Is the Next Harry Potter a Dyslexic New Yorker?
Filed under: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Casting, Deals, 20th Century Fox, Family Films, Comic/Superhero/Geek
Where, o where, will the next Harry Potter come from? Could it be from New York, via Texas? Pierce Brosnan, Uma Thurman, and Sean Bean have signed up for Percy Jackson, according to The Hollywood Reporter, an adaptation of The Lightning Thief, the first book in a series by former Texas schoolteacher Richard Riordan. After the failure of various projects to become "the next Harry Potter," the news prompted Entertainment Weekly to wonder, "Could this finally be the next big family fantasy franchise?"
Based on the premise, Percy Jackson stands a good chance of appealing to a wide market, but much will depend on the script, since Chris Columbus is still on board to direct. As Christopher Campbell wrote two years ago, Columbus "may have been the least inspired director involved with the Harry Potter franchise," so big questions remain. Can he deliver a good-enough movie that won't disappoint fans of the books and whip up enthusiasm among non-readers for seeing a series of movies in the same vein?
The 12-year-old titular hero, to be played by Logan Lerman, appears to be "just another New York kid diagnosed with ADHD, who has good intentions, a nasty stepfather, and a long line of schools that have rejected him" before he discovers that his father is Poseidon (the Greek god, not the doomed ocean liner). He sets off on a cross-country journey to retrieve Zeus' lightning bolt, "the original weapon of mass destruction," which his father has been accused of stealing. Kevin McKidd will play Poseidon, which is inspired casting. Fox is aiming for release in February 2010.
Will you mark your calendars? Will Percy Jackson do better by avoiding comparisons with Harry Potter?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
3-26-2009 @ 5:55PM
Jimmy said...
Logan Lerman, who is a very good young actor (3:10 to Yuma!), seems an odd choice for this role since he is 4 or 5 years older than the actual character in the book -- and he looks it. No way this guy can pull off 12. I'm sure the reason is so they can pull in the teen crowd, but it's still odd casting.
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3-26-2009 @ 11:50PM
Gator5000e said...
I don't know these books but I don't understand why everyone rags on Chris Columbus. He nailed the vision most people had imagined the Potter world would look like based on Jo's descriptions. He nailed (with help I am sure) the casting and getting John Williams to score the movie. He was working with little kids who weren't actors. And he was working with the 2 weakest books from the standpoint of the story. I, for one, liked what he did with the Potter movies. Maybe he will do the same for these books.
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3-27-2009 @ 12:56PM
kay said...
When did ADHD become dyslexia???
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3-27-2009 @ 4:39PM
Kris said...
Very good question.
3-28-2009 @ 2:53PM
Joan said...
It didn't; the post and the headline each have half of the information. In the books, Percy has both dyslexia and ADHD. It's explained that both are common among descendants of the gods because their mortal and immortal ancestors are only mostly compatible. These kids aren't wired quite like plain human kids, which is expressed though things like ADHD.
3-27-2009 @ 6:08PM
Flashing-Lights said...
For Those like me who have read the book, this did have potential to be as good as the Harry Potter franchise, but looks like Fox as usual have no respect for the source material , this will likely turn into the unfortunate mess that was Eragon. The Book centers around our young Hero a 12 demi-god son of poseidon, the entire series builds up to what is prophesized to happen when the next kid of one of the Big 3 Gods(Hades, Poseidon and Zeus) turns 16. Fox has seen it fit to cast kids who are way older for the role like the lorman kid is 17 years old playing a character who is supposed to be 12, or the casting of Brandon T. Jacson as Grover the Satyr, mind you the character was white, somehow they seemed to turn him into the funny black guy role and besides Brandon is like 23 years old. How abou Annabeth daughter of Athena who is supposed to be 12, played by a 23 year old.
and Demi-Gods have both ADHD and Dyslexia, they have trouble reading, in our world.
Trust me could there have been a franchise here for Fox if they had done it right, the books, like the Harry Potter books are about , kids growing up, coming of age, changing their ages, means they have to change a whole lot of other things to fit, add romantic interests , e.t.c early on There are lots of things that happen in the first book, that are only funny and understandable, if seen through the eyes of a 12 years old, and becomes silly in any other scenario.
Mind you this is a 5 book series, mind you if Fox does manage to make a hit out of this we will likely have 30 year olds running around in roles that were meant for teenagers.
Is this, the next Harry Potter, NO, it could have been , but it's clearly in the wrong hands
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4-02-2009 @ 10:30PM
Janepage said...
This is like changing Harry, Hermione, and Ron into 20 year olds in the first Harry Potter, or making Coraline 30 something. Let me tell you this:
IT WON'T WORK!
If they don't want to disappoint the fans, try getting the age and the characters right first! They might not think Percy Jackson has a huge fan base, but it does. I mean, look what happened to Twilight! Summit figured it was a little-known book they could make a quick buck off, and next thing they knew girls were flocking! I know I was looking forward to this movie, but now I'm not to sure. I'm sorry Rick Riordan but I think they've just screwed up your amazing, incredible book.
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4-02-2009 @ 5:43PM
Aidyl said...
How are they going to pull off changing the ages of the characters to fit the storyline? And is anyone else wondering about the choice of Brandon T. Grover as Grover? I'm sure he's a good actor, but he doesn't really fit the description of Grover in the book at all. I'm not slamming anyone here, I thought that movie-makers usually considered the description of the character in book-to-screen adaptations? (And usually more so than actual acting ability.) How much liberty will they taking with the movie version? Chris Columbus was so faithful to the book with the Harry Potter movies, what's going on?
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4-04-2009 @ 4:15PM
BookFan said...
It's a shame that Hollywood had to goof up a perfectly good story, but there you have it.
Read the book. Rent the DVD when it comes out. Think what might have been if the film makers respected their audience.
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4-15-2009 @ 8:53PM
Mau said...
jeez i hope they make this movie good, and it doesnt turn out like twilight.
the books rocked,
the movie sucked.
PJO series are awesome reading.
i hope they dont mess up Rick Riordan's books.
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