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Percy Jackson and The Lightning Thief Teaser Trailer

Posted on Tuesday, July 14th, 2009 by Brendon Connelly

percy_capture

You can see the first Percy Jackson and The Olympians: The Lightning Thief teaser trailer embedded after the break. There isn’t any wonder that it features title cards announcing that it is from Chris Columbus, director of Harry Potter and the Sorceror’s Stone/Chamber of Secrets. The entire enterprise is standing on the shoulders of Potter, irrespective of any help it might or might not actually need from the boy wizard, or indeed the relative quality of the books and films.

The premise in the Percy Jackson series is not entirely dissimilar to that of the Potter saga either, with a troubled schoolchild finding out his secret magical heritage and, eventually, stepping into a more wondrous life. Whereas Potter went off to Hogwarts, Jackson can be seen in this very trailer taking an elevator to Mount Olympus. Wizards, gods… all the same mumbo jumbo, right? Of course, this paradigm was nesting grandma spider long before the Potter books became so inexplicably successful.

This trailer will introduce you to Percy Jackson, but it looks like we’ll have to wait a while longer to get a glimpse of any Olympians.

Conspicuosly missing in action, then, are Rosario Dawson as Persephone, Steve Coogan as Hades, Uma Thurman as Medusa, Pierce Brosnan as Chiron, Ray Winstone as Ares, Kevin McKidd as Poseidon and Sean Bean as Zeus, as well as the more mortal Catherine Keener as Percy’s mom. Star studded, for sure, but in a suspiciously Night at the Museum fashion.

I remain utterly unconvinced by the trailer, but it will be fun seeing all of those movie stars chew the expensive production design a while.

Columbus’ current cinematic misdemeanor is I Love You Beth Cooper, one of the biggest flops of the summer. Can this really be the man who scripted Gremlins? Well, technically it is, if you don’t count the bits he didn’t write. Just like Paul McCartney was the guy in The Beatles.

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  • sammyjankis
    Did someone say Chris Columbus.....You can probably count me out.
  • Sketch
    Coogan as Hades? Well that's going to be comical then isn't it? Winstone as Ares seems like it could be fun if it was in a more serious film.
  • RocknRolla
    Eh, I'm indifferent.

    To me, it seems the cast is going to bring down a good concept. For some reason foreign actors are far superior to their American counterparts.

    So yeah, I need to see more before I completely dismiss it.
  • Fir3Wolf
    Not enough there to make me want to see it, but that ending part could be a nice teaser for a God of War movie. Showing off Mount Olympus like that.
  • Matt
    I just finished this book and now I can't wait for this movie
    That scene was better then I pictured it while I was reading.
    I really hope this does well so the other 4 books can be made movies
  • Aleah
    Yeah me too. I love the books I'm about to start the fifth one. I really do hope they make a series of the movies like the books. But i wish there were more books in the series also. I love the books on an extreme case!
  • samboni
    looks to me that Columbus wishes he still made the harry potter movies
  • anakasha
    That was exactly what I was thinking when I saw this. That it looked like A Harry Potter teaser, even the music was close.
    Poor Chris Columbus is missing doing those Harry Potter movies.
  • Sean Bean as Zeus is enough alone for me to give this a chance (pending other trailers, of course)
  • CooperKai
    Somebody definitely tried to make an American Potter. Cute.
  • Lucas
    well it ain't like JK was the first to do the whole 'ordinary kid turns out to be not so and saves the world' tale. she has just so far been one of the best.
  • schneidremarks
    See: Luke Skywalker.
  • CooperKai
    Look, we all know how Hollywood thinks, and to assume that not once during any production meeting, be it between writers and directors or producers and studio heads, I'm pretty sure that the comparison was not only drawn but INTENDED, as far as the film goes.

