Will there be a 'Percy Jackson' multiverse? Creator answers
What's the story
Rick Riordan, the brain behind the beloved Percy Jackson series, has reacted to the idea of a multiverse in his universe. Talking to PEOPLE, he mentioned that while Season 2 of Disney+'s Percy Jackson and the Olympians is moving along well, he has decided to keep it distinct from Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief and Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters.
New direction
Riordan's focus on new cast and creative control
Riordan shared his thoughts on the decision, saying, "It was a very conscious decision that we said, 'Okay, we're not going to deal with the movie stuff.'" He added, "I don't want anything to overshadow the new young cast and take away from them. This needs to be their moment." The show stars newcomers Walker Scobell as Percy, Leah Jeffries as Annabeth, and Aryan Simhadri as Grover.
Future possibilities
Riordan's stance on multiverse and original cast
Though other fantasy realms are welcoming back their past stars via multiverses, Riordan isn't sure about the return of Logan Lerman or any of the original cast. He mentioned, "I mean, Marvel didn't get into the multiverse - how many movies were they into it before they introduced that concept? So I think if that were to happen, that's way down the line." This hints at a possible multiverse in future Percy Jackson adaptations, but it's not happening anytime soon.
Creative control
Riordan's increased involvement in 'Percy Jackson' adaptation
Riordan, famously critical of the original films, now has more creative control over the current show. He has been actively involved in scriptwriting, saying, "I am at a point in my career when I can have the time and where I have the power...to be part of the process and make sure my voice is heard." He also expressed satisfaction with Season 2 scripts and hinted at exploring characters' histories through flashbacks.
Ongoing success
Riordan's latest novel and the future of 'Percy Jackson'
Riordan's latest novel, Wrath of the Triple Goddess, was released on September 24. It is the second book in his new Percy trilogy, The Senior Year Adventures. Reflecting on the enduring popularity of his series, he said, "The fact that this little story that I told [my son] is still with us and kids are still picking it up for the first time today... the whole thing is just mind-boggling."