When Disney+ set out to bring Rick Riordan’s beloved Percy Jackson and the Olympians series to life, they turned to an unexpected source for inspiration: the whimsical world of the Muppets. James Bobin, director of the Muppets films, was chosen to helm the pilot, bringing his unique blend of humor and heartfelt storytelling to ensure the show stays true to the spirit and humor of the books fans cherish.
“I like that in episode 2 Percy’s armor doesn’t really fit him,” Bobin tells AELGAMES. “He’s new, and so he’s got some old, borrowed armor.”
Bobin worked closely with Riordan, an executive producer on the series, to litter his two premiere episodes with items from the books in order to delight fans – everything from how Riptide looks to the type of tree Talia was transformed into – but also wanted to be sure the references were all building to something. And so, even when it doesn’t seem like it, Percy Jackson and the Olympians is planting details for who that character is, why they are in future books, and for what comes next.
“The first time you meet his mom [.] she’s outside just communing with the rain. Even if you know the books at all, that’s an interesting character – like, Why is she outside in the rain?” Bobin says. “By the time you get to the end of this episode with the minotaur it’s raining heavily. And so that was a very important part of the presence of his father in the show, [which] was a totally symbolic one for the presence of water in this show, and the growing presence of water throughout the show.”
Building that groundwork early on felt key to Bobin, even if the payoffs weren’t coming soon. Early scenes with Grover and Percy’s mom, Sally, needed to feel like a relationship that could propel a whole season, with emotional ties that could believably make his quest feel true.
Bobin, who co-created Flight of the Conchords and directed other big IP reimaginings like Dora and the Lost City of Gold and Alice Through the Looking Glass, says these impulses for Percy Jackson actually came from elsewhere on his directing resume: the Muppets movies.
“It’s like a national treasure. And so everyone has a real sense of ownership with it; it’s a personal relationship with the material,” Bobin says. “And in both cases – the Muppets and with this – I always led upon the things that I loved about this book. And my job is really just to channel that, and then hopefully we reflect how other people feel about it too.”
How did the Muppets influence Percy Jackson’s faithful adaptation strategy
The influence of the Muppets on the Percy Jackson TV adaptation lies primarily in director James Bobin’s approach to faithfully capturing the tone and spirit of Rick Riordan’s books. Bobin, known for his work with the Muppets, brought a blend of humor, heart, and whimsy that helped the show balance the mythological action with the lightheartedness and emotional depth that fans expect. This approach ensured the adaptation stayed true to the books’ essence by emphasizing character relationships and playful yet sincere storytelling, much like the Muppets’ style of mixing comedy with genuine emotion. The production team repeatedly emphasized “going back to the book” while also consulting closely with Riordan, integrating visual effects and character designs that felt authentic and natural, a process reflecting the Muppets’ tradition of careful, character-driven creativity.
How did the Muppets’ approach to storytelling influence Percy Jackson’s adaptation
The Muppets’ approach to storytelling influenced the Percy Jackson adaptation by emphasizing a balance of humor, heart, and character-driven narrative that stays true to the emotional core of the source material. Director James Bobin, known for his work with the Muppets, brought a style that blends whimsy and sincerity, helping the show capture the spirit of Rick Riordan’s books. This approach allowed the adaptation to honor the original’s tone by focusing on the characters’ journeys and relationships while incorporating playful, imaginative elements-much like the Muppets’ tradition of mixing comedy with genuine emotion. The production team also engaged deeply with the author and source material to ensure the storytelling felt authentic and resonant, reflecting a careful, character-focused creative process inspired by the Muppets’ storytelling ethos.
