Percy Jackson and the Olympians: Release date, cast, plot, & more

Eleni Thomas
Percy Jackson

Following the release of two movies, Percy Jackson and the Olympians is set to receive a television adaptation on Disney+. Get the scoop on all things Percy Jackson and the Olympians, including a sneak peek at the trailer and details about the cast.

The Percy Jackson franchise is one of the most beloved book series of all time. Author Rick Riordan introduced a generation to Greek mythology through the five-part book series, as well as all other forms of mythology in his other works.

While the first and second books were adapted for film back in 2010 and 2013, these adaptations were reviewed less than favorably by both fans and critics alike. However, since it was announced that Disney would be developing a TV show of the books, Percy Jackson fans have been eagerly anticipating its release.

Here are all the details we know so far about the upcoming Percy Jackson and the Olympians TV series.

Contents

Is there a Percy Jackson and the Olympians release date?

Yes, Percy Jackson and the Olympians will debut on Disney+ on December 20, 2023. The episodes will air weekly, with two episodes dropping on the premiere.

Season 1 began shooting at the end of May 2022, and in February 2023 it was announced that filming had been completed.

Thankfully, the recent WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes haven’t obstructed this release date, as reported by Variety. However, it will affect the promotion of the project, as described by Rick Riordan on Twitter.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians: Season 1 plot details

Percy Jackson and the Olympians tells the tale of a young boy named Percy Jackson. Percy is a half-blood, meaning one of his parents is in fact a Greek god. Based on what has been said by those working on the show, Season 1 will look at adapting the first book in the series, Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief.

The show will likely follow Percy as he discovers his ancestry and his journey to fully realizing the depths of this power and responsibility. Also, how the world around him has many hidden creatures and foes lurking in the streets that only those with the blood of the gods can see and interact with.

Percy Jackson TV show camp half-blood
Camp Half-Blood is one of the main settings in the Percy Jackson series

In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Author Rick Riordan spoke about the upcoming TV adaptation and how the longer format has allowed the show to explore more of the books and be a more faithful adaptation:

“The TV format is one of the things that I love the most because it gives us time and space to tell the whole story of the book, The Lightning Thief, in a way that’s a little more true to what I wrote,” said Riordan. “I think it’s what the fans have been waiting for. It’s just so great that I can finally tell all the readers over the years that this is it. This is the adaptation that you’ve been wanting and waiting for.”

The episode titles have even been released, giving hints about what will happen in each episode.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians: Cast & characters

One of the biggest criticisms of the movie adaptation was that it aged up the cast. For the Percy Jackson TV show, all the actors are much younger and closer to the ages that characters are in the books, something that fans are extremely happy about. Riordan was the first person to announce the casting of the main characters on his blog.

Walker Scobell will play Percy Jackson, son of Poseidon. Leah Sava Jeffries will play the daughter of Athena, Annabeth Chase, and Aryan Simhadri is set to play the lovable best friend of Percy, Grover Underwood.

Logan Lerman – who played the role of Percy in the movie adaptation of the books – recently spoke to Comicbook about the new TV adaptation and the casting of Scobell as Percy.

“I don’t think he needs any advice. The kid’s really talented…I think when you’re young, at least when I was younger doing it, and other actors, you almost forget to enjoy it as you’re a part of the thing, which I did… I really enjoyed it while I was doing it. Just take each second in and enjoy the newness of what you’re doing and being a part of something like that. That would be the only thing I would tell him. But even then, I’d feel like a bit of a schmuck, giving him advice. You’re great. You’re there for a reason. Just do your job.”

As for the supporting characters, so far these Greek figures have been cast:

  • Virginia Kull – Sally Jackson
  • Glynn Turman – Chiron
  • Timm Sharp – Gabe Ugliano
  • Lin-Manuel Miranda – Hermes
  • Megan Mullally – Alecto AKA Mrs Dodds
  • Jason Mantzoukas – Dionysus
  • Adam Copeland – Ares
  • Suzanne Cryer – Echidna
  • Jessica Parker Kennedy – Medusa
  • Dior Goodjohn – Clarisse La Rue
  • Charlie Bushnell – Luke Castellan
  • Olivea Morton – Nancy Bobofit
  • Jay Duplass – Hades
  • Timothy Omundson – Hephaestus
  • Lance Reddick – Zeus
  • Toby Stephens – Poseidon

As for who won’t be appearing, one character will be Athena, Annabeth’s mother – despite appearing in some earlier drafts of Season 1.

Is there a trailer for Percy Jackson and the Olympians?

Yes, a full trailer has been released as of October 10, 2023, and on November 16, 2023. View it below:

Disney has also released a teaser trailer for the show which can be viewed here.

The trailer – which aired during September’s D23 event – sent fans of the books into a frenzy when they heard the opening words of the original novel being read in a voice-over by Scobell as Percy himself.

The teaser also includes the characters wearing the iconic Camp Half-blood orange t-shirts as well as giving fans their first look at what the actual camp will look like. As Percy walks through the camp, multiple cabins can be seen in the background.

Each of these cabins represents a Greek God, with the Half-bloods divided into each cabin based on their parentage. The final blue-colored cabin is the living quarters of Poseidon’s children and where Percy is walking towards.

Another teaser trailer premiered on September 19, 2023, which gave viewers a first look at the late Lance Reddick’s performance as Zeus. You can watch it below:

New clips and posters for the series have also been released, along with still images. Check them all out below:

For all the latest updates and news on the upcoming Percy Jackson and the Olympians Disney show, keep checking back here at Dexerto. In the meantime, check out our other TV hubs below:

Invincible Season 2 | The Boys Season 4 | Stranger Things Season 5 | Succession Season 4 | Ted Lasso Season 3 | You Season 4 | Black Mirror Season 6 | House of the Dragon Season 2 | Severance Season 2

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About The Author

Eleni is a Melbourne-based journalist. Having completed her Bachelor's in communication (Journalism) at RMIT University, Eleni is now a Senior Writer for the Dexerto Australia team. A big Nintendo fan (with a Triforce tattoo to prove it) and a lover of the zombie genre, Eleni covers gaming, entertainment as well as TV and movies for the site. She is also passionate about covering Queer and female representation. Contact Eleni at eleni.thomas@dexerto.com