The Harry Potter franchise has widely considered to be the best kids fantasy for families to enjoy on the big screen. While the novels continue to sell well, the movie franchise is still believed to be one of the most accurate and successful adaptations of a fantasy series for quite some time.
It may sit at the top of the pile currently, but Disney+ might have something in store which could threaten the Wizarding World. The arrival of the a brand new fantasy world is set to take over; one that's family friendly and still captures the imagination of children everywhere.
Will Be Dethroned: Disney+ Revival
The revival of the world of monsters, demi-gods and heroes over at Disney+ could mean that Harry Potter will be taken from its pedestal. The franchise has huge potential but it also has the advantage of the Disney banner.
Disney+ is constantly looking for new programming to drive its original content. The streaming service is a fantastic platform for Percy Jackson bringing the character into many homes for the first time. It's a platform Harry Potter never had.
Best Kids Fantasy: Forever On Top
The Harry Potter series has been on top for quite some time. It's fair to argue that it has actually gone from strength to strength, with more kids and even adults, experiencing the boy wizard's story for the first time every year.
This series has been immortalised in film, in a franchise that will likely never be rebooted but is popular enough to carry on showing for years to come. It's a monolith that might not crumble for quite some time.
Will Be Dethroned: New Mythology
While the series might be familiar to those who read the books or perhaps even watched the original two films, for many people this could be their first interaction with the Percy Jackson characters.
This is a novelty that Harry Potter doesn't quite have anymore. Even without watching the films or reading, audiences are aware of Hogwarts and Dumbledore. Percy Jackson could be an opportunity for audiences to get excited about a new mythology.
Best Kids Fantasy: Huge Movie Series
The Harry Potter series has of course lead to a huge set of movies, each of which performed tremendously at the box office and are still critically considered to be fantastic.
It's a great showcase of British talent and film making and the concept of the actors growing with the roles is something not seen in any other series quite in the same way. Percy Jackson might not be able to replicate this success.
Will Be Dethroned: A Successful Book Franchise
Harry Potter was still releasing as the films were being created, whereas it's clear years on that the Percy Jackson books have a strong narrative throughout. They have already proven themselves to be incredibly successful.
This gives Percy Jackson an inbuilt audience who are already excited about the prospect of the Disney+ show. This gives Percy Jackson the advantage as the blueprint is completely ready to work from.
Best Kids Fantasy: Spin-Off Films
There's already spin-off films in development, with two Fantastic Beasts movies having already been released and another three future instalments planned. The Hogwarts Express just keeps on moving here.
It could continue to dominate for quite some time, bringing new and exciting stories to young audiences, some of which they won't be able to experience beforehand in a book.
Will Be Dethroned: Branching Worlds
There's potential for the Percy Jackson franchise to actually branch out further than the Wizarding World, expanding the universe into other realms of mythology.
The amazing work of Rick Riordan means that there's other book series about the Norse Gods and the Egyptian Gods, as well as a spin-off involving the Roman equivalent characters. This opens up a whole future of crossover possibilities.
Best Kids Fantasy: An Original Lore
While the Percy Jackson world uses some familiar stories from Greek mythology and therefore isn't totally original, in large part Harry Potter is quite a unique concept.
Although there are elements of this world in other fantasy novels and franchises, there's something more distinct about Diagon Alley than there is compared to Camp Half-Blood.
Will Be Dethroned: Appetite For Change
There's a huge appetite for change currently, especially with J.K. Rowling's recent controversies resulting in many people shunning the Harry Potter franchise and her associated works.
Percy Jackson provides a fresh and diverse set of characters to explore and could potentially completely shake up the public's perception of a fantasy series in the modern world.
Best Kids Fantasy: The Wider Wizarding World
The Wizarding World has been so well defined that it has created multiple theme parks, a studio tour, themed products and even whole websites dedicated to finding out what house someone belongs to.
The wider influence this franchise has might never be replicated. It's fair to say that the series of novels and films have genuinely changed lives and has certainly cemented a strong legacy.
