Percy Jackson Is Disney’s Best Chance To Fix Their LGBTQ+ Representation
A new adaptation of Percy Jackson and the Olympians carries with it an ideal chance for Disney to repair their troubled history of LGBTQ+ representation. Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson stories have made a conscious effort to be inclusive, putting queer and neurodivergent characters in the spotlight. This kind of representation is an important part of the success of these stories, helping them to resonate with people who too seldom see themselves reflected in the characters they see in stories. Even with Percy Jackson's perfect casting, Disney+ must be careful to meaningfully include this side of the stories. This will be key to adapting them on-screen, especially with the author's direct involvement, giving Disney a chance to provide some truly meaningful representation.
Rick Riordan is a vocal supporter of LGBTQ+ rights, and this is reflected in his writing. His stories, the Camp Half-Blood Chronicles, span a saga of 15 books, split into three pentalogies, as well as numerous short stories, graphic novels, and other supporting material. Attempts have been made to adapt them for the screen, leading to two movies, Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief and Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters, but these Percy Jackson movies were hampered by fatal mistakes, even though they were enjoyed by some fans of the books. Disney now has plentiful experience making TV series, with shows like Wandavision and The Mandalorian widely enjoyed by audiences. This means there's plenty of reason to believe that their adaptation of Percy Jackson and the Olympians will be a compelling piece of television.
Related: Disney+: Every New Movie & TV Show Coming In May 2022
A central theme in the Percy Jackson stories is inclusion, placing
Read more on screenrant.com
