Percy Jackson and the Olympians has been one of the most anticipated shows in recent times. Ever since the news came out that the book series would be getting adapted again, this time with the author Rick Riordan being heavily involved, fans were ecstatic. Since the initial film series brought a lot of disappointment to those who grew up reading the books, a lot of suggestions were made when it came to casting this time around.
It is safe to say that the series nailed it when it comes to the casting choices, now that a handful of episodes are out. Despite this, there was one specific fan campaign, that wasn’t able to find its footing. Audiences wanted Wolverine actor, Hugh Jackman, to play the role of Poseidon in the series. However, a recent interview by the author reveals that this would not have been possible in any way whatsoever.
Fans Wanted Hugh Jackman to Feature in Percy Jackson and the Olympians
When it comes to popular novels that gain huge fandoms, it is quite common for them, as a community, to decide which actor would be best suited to play a specific character. Fancasts have become an integral part of the casting process of any book being adapted into live-action. So much so, that if the vision that the fans have of the character is not met, there are chances that the work could flop. Naturally, when it was announced that Disney+ would be making Percy Jackson and the Olympians, fans were quick to put forth their suggestions for who they thought should place specific characters.
One that stuck out was that of Poseidon, the father of Percy Jackson. Fans had suggested that Hugh Jackman, best known as Wolverine, would be the perfect person to play the character. There was a massive fan campaign around this, with many desperately trying to grab the attention of the casting directors to make this happen. Another name that was tossed around on this matter was that of Paul Rudd, who they thought would also be well-suited.
Also Read: Percy Jackson & The Olympians Episode 3 SPOILER Recap/Review: We Visit The Garden Gnome Emporium
Hugh Jackman May Not Have Been The Right Person For The Creator
While it is quite interesting to imagine what it would be like if huge Jackman had been a part of Percy Jackson and the Olympians, a recent interview suggests that this could not have been possible. Rick Riordan, the author of the original series, along with producer, Rebecca Riordan, recently gave an interview with RadioTimes, He talked about one priority that they had when they were casting for this series. They revealed that one of the most important things that they were looking for in this project was to make sure that the actors were close in age to the characters that they were playing.
“We wanted to not have it aged up, and so that was very important.” revealed Rebecca Riordan.
Considering how important this was to them, with Rebecca Riordan revealing that the series would not have been made if this criterion had not been met, it is safe to say that Jackman would not have been able to play the role of Poseidon. Considering the fact that he is 55 years old, the Wolverine actor would not have fit the vision that the series creator and producers had for it. The character is being played by Toby Stephens in the series, best known for his work in Jane Eyre.
