When it comes to 2010’s Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief, the movie didn’t completely ace the book-to-movie adaptation, however there is one scene in the film that totally awed audiences that, unfortunately, will have to be radically changed in the upcoming Percy Jackson and the Olympians television series. The show is the second on-screen adaptation of Rick Riordan’s middle grade fantasy series about a young boy named Percy who discovers he is the son of a Greek god. Made by Disney, the show is set to be released on December 20, 2023.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians is highly anticipated for many reasons, and plenty of them have to do with the 2010 film adaptation. First and foremost, fans of Riordan’s books were disappointed when the film franchise was cut short after only two movies, despite the fact that the movies were criticized for straying too far from the source material. Ironically, that flaw is another reason why the television series is so anticipated. Viewers have high hopes that Disney’s adaptation will stick closely to its book counterparts. To do this though, the show will have to make some changes that might have actually made the movie better.
Percy Jackson’s Accurate Ages Mean TV Show Will Have To Change The Movie’s Casino Scene
Though the Percy Jackson movie’s book changes received criticism, one changed scene stood out to audiences in a positive light, and unfortunately Disney’s TV show is going to have to change it. First and foremost, the casino scene is an iconic moment in the Percy Jackson movie wherein Percy, Grover, and Annabeth enter a crowded casino and find themselves getting addicted to lotus blossoms that make them lose track of time, essentially trapping them in the casino forever. However, before this bad turn, the trio is dazzled by the extravagance of the casino, and with Lady Gaga’s “Pokerface” playing in the background, it is an undeniably fun scene.
Despite how memorable this scene is, it’s going to have to change in Percy Jackson and the Olympians because of the characters’ ages. In the movie, Percy and his friends had been aged up from 12 to around 16, which meant that more adult themes could be used, i.e. the addictive lotus blossoms. However, with the television series being more accurate, Percy and his friends are 12 again, and then getting sucked into a casino with drug-like flowers seems inappropriate. So, unfortunately, the casino scene will have to see some big changes.
Disney Will Have A Difficult Time Beating Percy Jackson Movie’s Wild Casino Scene
It seems unlikely that Disney’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians will be able to live up to the movie’s casino scene, especially because they have to change major elements of it. The casino scene has remained iconic, even as the Percy Jackson movie has faded from popular culture, and so the show will definitely have big shoes to fill. In a sense, it is the type of scene that simply can’t be recreated. It is both fun and exciting, while also being inaccurate to the books and defined by its actors and specific shots. Ultimately, Disney will have to come to terms with the fact that nothing will compare.
Furthermore, if the series uses Rick Riordan’s original storyline for the casino scene, there’s no doubt that it will fall short in comparison to the 2010 film. According to the book, Percy, Grover, and Annabeth get sucked into a bout of addictive video games, which is not only less controversial, but also explains how they lose track of so much time during their quest. Clearly, this is a much less cool version of events. However, in the end, a lack of coolness will be worth it in order for the series to make more sense with its characters’ ages, and also, to keep with book accuracy.
Why The 2010 Percy Jackson Movie Originally Changed The Casino Scene From The Book
The Percy Jackson movie most likely changed the casino scene because it genuinely seemed more edgy and interesting. While book Percy has more geeky qualities, movie Percy has an action hero energy in teenage form. Ultimately, the decision to make Percy older probably coincided with the casino scene. The movie’s creators most likely wanted a more memorable and entertaining scene that fit the characters’ new ages and would be more exciting than Percy playing video games for hours. In the end, it proved to be one of the few successful moves of the film that, unfortunately, will have to be changed for the better in Percy Jackson and the Olympians.
