publishing imprint, Rick Riordan Presents, which delves into mythologies from various cultures beyond Greek, Norse, and Egyptian.

Author Rick Riordan embarked on a nationwide tour to discuss all things Percy Jackson, in anticipation of the release of his new book and the upcoming Disney+ adaptation. The Lightning Thief, the first book in Riordan's series that blends Greek mythology with the modern world, was published in 2005 and spawned a successful collection of novels. Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Chalice of the Gods, the latest addition to the series, was released in September 2023, marking over a decade since the last Percy Jackson and the Olympians novel.

During his visit to the Alex Theatre in Glendale, CA, Riordan talked about his new book and the upcoming series in a conversation with author Stacey Lee. Lee's book, Winston Chu vs. the Whimsies, was published under Rick Riordan Presents. Riordan not only provided insights on the future of the Percy Jackson franchise, but also screened the trailer for Percy Jackson & The Olympians and explained his motivation for revisiting the beloved character after such a long hiatus.

Here are 5 things Screen Rant learned during Riordan’s talk with fellow author Stacey Lee at the Alex Theatre in Glendale, CA.

Disney’s Purchase Of Fox Inspired Rick Riordan To Consider A TV Adaptation

In his talk, Rick Riordan addressed the widely disliked Percy Jackson movies, specifically mentioning Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief which received negative reviews in 2010 from both critics and fans. It is evident that this experience was a heavy burden for Riordan. However, during the discussion, the author shared the pivotal moment that motivated him to give it another shot:

2. Rick Riordan Developed 3 New Percy Jackson Books To Entice Disney To Make The Series (But Didn’t Need To)

In the year 2019, commonly referred to as "the before times," news broke that Fox was being acquired by the Disney Corporation. This development sparked an opportunity for us to explore the possibility of transferring the rights for an adaptation to the Disney side of things, with the aim of producing an adaptation that would truly resonate with everyone involved. We hold no negative judgments towards previous adaptations, though it's fair to say that a touch of skepticism might be warranted. (Riordan then mouthed, "Maybe a little shade.")

The Chalice of the Gods is Percy Jackson's first book in 14 years, narrated from his perspective. Its ranking compared to other Percy Jackson books remains to be seen, but its mere existence is proof of Riordan's strong desire for a television adaptation of his series. Riordan shared his strategy to bring Disney on board for a TV show.

Rick Riordan proposed the idea of creating a TV show and offered to write a new book from Percy's perspective after 14 years. This would have been a mutually beneficial arrangement with new books and a TV show complementing each other. I even presented three book concepts centered around Percy, Annabeth, and Grover to my editor, who thought it was a fantastic idea. However, it turned out that they were content with producing the TV show independently and the additional book was not necessary.

3. Rick Riordan Was Involved In Every Aspect Of The Show

Rick Riordan acted as a consultant for the Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief film, but reportedly declined to participate in the sequel. Given the numerous issues with the Percy Jackson movies, it is understandable that Riordan desired a greater level of involvement this time. Fortunately, it appears that his wish has been granted.

Rick Riordan: People often ask me if I had complete control over everything. That would have been impossible considering the large number of individuals involved. It is truly a collective effort. However, I can confidently state that I had a hand in every aspect of this project. From the casting process to the writers' meetings, I was present throughout. We were practically on set continuously from last June until February. It was an extensive and remarkable experience for me to acquire such knowledge.

4. Rick Riordan Calls The Show “The Lightning Thief, The Way I Want It Done”

Riordan praised the cast of Percy Jackson & The Olympians and then enthusiastically hyped up the series. After the show's trailer was shown, Riordan tantalized the audience by suggesting that it was just a small preview of what they can expect from the upcoming show. He then proceeded to share his overall opinion about the season:

Rick Riordan ensured his audience that he can vouch for the entire season, as he has personally witnessed it. He confidently affirmed that it is indeed The Lightning Thief, presented exactly the way he envisioned it.

5. Rick Riordan Wants The Mythology Of More Cultures To Be Explored (But Not By Him)

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After building up excitement for Percy Jackson & The Olympians, Riordan concluded his appearance at the Alex Theatre by discussing his publishing imprint, Rick Riordan Presents. He shared visuals and details about recent and upcoming books on the imprint, including new additions to the Winston Chu series by the evening's co-host, Stacey Lee. Riordan explained the motivation behind starting Rick Riordan Presents:

Rick Riordan: I initiated this venture because many of my readers are exceptionally intelligent. They would ask me, "Alright, Rick, you've covered Greek, Norse, and Egyptian mythology. What about Chinese mythology? What about West African or Aztec mythologies?" There are numerous captivating myths worldwide, and I simply didn't feel qualified to tackle them as an expert.

I lacked the exposure to those mythologies during my upbringing, unlike the ones I currently write about. This led me to discuss with my editor about the possibility of talented authors who have a deep understanding and connection to their own mythologies, particularly those they grew up with. Instead of attempting it myself, I proposed that we shift the focus onto these authors, allowing them to share their own captivating middle-grade fantasies.

Don't miss the premiere of Percy Jackson & The Olympians on Disney+ on December 20th.