Earlier than Alexandra Daddario vacationed at “The White Lotus,” survived catastrophe in “San Andreas,” and bought snarled with a cop’s mid-life disaster in “True Detective,” she wielded the powers of Olympus. One of many actor’s first main big-screen roles was Annabeth Chase, the daughter of Athena, in “Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief” (launched in 2010) and its sequel, “Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters” (launched in 2013).
Although she would not have the flashier powers of a number of the different demigods, Annabeth far outpaces them intellectually due to the skills handed down from her mom. And whenever you’re battling difficult supernatural monsters or caught up in an internet of Olympian scheming, brains can typically be extra necessary than brawn.
Primarily based on the books by Rick Riordan, the “Percy Jackson” films emerged throughout Hollywood’s seek for the subsequent “Harry Potter” and barely earlier than Hollywood’s seek for the subsequent “Starvation Video games.” Although they obtained blended evaluations from critics, “The Lightning Thief” and “Sea of Monsters” have been among the many extra profitable YA fantasy films to emerge from this period (they definitely did higher than, say, “The Seeker” or “Seventh Son”).
The franchise was not too long ago revisited with a TV adaptation, “Percy Jackson and the Olympians,” created for Disney+. Maybe due to a lift from that present, or maybe merely due to nostalgia, the “Percy Jackson” films have soared since being added to Netflix earlier this month. Per FlixPatrol, “The Lightning Thief” is at the moment the No. 1 youngsters film streaming on Netflix, and No. 2 amongst films general. “Sea of Monsters” is at No. 2 and No. 4, respectively, on the identical charts
Percy Jackson & the Olympians launched Alexandra Daddario into the highlight
One ingredient that “Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief” had on its facet in its efforts to be the newest hit magical-boy film franchise was director Chris Columbus, who helmed the primary two “Harry Potter” films. “Sea of Monsters” was directed by Thor Freudenthal, who’d beforehand directed a movie a couple of not-so-magical boy, “Diary of a Wimpy Child.”
Whereas the “Percy Jackson & the Olympians” film franchise faltered earlier than all 4 books in Rick Riordan’s “Camp Half-Blood Chronicles” have been tailored, it definitely succeeded in launching Alexandra Daddario’s profession. Reflecting on the movies in a 2021 interview with The Wrap, Daddario had solely optimistic issues to say:
“I beloved ‘Percy Jackson.’ Like, I beloved it. After I stepped into ‘Percy Jackson’ and bought that job, I had no concept what it was. I used to be like, a bit half actor in New York Metropolis, you understand? I used to be a child, I used to be working at a bar, I did not have any concept of Hollywood or of all these items. And so once I bought that job, I did not actually know what I used to be getting into. I knew it was a very large film. And it was essentially the most superb expertise for a 22/23-year-old to have … I discovered a lot and I’ve gone on to have a profession within the enterprise that I needed to have.”
When the “Percy Jackson” TV present got here round, Leah Jeffries was solid within the function of Annabeth Chase, with Daddario’s enthusiastic assist. Season 3 of “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” — which relies on the third e book, “The Titan’s Curse — is ready to launch later in 2026. Within the meantime, although, you’ll be able to watch each “Percy Jackson” films on Netflix.