    "Ordinary kid turns out to be not so and saves the world." Is that really the only comparison you can draw? This looks to be the exact same fashion as Harry Potter. A pre-teen discovers he was born with magical powers, goes to magical lair hidden in a culturally signifficant city (London/New York) to cultivate said powers, all taking place in the modern world...I'm sure if I picked up a book from each series, anyone can find comparisons...I understand that there are only like, what, 7 plots or something ever in existence? But it doesn't take much to see what the Percy Jackson author was going for.
  • schneidremarks
    Oh, it's totally true. Even reading the books, you can see that from the beginning. However, just as Harry Potter spun off from those basic beginnings into a world of its own, so does Percy, and where it goes I found to be much more interesting, well-written, and didn't tumble into fanfic-ishness, like the later Potter books did.

    They're the same family, sure, but completely different animals.

    Nit-pick: I wouldn't consider HP to be set in the modern world, but rather some strange in-between area, seeing as although it's set in present day, the wizarding world Harry spends most of his story is stuck in some weird medieval period that seems to exist outside of time, save the occasional flying car. Percy's world, however, really is just modern day America. It's one of the defining differences.
  • Lucas
    i could have been more in depth and pulled out all the various points of the classic literary trope of the Hero's Journey (gotta love good old Joe Campbell) but that's why we have Hermione, our fav insufferable know it all.
  • Lucas
    Columbus ain't known for being an auteur director. take note of the backhanded insult by Daniel when Cuaron was picked to direct HP3. the comment was that Cuaron really wanted them to act (Columbus is a line reading director. say it like this, do that. perfect for very small kids but very bland with anyone over the age of 5). this is why folks don't jump up and down to see his films
    that said, he's not a totally awful choice for a more lighthearted, family friendly film like Harry Potter 1 or even Percy Jackson (from what I recall of reading the books). so i'll give him a chance and hold the blasting until I see the movie.
  • schneidremarks
    I absolutely love the Percy Jackson series and have been watching this project with great interest. That said, this trailer does make it seem like Columbus is channeling his Harry Potter days in a series that will inevitably draw comparisons. It still looks fantastic for fans, but for anyone else, it'll look like a kid's fantasy ripoff.
  • jimmytwo2
    not sure what to make of it from this teaser...need to see more.
  • MickJ
    Pass.
  • Ben
    while the teaser isn't impressive i will say the books are a really fun read.
  • Mike
    Um.... Pass.
  • I don't like the title. Why the name Percy?
    Zeus, Hades, Hercules, even Xena....and then there's Percy.

    I think I'll pass. I'm missing his funny redhead best friend and the smart girl who'll eventually turn into a very hot girl.
  • Lucas
    cause Perceus would be a dead giveaway
  • Now Perceus is a cool name.

    "Who is this hero of the bright skies and the towering mountains?"
    "Beware, for he is the great, mighty ..Percy."
    "Ah, Percy, a name that brings terror to its enemies' hearts!"
  • the_john
    Actually, his name is Perceus. Percy is merely a nick-name.
  • ka
    Perseus
  • LuMendz
    I'm unconvinced as of yet. As much as the Olympian Gods concept is neat, you have to admit Greek Mythology is really dark territory. I just don't see that here. Though maybe this might be a nice balance to the new Clash of the Titans, still, not really feeling it.
  • daniel156
    The reason why it is dark is because it is night time but if it was sunny outside then olympus would be lighter and peaceful. but since it is dark outside it looks scary duh.
  • EbonPinion
    @daniel156
    I approve of your comment sir.
    A+.
  • gruntwars
    Actually it's because Zeus is pissed that somebody stole his lightning bolt. He controls the sky so the sky is also pissed. That's why it's so dark. (Plus, yeah, it is nighttime too I guess.)

