Summary

Critics are praising the Disney+ adaptation of Percy Jackson and the Olympians, calling it “perfect” and a faithful representation of the source material. The cast, including the three leads, Walker Scobell, Leah Jeffries, and Aryan Simhadri, are receiving high praise for their performances and chemistry. The series is being commended for its ability to appeal to both younger audiences and original fans of the book series, with hopes of growing alongside its audience.

The first reviews to the Disney+ adaptation of the beloved series, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, have arrive, and critics are heaping praise on this “perfect” live action take on the tale of the titular young demigod. Percy Jackson and the Olympians is all set for release on the streaming platform later this month, and it sounds like fans and general audiences alike are in for a fantastical treat.

Collider’s Chase Hutchinson declares that “Rick Riordan Takes His Story Back,” and assuages the worries of fans who have been worried about another adaptation after the lackluster movies.

“Considering the talent that is yet to come, there is a sense that Percy Jackson is finally being given the care he deserves. For the first time, the lightning in a bottle that was the simple yet sturdy series of books has actually been captured on screen. Readers needn’t pray to the gods for anything more, as this series is already delivering everything they could have hoped for.”

The AV Club’s Kayleigh Dray, meanwhile, took a few issues (“the first episode almost feels like filler”), but states that the series has solid staying power.

“Sure, it’s aimed at a younger audience than those who originally grew up obsessing over the books. But the result is something that feels like it has some staying power—and like it will, just as the books did all those years ago, grow up alongside its audience. That’s no small feat in an age of regularly canceled shows and standalone miniseries.”

Screen Rant’s Mae Abdulbaki continues the applause, praising Percy Jackson and the Olympians for staying so true to the source material.

“The adult actors are great, but the child actors are still trying to find their groove. It takes them some time, but they’re up to the task. Crucially, Jeffries, Scobell, and Simhadri have excellent chemistry. They work well together, and I was instantly sold on them as a trio — their disparate personalities work in tandem together, underscoring their strengths as individuals and as a group.”

This sentiment is echoed throughout the early reviews, with Daily Beast’s Fletcher Peters believing that Percy Jackson and the Olympians is exactly what fans have been waiting for…

“But if I had to guess? Percy Jackson and the Olympians will be exactly what fans have been waiting for, too. The series toes the line between fun nostalgia for older fans and a freshening up the franchise nearly two decades after it began.”

RELATED: How Percy Jackson Could Become Disney’s Next Big Series

Percy Jackson and the Olympians Is Due to Land on Disney+ on December 20

Mashable’s Belen Edwards heaped praise on the cast, paying particular attention to the three leads, Walker Scobell, Leah Sava Jeffries, and Aryan Simhadri.

“Percy Jackson and the Olympians would suffer a fate worse than Tartarus if the chemistry between its main trio didn’t click. Luckily, Scobell, Jeffries, and Simhadri prove to be perfect for their roles. Scobell embraces Percy’s sass, unafraid to tell off a literal god if it means he can fight for someone he loves.”

Paste Magazine’s Kathryn Porter loved seeing so many moments from the books realized on screen.

“What truly matters is that Percy Jackson and the Olympians doesn’t throw away the iconic set-pieces that are so important to us. The car chase with the Minotaur is still tragic and terrifying, Percy still gets to drench Clarisse in toilet water, and Riptide is still a sword disguised as a ballpoint pen.”

The glowing approval of the cast continues courtesy of Nicole Drum of Comicbook.com, who calls Percy Jackson and the Olympians “as perfect a television adaptation as you can get.”

“A faithful, and truly excellent Percy Jackson adaptation may have felt like a near-impossible quest, but Percy Jackson and the Olympians has pulled it off. Between an obvious love and reverence for the source material and its devoted fans, some of the best casting you’ll ever find in a television series, fantastic performances, and even the magic of the visuals and world-building itself, Percy Jackson and the Olympians is about as perfect a television adaptation as you can get, almost as though it’s been favored by the gods themselves.”

Created by Rick Riordan and Jonathan E. Steinberg for Disney+, Percy Jackson and the Olympians is scheduled to premiere on December 20, 2023. Check out the trailer below: