As Walker Scobell prepares forPercy Jackson and The Olympiansseason 2, he is ready to address enduringHarry Pottercomparisons. Based onthe books by Rick Riordan, the show premiered on Disney+ in 2023, and it is poised to return on June 28, 2025. The next season will be based on Riordan’sThe Sea of Monsters.
This is thesecond majorPercy Jacksonadaptation, as the books were once reimagined through a two-movie series that drew sharp criticism. The Disney+ show was pitched as a more faithful series, and Riordan has been diligently involved as a creator and executive producer. As a popular young adult series, the franchise often draws comparisons to other fantasy franchises.
In an interview withCollider, Scobell addressed the similarities with theHarry Potterfranchise, which is also soon to have a TV reboot. Scobell gleefully shared his excitement,repeatedly describing it as “crazy"thatPercy Jacksonhas had favorable comparisons with the ever-popular fantasy series. Check out his quote below:
It’s crazy to think about. You know what I mean? Especially because all of us were all such huge fans of shows and movies, and watching them — I guess that’s kind of what you do with them. But it’s crazy to be a part of something like that. Watching movies like Harry Potter, where they built this entire world, we get to be a part of one of those worlds. You know what I mean? It’s crazy.
What This Means For Percy Jackson And The Olympians
WhilethePercy Jacksonfranchisehas always obtained some level of success through Riordan’s novels, it hasnever enjoyed the overwhelming popularity ofHarry Potter. One contributing factor behind the difference was that thePercy Jacksonmovies failed to fully capture audience attention, which barely broke even at the box office. Conversely,Harry Potterearned $7.7 billion.
Simply being compared to a $7.7 billion franchise isundoubtedly exciting for Scobell and the rest of the cast. The reboot certainly attracted attention, asVarietyreported that the show earned 13 million viewers in the first week after airing. The total has only grown since, andPercy Jacksonseason 2should see strong numbers.
Eventually, the showshould be directly competing withHarry Potter, as that franchise’s TV reboot is set to be released in 2027. Given that the shows share similar audiences, this should only be the start of comparisons between the franchises. Fortunately, Scobell has a positive outlook on the inevitable competition.
Our Take On Percy Jackson And Harry Potter Comparisons
An eight-episode show is inevitably going to struggle to live up to a series that enjoyed eight movies, seven books, a spin-off franchise, and an upcoming TV reboot. Still,Percy Jacksonis standing up well in its own right.The show has strong viewership, a promising future, and countless books to adapt.
ScreenRant’s Mae Abdulbaki rightfully called the show"fun, intriguing, and exciting”, but even that 2023 review directly addressed the inevitableHarry Potterreferences. From the very beginning,Percy Jackson and the Olympiansfaced comparisons with theHarry Potterfranchise. Fortunately, it never faltered under the pressure and has a thrilling season on the way.
