Many have tried and failed to bring the so-called "next Harry Potter" to the big screen. The Chronicles of Narnia came close, but interest in the second film, Prince Caspian, considerably waned from the first. (The first grossed $291.7 million domestically, compared to the second’s $141.6 million — still impressive, but less so.) Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events should have been promising, but suffered in transferring the series’ sardonic tone. And The Spiderwick Chronicles probably was too similar to Potter itself to reach blockbuster status.
So now we have news that Pierce Brosnan and Uma Thurman have joined the cast of the Percy Jackson movie adaptation…which is being directed by Chris Columbus…who directed the first two Potter pictures, Sorcerer’s Stone and Chamber of Secrets. (Nevermind they are often considered the weakest entries in the series.) Brosnan, Thurman and a host of other actors will play Greek gods in the adaptation of Rick Riordan’s first Percy Jackson novel, The Lightning Thief. In it, the half-human son of Zeus (Percy, to be played by Logan Lerman) embarks on a quest to prevent war between the gods of Mount Olympus. Thurman will play Medusa, which already seems like a stroke of genius. All of which leads to the question: Could this finally be the next big family fantasy franchise?
With Columbus at the helm, Percy Jackson will certainly be big, loud, noisy and not at all subtle, but there’s hope: Lerman is a talented young actor (you might’ve seen him in 3:10 to Yuma, or the short-lived series Jack & Bobby), and the film’s premise sounds fresh. There will be no goblins or trolls or Christ-like lions, just awesomely-powerful Greek gods. Sign me up! The fifth and final book in author Riordan’s series, to be titled The Last Olympian, is due in stores in May — plenty of time to generate buzz for the movie’s February 2010 release. But what do you think, Percy-philes? Are you excited for your beloved series to hit the big screen? And for those of you who haven’t read, do you think Percy Jackson has the makings of a Harry Potter-sized hit?
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I love this series (and I am way outside of the target age) and can’t wait to see it come to theaters. My 11 year old nephew loves it, too. Uma Thurman as Medusa is brilliant… but I really hope Chris Columbus does justice to this book and sticks to the source material.
The fact that it’s being released in February instead of during the summer or the holiday season doesn’t send a good signal.
“And for those of you who haven’t read, do you think Percy Jackson has the makings of a Harry Potter-sized hit?”
If someone hasn’t read the books, how would they know? I enjoyed the books, and I would love to see a good movie adaptation. As long as Brosnan doesn’t sing, that’ll be a bonus right there. However, Grover is supposed to be a teen, and they’ve got a 25-year-old cast in the part, so I’m not holding my breath.
I love this series! but from what I’ve heard they are really changing the book, so the characters are older, and i don’t think the movie will be nearly as good as the book. and by the way, Percy’s the son of Poseidon, not Zeus.
I would be willing to bet 1 in like a thousand have actually heard of this series, compared with like 950 for HP. Potter was huge because the books were huge, the momentum just crossed into a different medium. Twilight, however crappy, is the next HP because of its huge fanbase before the movie came out, something this does not have.
That said, it at least sounds cool, so I hope it doesn’t suck.
I love the percy jackson series, and I am excited to see the movie. I think it should do well, although I’m not sure if it’s well known enought to acheive HP success.
He’s actually the son of Poseidon.
Two words. Christopher Columbus. So no it will not be the next HP because he ruined those movies well enough. I don’t need to see him do it again.
I absolutely love the Percy Jackson series. I really like the casting of the older characters especially the gods. McKidd as Poseidon (btw, as someone pointed out, he’s Percy’s dad not Zeus) is fantastic. I can’t wait to see that. The younger characters worry me mostly because most of them are much older than they’re supposed to be. I’d say the were aging them except the kid playing Percy is 16.
I think Percy has a decent chance of being somewhere close to HP. I’ve already hooked all of my family members on the books. Can’t wait for May.
While I don’t think this series will be quite as big as Harry Potter, which had a huge, unprecedented built-in audience when the movies debuted, I think these wonderful books could be translated into really successful movies. Of course, with Chris Columbus helming it, all bets are off on the quality of the material. I know the director is good with working with kids, but he’s got the subtlety of a jackhammer. Seeing his name attached to it disappoints me.
There is no such thing as the “next” Harry Potter. Harry Potter can not be touched. Not by Twilight, Not by Narnia. Nothing. Ever. So lets stop trying shall we?
Brenda – Completely agree!!! Harry Potter is in a league of its own and will not be replaced any time soon. Its fan base is too large and ever growing.
Umm its not zeuses son but Poseidons
As the mother of an 11-year-old boy (who also loved the HP books), I can assure the doubters that kids have heard of the Percy Jackson books — there are even summer camps based on the camp in the novel.
Riordan’s series is a witty, original take on mythology that should translate really well to the big screen, especially with that fabulous cast.
FIRST OFF: Percy is POSEIDON’S SON, not Zues’.
