Percy Jackson author Rick Riordan slams the movies
9 June 2020, 12:39
Rick Riordan announces that Percy Jackson is coming to Disney+
"Well, to you guys, it's a couple hours entertainment. To me, it's my life's work going through a meat grinder when I pleaded with them not to do it."
Rick Riordan has taken to Twitter to criticise the film adaptations of his beloved Percy Jackson & the Olympians book series.
Percy Jackson & the Olympians is one of the most successful fantasy franchises of all time. Since the first book in the series, The Lightning Thief, came out in 2005, Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson novels have sold over 69 million copies worldwide. In 2010, a movie adaptation of The Lightning Thief was released with Logan Lerman as Percy. A sequel came out in 2013.
READ MORE: A new Percy Jackson TV series is coming to Disney+
However, Rick has been vocally critical of the movies ever since they were made and now he's slammed them on Twitter.
Yesterday morning (Jun 8), a Percy Jackson fan tweeted: "Ummm is anybody else’s #disneyplus censoring #percyjackson & the Lightning thief Lotus casino scene? i have the kid friendly setting off so why are they still censoring it? @rickriordan it’s my favorite scene & the only reason I turned on the movie. [sic]"
Rick then responded to them writing: "I don't know, but clearly it's a mistake. They should censor the entire thing. Just two hours of blank screen." Another fan then replied: "it's refreshing to see that uncle Rick hates the pjo movies more than we do."
Rick then explained: "Well, to you guys, it's a couple hours entertainment. To me, it's my life's work going through a meat grinder when I pleaded with them not to do it. So yeah. But it's fine. All fine. We're gonna fix it soon . . ."
Rick is currently working on televised adaptation of Percy Jackson & the Olympians for Disney+.
I don't know, but clearly it's a mistake. They should censor the entire thing. Just two hours of blank screen. https://t.co/nPq9TPg9Sd
— Rick Riordan (@rickriordan) June 8, 2020
Well, to you guys, it's a couple hours entertainment. To me, it's my life's work going through a meat grinder when I pleaded with them not to do it. So yeah. But it's fine. All fine. We're gonna fix it soon . . . 😀 https://t.co/YFuk55kGJU
— Rick Riordan (@rickriordan) June 8, 2020
Rick then continued: "Finally, I still have not seen the movies, and don't plan on ever doing so. I judge them from having read the scripts, because I care most about the story. I certainly have nothing against the very talented actors. Not their fault. I'm just sorry they got dragged into that mess."
In other words, he's never seen the films but shows no ill-will towards Logan Lerman and the rest of the cast. Back in 2018, Riordan wrote a blog post in which he stated how upset he was that Percy was aged up in the films. He also called out the "terrible" script and plot changes.
Finally, I still have not seen the movies, and don't plan on ever doing so. I judge them from having read the scripts, because I care most about the story. I certainly have nothing against the very talented actors. Not their fault. I'm just sorry they got dragged into that mess.
— Rick Riordan (@rickriordan) June 8, 2020
Fingers crossed Rick is able to create the exact Percy Jackson & the Olympians adaptation he wants with Disney+.
