The international trailer for Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (long enough title?) hit the Web today. The fantasy movie is directed by Chris Columbus, who helmed the first two Harry Potter installments. I dig the title character casting of Logan Lerman, who’s so far managed to stay under the radar despite impressive turns in 3:10 to Yuma and the short-lived series Jack & Bobby, and who’s probably one lightning strike away from teen-idol stardom.
But according to my Wikipedia search (as I have no familiarity with the Percy Jackson book series), the character of Percy is supposed to be 12 years old in The Lightning Thief, and is only 16 during the fifth and final book. Lerman is already 17 years old (and will be 18 by the time this movie hits theaters on Feb. 12), so if 20th Century Fox is planning to produce four more sequels, they better get cracking.
The trailer’s below, and watch until the end for a glimpse of Uma Thurman as the venomous Medusa. PopWatchers, or visiting connoisseurs of Greek mythology, share your impressions.
The Percy Jackson series is a lot of fun, basically Harry Potter (w/parents & Greek mythology). They are funny and kids learn a lot about mythological creatures and the gods. I am looking forward to seeing the movie.
this movie looks mindblowing, i cant wait, so many new trailers have been coming out latley for this, and whenever there ius a new one im so excited to watch it! the books were amazing im so happy for this
i think it looks pretty fun and Logan Lerman was really good on Jack and Bobby so i have some hope for this.
I am way excited for this movie!!! The books are fabulous!!! My mom’s inner city sixth grade class wamted to skip lunch one day so they could keep reading Percy. I am recommending them to all my friends.
This was a great set of books. what I am looking foward to most in the movie, though, is Sean Bean playing Zeus.
I’m pretty sure they intentionally made Percy a little bit older for the films. It’s easier managing the actor and gives the film a more teen/grown-up appeal.
This should be a film that Columbus handles well. I’m not a huge fan of the first two HP movies (they started getting much better with Azkaban), but Columbus did a fine job with the more kid-friendly aspects of the films.
Wow — I loved the books, but Annabeth isn’t blonde? What is that? Her entire family sticks out because of their hair — it’s like Ron Weasley being a redhead — and they couldn’t find a blonde actress for that role? REALLY?? Percy’s age, Annabeth’s hair, Grover’s entire physical description – I usually don’t notice that stuff, but they changed some major points. I was so excited about this movie until I saw the trailer.
I have been waiting to see Logan Lerman in something big for a while now. SO EXCITED!
Also, the rest of the cast looks phenomenal too!
I love the books and this trailer looks like the movie will be pretty good as well.
haha my mom wants to watch this because she loves watching films that peirce brosnan is in, but she HATES snakes! that will be interesting!!
I’ve seen these books around at bookstores and I’ve heard it being compared to Harry Potter. It looks pretty interesting, especially since I’m a fan of Greek mythology.
To anyone who has read the books, do you recommend? Does it appeal to both kids and adults the way Harry Potter does? Right now, I could go for a fun adventure book series, especially since I just finished reading The Road (fantastic, but really depressing).
Yes, there are a lot of similarities to HP. Many of them are unavoidable, ancient tropes about a youth with a shrouded past and a secret destiny. HP has better writing style and “can’t put it down”-ness, but PJ wins on plot, logical consistency, and historical detail.
I was reading it to my then 8 year old daughter and began sneaking it out night to read ahead. Loved them all. No, it’s not HP, but what will be? It is still great for kids and adults.
of course there are going to be similarities to harry potter, to a lot of things, joseph campbell can tell you why.
but if you liked harry potter you will like percy jackson. they’re great, fun reads that are really spot on in their great mythology which made me pleased my classics courses at uni had taught me something! they’ve got some emotional weight to them as well.
based on the imdb page and all the characters that are set to appear in this film, i am sad they are taking so many liberfties with this book. suprising too rom columbus who took no artistic liberties with hp. strangely, i’m mostly sad with the fact that annabeth is not blond in the movie. as a blond myself its nice to find a good blond hero and hadn’t found one since buffy. its stupid and superficial but is disappointed me.
thank you so much for noticing the hair that wwas something really big that they left out and im not happy about it
Thanks for the info guys. I think I’m gonna check out these books.
yes it could! i love this series so much and i think you would like them too
dont stop if you dont like the first book it gets better as you go
Yes!! I would highly recommend you to read this book. The adventures are great. In my opinion it is way better than the harry potter books. It is a total page turner
I’m another “grown up” who highly recommends these books. I started reading it to see why my son was so obsessed with this series and it helps that I’ve been a Greek Mythology nut since childhood. The series is very engaging. I’ve read all the HP books and was disappointed w/ the last book. JKRowling tends to “meander” while Rick Riordan sticks to the plot and keeps the action going. I enjoy both series’ and if you’re a fantasy/mythology buff then this is a ‘must read.’
…Thrilled about the casting, by the way. Logan Lerman is a very talented young actor who has turned in noteworthy performances in “3:10 to Yuma” (it’s hard to upstage Christian Bale and Russell Crowe, but he pulls it off) and “Jack & Bobby.” The adult cast led by Pierce Brosnan, Sean Bean and Kevin McKidd (Rome!!) are equally impressive. As for the girl who plays Annabeth, I will reserve judgement until I see the film. She looks about right to play Athena’s daughter though.
@Dave, The books are very easy reads and since you are a mythology fan, I’m going to recommend (I’m over 35 BTW). Rick Riordan uses well know and obscure figures from Greek mythology very well, and that was the best part for me. A warning, the first two books are a little bland, but good enough. The final three are much better, so stick it out for Labyrinth, the third book and you shouldn’t be disappointed.
Thanks Jen. I hope I enjoy the books, I’m gonna check them out soon.
That looked awesome.I am even more excited about the film now.Riptide,Percy’s sword,looks awesome on film.
BTW,Titan’s Curse is book three.Battle of the Labyrinth is book four.Not trying to be a perfectionist,just trying to help
Percy Jackson books are pretty accurate on Greek Mythology. But they are no Harry Potter. They are fun though and i’m looking forward to watching.
I am annoyed that they made the character(s) older, but I’m sure I’ll still enjoy the movie.
its not harry potter in terms of the story line, harry potter is an action/adventure/fantasy and so it Percy Jackson thats where they share the same traits, not in terms of the material, what i keep hearing is that is trying to be the next harry potter which may be the ulterior motive for 20th century fox, but lets take it as another interesting and unique movie.
LOL everytime a book movie comes out they say its “trying to be the next Harry Potter”…it’s annoying.
What an awesome trailer! I’m very excited for this movie! The books really are great. Not HP great, but I love them.