Second: I like this book series, but I heard that the three main character’s ages are gonna be changed and lots of other changes will also. So, no. This is the same thing that happened with Eragon (PercyJackson is ALSO from Fox2000 Pictures); they screwed up that book. Now they are gonna ruin Percy Jackson. With a HUGE problem like this, I personally don’t think that sequels will happen.
So everyone, don’t hold your breath. And anyways, Percy Jackson is actually a Harry Potter rip off/knock off, so whatevs. And also, Harry Potter is its own seperate, amazing thing, which no one could replace.
Another point: Twilight, although very different from Potter, is basically the “new Harry Potter”. Percy is not nearly as popular as the other two series, so it has no chance. Another point: Maximum Ride, another book-turning-into-movie, is going to be directed by Catherine Hardwicke (Twilight), so Ride will have instant popularity cause of this
As many other comments said, Percy is Poseidon’s son, not Zeus’. In relationship to Percy Jackson being the “Next Harry Potter”, I do not believe it’ll happen. Harry Potter is in its own leaugue, and no book or movie, especially Twilight, can come close to how respected and popular the HP series is. The Percy Jackson books are amazing, and they truly deserve a movie I believe, but they just won’t make it. Every time a movie for HP comes out, I am literally jumping off the walls to go see it. For this movie, I will be excited, but not ecstatic. They PJ books truly are great! I reccommend highly to all reading this comment that the Percy Jackson books are fantastic and espeically great for children! Thank you Rick Riordan, for you have written a wonderful series where children can dive into a mystical adventure where children become heroes. In my opinion, many children in this age are amazing heroes! I hope Rick continues writing for I will surely read all of his books!
um. no. never….I don’t think it’ll ever match up to Harry Potter.
Believe me, I’ve tried the series. It’s hecka boring and too fantasy. Harry Potter is at least something you can SOME WHAT relate too. And plus, Harry is just awesome. Percy…not so much.
Firstly Percy is Poseidon’s son NOT Zeus’. And if they are changing the ages then it will probably will ruin everything. So it will probably will not be the new Harry potter.
First of all, Percy’s father is Poseidon, not Zeus. Also, they are really changing the story for the movie, so a lot of the kids who have read the books will be real disappointed. And third, the author of the books himself has said he does not want Percy Jackson to become the next Harry Potter.
My granddaughter and her friends all prefer the Percy Jackson series. They liked Harry Potter but ‘hello’ this is over, sensibly they have moved on and they are enjoying this new series. Sorry fans but for them Harry Potter is so yesterday!.
HE IS POSEIDON’S SON, NOT ZEUS’!
What I am wondering is why they are changing everything. If they hope it will be the next HP they will need to put everything the way it was and keep it that way.
He’s a son of Poseidon, and I think the movies will be great. I loved the books, and I’m excited for the Last Olympian (The fifth book) and I hope that Chris can make the book come to life.
I think the PJ sereis is the best I have ever read. But I think it is not the kind of book that should be made into a movie.
i think this movi would have been sooo much better if they had stuck to the book and not made the disgusting changes. i think the ppl for percy, annabeth and grover are way too old and should be re-cast. this could never measure up to harry potter (though the books are better) because the movie is going to suck because of the changes. i love the series however and am not going to let brainless casting ppl ruin that for me. in my opinion, percy jackson is waaaaay better than harry potter coz it’s funnier, easier to relate to and rick riordan doesn’t kill everyone like j k rowling and has wittier ideas. also the seventh harry potter book was tres bad.
Percy isn’t the son of Zues, he’s the son of Posidon.
Percy is the son of Poseidon, not the son of Zeus.
percy is the son of posiden not zeus and this movie sucks
you should at least get percys father right all the actoers are way older then they should be, maybe you should rethink some of them
the series is well written with lots of action, it will make a great movie
I think most of you people are idiots. Percy Jackson will be the next Harry Potter. There are plenty of readers. And like that one guy siad, there are indeed summer camps based off camp Half-Blood. PJO is not a rip-off of HP, and its way more inmteresting and more addicting. I used to love the potter books. Then I found Percy and I waited almost a year to read Deathly Hallows (which I enjoyed, it was a good book), cause I was reading Jackson over and over. Then I heard about twilight and I tried to read the first book and I just gagged it wuz terrible. The movie, (though most will argue), wuz decent, but the ending wuz rushed, so there’s no hope there for a frachise. PJO however is gonna be a fabulous movie. I already read part of the script, (don’t ask how), and it was very close to the book. the only differnce that I noticed didn’t matter. It has to do with the Lotus casino; they escape on a Maserati that’s on display and notby cab. THATS IT! It looks as good if not better than Potter 1 & 2. And who cares about the ages, its been done before. Youknow Daniel Radcliffe is 23 and hes now playing a 17 year old Harry? C’mon. Lightning Thief will be the greatest movie of 2010 next to Iron Man 2 and The Last Airbender.