Percy Jackson and the Olympians EP on Changing Stepdad Gabe for the Disney+ Series: ‘There Was a Tonal Shift’
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Following the less-than-stellar films from the 2010s, Rick Riordon’s beloved Percy Jackson book franchise will see new life on Disney+. The live-action Percy Jackson and the Olympians series will debut the first two of its eight-episode freshman season this Wednesday, Dec. 20.
The forthcoming installment, which follows the events of The Lightning Thief — the first book of the series — will feature several key changes, including the handling of the titular hero’s wretched stepfather Gabe, played in 2010’s Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief by Joe Pantoliano. The Might Ducks: Game Changers alum Timm Sharp will portray him in the Disney+ series.
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On paper, Gabe was described as an abusive man whose rotten scent matched his awful personality. According to series co-creator and showrunner Jon Steinberg, the character came across too severely for the lighthearted adaptation and so, adjustments were made.
“Gabe is a lot harsher of a presence in the book,” Steinberg tells TVLine. “When you’re reading a story, you can read past the parts that could be upsetting if you’ve stopped to give them more thought. You don’t really get to do that with the show. It’s all in your face and it’s all presented in a much louder way.”
The Percy Jackson EP noted that Gabe, in the series, is “still an idiot, and he’s still somebody you desperately want Percy to get rid of in his life, but he doesn’t make me want to turn the TV off.”
Rebecca Riordon, who also serves as an executive producer, says the show’s creative team tried “very early” in the process to make Gabe seem more like he does in the books.
“Because that is in the written word and it’s in your imagination, you can temper it,” Riordan explains. “When you see it visually, it is triggering and difficult to watch. That is why we came at Gabe in a different way, because this isn’t supposed to be a horror show.”
What are you looking forward to seeing in Percy Jackson and the Olympians? Drop a comment below!
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