Key Points of the Article
- To celebrate the publication of ‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Chalice of the Gods’, author Rick Riordan engaged in an insightful discussion with D23, revealing some behind-the-scenes details about his new novel and the upcoming Disney+ series.
- Riordan shared his experience of revisiting the character of Percy Jackson, describing it as a ‘reunion with a good friend’. He also mentioned that writing the new novel was both fun and challenging, especially recreating the energetic trio’s dynamics – Percy, Annabeth, and Grover.
- The author expressed his hopes for both his loyal fans and new readers to enjoy the latest book entry, emphasizing his commitment to providing fun and educational enrichment through his stories.
- Riordan also dished on the Disney+ series based on the best-selling Percy Jackson books, he explained how it was a Herculean endeavour to produce the series amidst a global pandemic, comparing it to ‘learning a new language’. He stressed the importance of adapting the narrative for different mediums while staying faithful to the source.
- The author revealed that thousands of audition tapes were screened in an open casting process before Walker Scobell, Leah Sava Jeffries, and Aryan Simhadri were finalized for the roles. He vouched for their talent and group chemistry, indicative of a promising on-screen dynamic.
- Finally, Riordan let slip an Easter egg: he will make a cameo appearance in the forthcoming Disney+ series.
The Realist’s Take
Alright budding demigods, the wait is over! Uncle Rick has reentered the Camp Half-Blood universe, and he’s brought some good news… not the ‘you’ve won a free trip on the Argo II’ type, but pretty close. Now we get the divine trifecta: a new book and a Disney+ series, featuring – drumroll, please – a Riordan cameo to spice things up! Will he be a simple camp instructor or cheeky nymph? He’s keeping mum on that. Rick’s focus on fun and ‘stealth education’ continues to do wonders. As he phonetically ‘satiates’ young readers’ appetites for myths, the sneaky Uncle slips in some edutainment tidbits. Ah, the old ‘chewbacca defense’ of literature. If this isn’t the golden fleece of book banter, we don’t know what is.
https://d23.com/d23-exclusive-qa-percy-jackson-author-rick-riordan/
