Casting Starts for “Percy Jackson” series
PC: Rick Riordan
On April 27, Rick Riordan, author of the “Percy Jackson” books, announced the start of casting for a new adaptation. Disney will produce the series and stream it on Disney+
As of now, they are casting the lead character, particularly Jackson. They are looking for an actor that can “play 12”. This is different in comparison to the older characters in the 2010 film adaptation. Another point that stands out is that the role is under an open call. In the book series, Percy is white, but race is not a determining factor in the casting of the show.
“We are looking for the best person who can embody the character we all know and love from the books,” he wrote. “As with all casting choices, we will be following Disney’s company policy, which says: We are committed to diverse, inclusive casting. For every role, please submit qualified performers, without regard to disability, gender, race and ethnicity, age, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other basis prohibited by law.”
Riordan encouraged young fans to submit audition tapes for the show. They want to cast new actors for the series to center the adaptation on the actual story.
The previous “Percy Jackson” adaptations did well in the box office. However, both fans and Riordan himself considered the films a failure. The first of the two films, “The Lightning Thief,” only has a 50% on Rotten Tomatoes. Disney is adapting the books in close collaboration with Riordan out of a desire to make a loyal adaptation.