    But I think LuMendz was referring to the "dark" as meaning controversial, foreboding, dangerous.
  • daniel156
    ---------- Forwarded message ----------
  • daniel156
    ---------- Forwarded message ----------
  • The people who pick the attress playing annabeth must be blind cause they picked alexandrea over annasophia robb who actuly looks like annabeth. Alexandrea is 23!!! Annabeth is supposed to be 12!!! Worst casting I've ever seen!!!
  • Lucas
    Logan Lerman isn't 12 either. he's 17. and as this is an ADAPTION not a translation, perhaps they have changed the ages of the characters. and, shocking, how they want them to look. also, Anna Sophia might not have been available or might not have been interested in the role. Also since Anna Sophia is only 15 she's on a more restrictive level of the child labor laws (more required school time, less time on set etc) than someone above 16 or 18. those restrictions might have been impractical to a level that couldn't be dealt with at a reasonable cost
  • dudex177
    if you'd read the books and NO they have definatly NOT changed the ages
  • Lucas
    i have read the books. as for your NOT, the only way you would know that is if you worked/are working on the movie. so i'm calling you out. either reveal your real full name and position in the production, or concede that you don't actually know that they did or did not make a change in the ages and drop your pissy comments about the issue, including the ages of the actors, until such a change or lack of is actually verified by official sources.
  • daniel156
    The Percy Jackson movie looks so good. I cant wait to see the movie. I read all of the books and they were so good. They should make movies of all of the books.Well see you guys later make sure this movie is awesome and make movies of all of the books.
  • Having an interest in Greek mythology, I read the books and I have to say, they were real fun. I easily see the comparison to Harry Potter, because it really is. But the whole thing has a unique spin on it making it more then Harry Potter.
  • DAR
    Never heard of the books or the movie until now. Eh....
  • foochina
    Superman was one of the very firsts in the superhero genre. But does this mean Superman was the best ever? Hell no. Then came afterwards the Spiderman, the Marvel Comics and X Men series -- some of which were way better. So let's not judge Percy Jackson as a ripoff. It's just that PJ and HP are of the same genre. But only time will tell whether PJ will be a better series. The fans and the box office results will be the ultimate judge. Until then, we really can't tell which is better.
  • Lucas
    that's the spirit. It is possible for this series to be just as good as Harry Potter, but in a different way. after all, we'd have similar stories in movies all the time. anyone remember that two Wyatt Earp movies came out back to back. and we had Armageddon and Deep Impact out almost on top of each other.
  • I saw this trailer attached to Harry Potter. I thought it looked like it could be a really good movie. It makes me want to go pick up the book.
  • dudex177
    what they dont show in this trailer is the crappy cast 23 year old dose not slightly look like a sixth grader Anna Sophoa Rob would be perfect so hope 4 sea of monsters they take off dadario
  • Lucas
    you, like many others, assume the ages of the characters haven't been changed for the movie. this is a common trick as it helps them to deal with the various labor law issues that would force longer filming times etc. in other words, perhaps it's not a problem that the 23 year old doesn't look 12, because the character is actually stated to be 17 in the movie.
  • Shannon Bananon
    That's only IF they make a movie about Sea of Monsters.
  • lucascott
    true. but Chris still has enough bank in the industry that he could probably get a 5 film deal off the top. so every intention would be to make all five.

    that said the more i think about it the more i wish they were making this for television instead. or making the whole thing into fewer movies. Reading the books i'm just not sure there's enough story to pull off 5 movies. 3 maybe. Even 3 done Lord of the Rings style where it's not all tidy endings (so like they say from the start it's one story in 3 parts, rather than 3 stories)
  • dudex177
    was so exited for this then looked at cast saw dadario and i swear i could hear pac man get killed by a ghost
  • patricia
    Steve Coogan as Hades??... the great god of the underworld??? my favorite character!!!! but Coogan is a comedian!!!!!!!!!!!!!! uhm. and Poseidon grey's anatomy uhm???..... why... who is the one who did the casting????
  • hannah8808
    i really want to watch this movie but at the same time it kinda looks scary
    but i like greek i read the book in class it sooooooooooooooooooo awsome
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