Summary
- Disney's Percy Jackson & the Olympians TV series released a new trailer that explores Percy Jackson's origin.
- One of the highlights was the introduction of Camp Half-Blood where Percy will train with other demigods.
- Though not all shown, fans can expect perils with villains like Medusa and powerful Gods like Lance Reddick's Zeus.
Disney's Percy Jackson and the Olympians TV series finally got its first major teaser trailer, delivering important insights into what fans can expect to see in the show. It adapts Rick Riordan's brilliant fantasy book series and follows young Percy Jackson discovering he's a demigod, joining a magical camp made for people like him, and engaging in a mind-blowing mission.
The Percy Jackson books even got a movie adaptation in 2010 in the hands of Harry Potter's Chris Columbus, but the poor reception among the public and the fans caused the franchise to fail at the first movie. Hopefully, as the show's teaser suggests, Disney is on the right track to deliver a satisfying adaptation. The latest Percy Jackson and the Olympians teaser unveils highly anticipated elements from the series, such as a first glance at the Camp Half-Blood, the main characters, Percy's life prior to a life-changing discovery, and other key takeaways.
Sally Jackson and Percy's School Life
In order to not give away much of season 1's plot and not delve too deep into Percy Jackson's darkest moments, a good chunk of the new teaser trailer dissects Percy's life before he discovers he's a demigod. A lot is speculated about how will be the action scenes in the show or the magical creatures, but one shouldn't underestimate the show's coming-of-age storylines, especially when viewers are expected to follow these characters for quite some time.
The teaser gives a hint at Percy's close relationship with his mother and her part in protecting him from the truth until it's the right time. Alternatively, Percy's problems in school seem to only stack up: he and his best friend are victims of bullying, the teachers seem to hold a grudge against him, and his dyslexia seems to be getting out of control. These are all things shown in the teaser that will immediately resonate with fans of the book as the first signs that something grand is about to happen, and Disney sets the path for their best chance yet at their own Hogwarts.
A Quick Tour Across Camp Half-Blood
The Percy Jackson and the Olympians teaser offered the first in-depth look into what Camp Half-Blood will look like, the place where the demigods are brought to live in harmony and practice their abilities. The camp was built for young demigods searching for their identity and place in the world without hiding their true selves. The Cabin division, which gathers the sons and daughters of each god, the teamwork, and the Golden Fleece that protects the camp from any harm are only a few of the reasons that make the location unique.
Just like Harry Potter's Hogwarts is a way to hide from the harsh realities of living in the wizarding world, Camp Half-Blood is the demigods' safe haven. Starting with the characters, the teaser reveals Grover's satyr body and Chiron's centaur figure, as well as Annabeth and the ruthless Clarisse La Rue. Although it's difficult to be sure, an activity involving other Camp Half-Blood demigods strongly implies a Capture the Flag match, a dynamic game that puts the pupil's best abilities into practice.
First Look at Percy's Enemies
Although The Percy Jackson and the Olympians is one of the best lighthearted YA series, Percy and his friends are forced to face all sorts of horrifying enemies along the way. The teaser uncovers Disney's commitment to the mind-bending creature design of Riordan's descriptions and traditional Greek myths, revealing what some of Percy's first enemies will look like. Another major highlight is the introduction of Mrs. Dodds, a math teacher who picks on Percy for no reason and turns out to be a grotesque servant of Hades known as Alecto. Mrs. Dodds is supposed to be the boy's first major threat in the story, and the teaser reveals this may still be true as it showed off great VFX work and character design during an attack scene.
Additionally, the teaser trailer unveils Suzanne Cryer as Echidna, the mother of monsters, which may tie to an anxiety-inducing sequence involving Percy's mother, Sally, and a Minotaur. In the brief snippet of footage, it's shown that Sally will have to contend with a Minotaur attacking her car and leading to a thrilling face-off between the massive mythological creature and Percy. Hopefully, well-made action sequences can secure Percy Jackson and the Olympians' legacy for years to come.
Aunty Em's Gnome Emporium & Other Locations
Fans can expect to spend a good chunk of The Percy Jackson and the Olympians' first season outside Camp Half-Blood since the first book is all about Percy's search for Zeus's lightning bolt. The teaser gave away a portion of the book's most iconic locations, including the Lotus Casino, a place where people go to consume the psychedelic lotus flower, which was also shown in the Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief movie. However, one scene omitted from the movie, Waterland's Tunnel of Love, will finally be shown in live action. It's a crucial sequence where Percy and Annabeth go to retrieve an important artifact and dodge traps created by a powerful God.
These places appear in Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief, as it also marks some pivotal moments in the story. No moment proved this more than the tease of Aunty Em's Gnome Emporium, the lair of the treacherous Medusa. It's interesting to see how the teaser hints at the battle with the Gorgon but keeps her reveal a secret, as it will probably end up being one of the most impactful moments of the show.
The Greek Gods
As a Greek mythology enthusiast, Riordan used his favorite myths and divine figures as a basis to create the magical world of Percy Jackson. There couldn't be a good story about Greek mythology without witty interactions between the gods; it was what made the Iliad so impressive centuries ago, and in the case of Percy Jackson and the Olympians, it ensures a welcoming contrast between the younger generation and the generation that has lived ever since the world began. While not every major god is disclosed, anticipated reveals such as Lin-Manuel Miranda's Hermes, Timothy Omundson's Hephaestus, and Toby Stephens' Poseidon are set to appear onscreen. However, Lance Reddick steals the show as Zeus, the king of the gods. Sadly, as the actor passed away earlier this year, it'll be one of his final performances, shortly after Reddick's role in the John Wick franchise.
The teaser also offers a first glance at Hades, played by Jay Duplass, welcoming Percy and his friends into his chilling Underworld. Hades is the god who rules over the dead, and his empire consists of lands where tormented souls go to suffer and ponder for all eternity. Another great first appearance in the teaser was Ares, the ruthless god of war, played by Adam Copeland, looking as intimidating as one would expect on his motorcycle.
Percy's Sword
The song "Riptide" by Vance Joy was a perfect choice for the Percy Jackson and the Olympians teaser as the reference to Percy's sword Riptide, couldn't be more obvious. In the books, the weapon is often disguised as a pen that reads Anaklusmos, Greek for "Riptide," turning into a sword at Percy's command. The sword is made of Celestial Bronze, which doesn't affect any mortals, but it is deadly to gods, demigods, and all kinds of mythological monsters that might eventually get in Percy's way.
Riptide is one of Percy's most distinctive trademarks, and every good hero needs their special weapon. In the teaser, fans finally get to see Riptide in action as Percy wields it against the Minotaur in what's sure to be an epic fight scene. The song clearly plays a pivotal role in just how important Percy is to the story, and by tying a song to his signature weapon, it's clear this is a story about his destiny and coming-of-age as a demigod.