Percy Jackson and the Olympians has not only been one of Disney+‘s most successful series, but as an original product of the platform, it managed to captivate hundreds of viewers from all around the world, especially those loyal readers of the saga.
Despite the novel having been adapted for the big screen with Logan Lerman as the protagonist, this time the story is arranged chronologically, following the events that take place in the books, thus staying even more faithful to the narrative created by Rick Riordan.
The author took on the role of executive producer and co-writer for the first season of the show, which only consisted of eight episodes led by Walker Scobell as Percy, Aryan Simhadri as Grover Underwood and Leah Jeffries as Annabeth Chase.
Will Percy Jackson and the Olympians have a Season 2?
Good news, fans! Disney has confirmed the renewal of Percy Jackson and the Olympians, which means there is a second season on the way. It might be considered a surprise, but the truth is, it was one of the most acclaimed fantasy series on the platform recently.
Walker Scobell, Aryan Simhadri and Leah Jeffries in Percy Jackson and the Olympians.
It currently remains in the Top 10 and among the top positions. According to Flix Patrol, the metrics-focused site, the show created by Rick Riordan and Jonathan E. Steinberg stays in the top 3, only surpassed by the medical series Grey‘s Anatomy and the animated children’s show Bluey.
Variety confirmed on Wednesday, January 7, that CEO Bob Iger acknowledged the substantial viewership the title gathered. In the latest quarterly earnings call, the first season streamed for over 110 million hours, both on Disney+ and Hulu, totaling 20.6 million total views.
Fans and readers of the story have had a lot of hope, especially after the actor portraying Poseidon, Toby Stephens, and the executive producer Jon Steinberg discussed the future of the series.
Walker Scobell, Aryan Simhadri and Leah Jeffries in Percy Jackson and the Olympians. (Source: IMDb)
Both granted an interview to TVLine, and according to Screen Rant, Steinberg talked about people’s reactions to the adaptation and when an announcement for a second season on the streaming giant could arrive. He said:
“I think everyone is really focused on making sure that people have the reaction we hope they have to the show. There are some people who spend their days thinking about what the next season will be like, so hopefully, that work will become a bit more official sooner rather than later“.
While Stephens added, “I came in knowing that both Jon and executive producer Dan Shotz said, ‘Well, you know, it’s a recurring character.’ When I read the scripts they sent me, I thought, ‘This is really nice.’ It’s something that will be fun to do, and obviously, it’s a great privilege to be part of such a beloved franchise that means so much to so many people”.
Which book would the second season adapt?
The first season adapted the first book in the series, titled “The Lightning Thief”, but the series has already begun to introduce some important characters for a second season, which would adapt the sequel titled “The Sea of Monsters”.
Both novels had been previously adapted in the 2010 and 2013 movies, starring Logan Lerman, Brandon T. Jackson and Alexandra Daddario as a more adolescent Percy Jackson, Grover and Annabeth.
Logan Lerman, Brandon T. Jackson and Alexandra Daddario in Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief. (Source: IMDb)
Meanwhile, Kevin McKidd, Steve Coogan, Sean Bean, Rosario Dawson, Pierce Brosnan, Uma Thurman and other prominent stars brought to life the gods and monsters from Greek mythology in these films.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians is Disney’s No. 1 series
Indeed, the first season of Percy Jackson and the Olympians continues to be the most-watched series on the entire platform globally, breaking several records. According to Screen Rant, the show had 572 million minutes of viewing in just the first week.
This is because it was one of the most anticipated titles of 2023, not only due to its popular story but also because thousands of fans had been waiting for many years for a more faithful adaptation of Rick Riordan‘s books.
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With the exception of Ahsoka, the Star Wars series with Rosario Dawson, it managed to surpass all other live-action debuts on the streaming giant last year. A report revealed that it was not only watched by readers but also by viewers under the age of 17 interested in the story.
