Unless you’ve been living under a rock (a Sorcerer’s Stone perhaps?), you’ve probably seen the splashy, flashy and undeniably enormo-budgeted trailer for PERCY JACKSON AND THE OLYMPIANS: THE LIGHTNING THIEF, which opens Friday.
The movie — chock full of Olympian set pieces and more CGI harpies, hydras and medusas than you can shake a virtual stick at — is of course based on San Antonio author RICK RIORDAN’S book of almost the same name.
Anyone who attended Rick’s fairly recent book signing at the Loop 1604 Barnes & Noble knows that his Percy Jackson series has become a full-fledged kid-lit phenomenon. The place was sandwiched with kids, moms, dads and assorted fan folk, who all had to pick a number and wait for a few precious seconds with the writer.
Seems pretty obvious FOX is betting that Rick can help the studio have its own HARRY POTTER franchise. Heck, the movie’s even helmed by the guy behind the first Harry Potter installment.
Rick’s book sales haven’t quite hit the J.K. ROWLING stratosphere yet, but according to media reports, the Hollywood buzz may be putting them on their way. Publisher DISNEY/HYPERION says its sold 10 million of his Percy Jackson series, 3 million in just the past three months.
It will be interesting to see just how big the movie opens and how much further up Mount Olympus it will allow Rick Riordan to climb.
Stay tuned.
I read “The Lightning Thief” to my son and he really enjoyed it. So much so that I gave copies to his cousin and friend for Christmas. It’s a good read for the younger set…and still fun for adults who can try to anticipate how the story and characters will intersect with classical mythology.