Will Percy Jackson and the Olympians be the Next Big Hit for Disney+?
As Disney+ continues to seek dominance over all other streaming services, it recently announced another high-budget series that’s in the pipeline. The fast-rising subscription platform plans to make a televised version of Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians novels. This could be another huge hit that spawns a new franchise to exist alongside the Marvel and Star Wars universes.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians Set for 2024 Release
It has already been confirmed that Percy Jackson and the Olympians will air in 2024 after development began in 2020. With it taking this long to make, it suggests that it will be an expensive, CGI-laden, blockbuster-style offering. The first season will consist of eight episodes, but there is vast potential for future seasons thanks to the range of novels already penned by Riordan.
Some of the actors have already been announced for the series, and there are some exciting characters set to appear. For example, Jessica Parker Kennedy will play Medusa, while Lin-Manuel Miranda is set to appear as Hermes. Megan Mullaly is also a fun addition as Percy Jackson’s maths teacher who also serves the god Hades – played by Jay Duplass. The show is created by Jonathan E. Steinberg, who is best known for his work as the showrunner of Black Sails and Jericho.
Ancient Greece Themes are Hugely Popular in Entertainment
One of the primary reasons why this new Olympian series could be a major hit for Disney+ is because people are conditioned to love ancient Greek themes throughout entertainment. The era is particularly prevalent in gaming, where there are countless options on every platform.
For console gamers, some exceptional titles in recent years to focus on ancient Greece include the God of War franchise and Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey. On mobile, there are numerous options too. Some of the top-played games include Grepolis and Olympus Rising: Strategy Game. If you like playing safe casino games, there is even more choice. Ancient Greece is one of the most popular genres in slots, and there are various games to choose from including Hoard of Poseidon, Medusa Megaways, and Hercules: High & Mighty.
Anyone who loves playing games like these will most certainly be interested in seeing a new ancient Greece-themed series on television. The Disney+ offering could even spawn more games based on the characters within it.
Potential to Spawn a New Franchise
One of the ways that Disney+ is standing out from the other streaming services is in the creation of sprawling franchises with endless potential. It has already developed several offerings in its Marvel and Star Wars universes, which both keep getting bigger and better.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians has the potential to go the same way, as it will introduce a variety of minor characters in its early episodes. Each of these has incredible stories of its own, though, which could easily be explored in other series.
Disney+ seems to have struck a winning formula with its high-budget releases, and Percy Jackson could add to the wealth of great content already on offer. If the first season is popular, there are likely to be many more spin-offs in the future.
