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How Rick Riordan worked with Disney+'s Percy Jackson creators to stay true to the books (while being open to inspiration and creativity)

"There was never a conversation with Rick and Becky where there was any sense of this must or must not be." says Jon Steinberg

Dan Shotz, Rick Riordan, and Jon Steinberg
Image credit: David Bukach (Walt Disney Studios)

Percy Jackson and the Olympians debuted on Disney+ and exceeded expectations of book readers and fans the world over. The success of the show and critical success is due in no small part to Jon Steinberg (co-creator, showrunner, executive producer), and Dan Shotz (executive producer), and the respect they paid to author Rick Riordan - known affectionately in the fadom as "Uncle Rick".

Fortunately for us, Popverse’s Ashley V. Robinson was able to sit down with Steinberg and Shotz in Los Angeles to get to the heart of the collaborative effort between the creator of the beloved book series and the creators of the now-beloved new streaming show.

"There was never a conversation with Rick and Becky where there was any sense of this must or must not be," showrunner Jon Steinberg tells Popverse, "It was much more a conversation about tone and approach and what we wanted to achieve and it was very much a two way conversation."

Watch on YouTube

Here is our interview clip with Jon Steinberg and Dan Shotz above.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians also stars: Jason Mantzoukas (The Good Place), Adam Copeland (Edge), Lance Reddick (John Wick), Toby Stephens (Lost in Space), Megan Mullaly (Will and Grace), and more.

Percy Jackson: How (and where) to watch the movies and show in chronological and release order! .