Percy Jackson and the Olympians is an upcoming fantasy television series based on the best-selling book series by Rick Riordan. The series will premiere on Disney+ on December 20, 2023, and will follow the adventures of Percy Jackson, a 12-year-old boy who discovers he is a demigod, the son of a mortal woman and the Greek god Poseidon. Along with his friends Annabeth Chase and Grover Underwood, Percy must embark on a quest to find Zeus’ stolen master bolt and prevent a war among the gods.
If you are a fan of the books or the movies, or if you are new to the world of Percy Jackson, you might be wondering what to expect from the first season of the show. In this article, we will give you a comprehensive overview of everything you need to know about Percy Jackson season 1, including the release date prediction, the plot, the characters, and some relevant FAQs.
Percy Jackson Season 1 Release Date
The official release date for Percy Jackson season 1 has been announced by Disney+ as December 20, 2023. The first season will consist of eight episodes, each with a runtime of about an hour. The episodes will be released weekly on the streaming platform, with the season finale airing on February 7, 2024.
The release date prediction is based on the production schedule of the show, which began filming in June 2022 in Vancouver, Canada, and wrapped up in February 2023. The showrunners, Jonathan E. Steinberg and Dan Shotz, have been working closely with the author, Rick Riordan, to ensure the adaptation is faithful to the source material and satisfies the fans. The director of the first episode, James Bobin, has also expressed his excitement and enthusiasm for the project, saying that he is a huge fan of the books and that he wants to bring the magic and humor of the story to life on screen.
Percy Jackson Season 1 Plot
Percy Jackson season 1 is based on the first novel in the book series, The Lightning Thief. The plot follows Percy Jackson, a troubled kid who has been diagnosed with dyslexia and ADHD, and who has been kicked out of several schools for his behavior. On a field trip to a museum, Percy is attacked by his math teacher, who turns out to be a Fury, a servant of the god of the underworld, Hades. Percy is saved by his Latin teacher, Mr. Brunner, who gives him a pen that transforms into a sword, and by his best friend, Grover, who reveals himself to be a satyr, a half-goat, half-human creature.
Percy learns that he is a demigod, a child of a god and a human, and that he is the son of Poseidon, the god of the sea. He is taken to Camp Half-Blood, a safe haven for demigods, where he meets Annabeth Chase, a daughter of Athena, the goddess of wisdom and war, and other campers who are the offspring of various gods and goddesses. He also learns that Zeus, the king of the gods, has accused him of stealing his master bolt, the most powerful weapon in the world, and that he has to return it before the summer solstice, or else a war will break out among the gods.
Percy, Annabeth, and Grover embark on a perilous quest across America, facing monsters, traps, and challenges along the way. They also encounter other gods and mythical creatures, such as Medusa, Ares, Aphrodite, and the Lotus Casino. They discover that there is a traitor among them, and that there is a bigger plot behind the theft of the bolt, involving the Titan lord Kronos, the father of the gods, who wants to overthrow them and destroy the world.
Percy Jackson Season 1 Characters
The main characters of Percy Jackson season 1 are:
Percy Jackson (played by Walker Scobell): The protagonist of the series, a 12-year-old demigod and son of Poseidon. He is brave, loyal, sarcastic, and compassionate, but also impulsive, reckless, and insecure. He has the power to control water, talk to sea creatures, and breathe underwater. He is the wielder of Riptide, a celestial bronze sword that can harm monsters and gods. He is the main suspect of stealing Zeus’ master bolt, and has to prove his innocence and save the world.
Annabeth Chase (played by Leah Sava Jeffries): The deuteragonist of the series, a 12-year-old demigod and daughter of Athena. She is smart, resourceful, strategic, and courageous, but also stubborn, prideful, and competitive. She has a knack for architecture, engineering, and history, and is an expert in Greek mythology. She is the owner of a magical Yankees cap that can make her invisible. She joins Percy on his quest to find the bolt, and becomes his friend and love interest.
Grover Underwood (played by Aryan Simhadri): The tritagonist of the series, a satyr and Percy’s best friend. He is funny, optimistic, loyal, and kind, but also nervous, timid, and clumsy. He has a duty to protect and guide demigods to Camp Half-Blood, and to search for the missing god Pan, the lord of the wild. He has a pair of horns, goat legs, and a flute that can cast magic. He accompanies Percy and Annabeth on their quest, and provides comic relief and support.
Other characters include:
Sally Jackson (played by Virginia Kull): Percy’s mother, a kind, loving, and selfless woman who works at a candy store. She is married to Gabe Ugliano, a rude, abusive, and smelly man who gambles and drinks. She sacrifices herself to save Percy from a Minotaur, but is later rescued by him from the underworld.
Chiron (played by Glynn Turman): A centaur and the activities director of Camp Half-Blood. He is wise, gentle, and knowledgeable, and acts as a mentor and teacher to the demigods. He is also known as Mr. Brunner, Percy’s Latin teacher, who disguises himself as a wheelchair-bound man with a brace on his leg. He is the son of Kronos and the brother of Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades.
Dionysus (played by Jason Mantzoukas): The god of wine and madness, and the head of Camp Half-Blood. He is sarcastic, grumpy, and bored, and dislikes demigods and heroes. He is also known as Mr. D, and is under a punishment from Zeus for chasing a nymph, which prevents him from drinking wine and forces him to run the camp. He often calls Percy and the other campers by the wrong names, and enjoys playing pinochle with Chiron.
Alecto (played by Megan Mullally): One of the three Furies, the female servants of Hades who punish the wicked. She is also known as Ms. Dodds, Percy’s math teacher, who tries to kill him at the museum. She is later sent by Hades to spy on Percy and his friends, and to retrieve the bolt from them.
FAQs
Here are some of the frequently asked questions about Percy Jackson season 1:
- Q: How faithful is the show to the books?
- A: According to the author, Rick Riordan, the show is very faithful to the books, and follows the original plot, characters, and tone of the story. He has been involved in every aspect of the production, from writing the scripts, to casting the actors, to overseeing the visual effects. He has also assured the fans that the show will not repeat the mistakes of the movies, which deviated significantly from the books and received negative reviews from the critics and the fans.
- Q: How old are the characters in the show?
- A: The characters in the show are the same age as they are in the books, which is 12 years old for the main trio of Percy, Annabeth, and Grover. The showrunners have explained that they wanted to stay true to the source material, and that they wanted to capture the innocence, wonder, and growth of the characters as they embark on their journey. They have also stated that they have cast actors who are close to the age of the characters, and who can portray their personalities and emotions convincingly.
- Q: How many seasons will the show have?
- A: The show will have five seasons, each based on one of the five books in the original series. The first season is based on The Lightning Thief, the second season will be based on The Sea of Monsters, the third season will be based on The Titan’s Curse, the fourth season will be based on The Battle of the Labyrinth, and the fifth season will be based on The Last Olympian. The showrunners have also hinted that they might explore the possibility of adapting the spin-off series, such as The Heroes of Olympus and The Trials of Apollo, in the future.
- Q: Where can I watch the show?
- A: The show will be available exclusively on Disney+, the streaming service owned by The Walt Disney Company. You can subscribe to Disney+ for $7.99 per month or $79.99 per year, and enjoy unlimited access to the show and other original and classic content from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, and more.