In 2010 Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief grossed $88.7 million domestically and added an additional $137.7 million internationally on a $95 million budget, which isn’t exactly the greatest return on investment… at least not theatrically. I’m sure the result was positive after TV rights and home video, but releasing a sequel three years later when no one was really discussing the first one seems a bit odd… to me at least.
Additionally, the first film was directed by Chris Columbus, director of the first two Harry Potter films and the two Home Alone features, the upcoming release of Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters is directed by Thor Freudenthal whose credits inclue Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Hotel for Dogs, which I guess suggests the kind of audience Fox is looking to attract.
That said, the first Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters trailer has now premiered in advance of its upcomign August 16 release date and with MTV doing the premiering I’m assuming it will also air, perhaps in longer form, during the upcoming 2013 MTV Movie Awards.
The film, like the first, is an adaptation of Rick Riordan’s book series, this one “The Sea of Monsters,” which follows Percy (Logan Lerman) and his group of friends as they head to the titular sea to find the mythical Golden Fleece, as well as to free a friend who has been captured there. It’s expected, though, that the sequel will draw from other Percy Jackson titles as well as “Sea of Monsters.”
Check out the first trailer below and see what you think. Was it worth returning to this franchise or was it better left dead?
