Rick Riordan’s ‘The Kane Chronicles’ Is Coming to Disney+ After Netflix’s Setback

Fans of ‘Percy Jackson’ have had much to celebrate since Disney+ transformed Rick Riordan’s demigod saga into a major success for the platform. However, another segment of his mythological universe has been stuck in development limbo for years. That situation is finally changing.

Riordan’s Egyptian mythology trilogy, ‘The Kane Chronicles,’ has shifted between studios since its initial optioning, most notably landing at Netflix as a planned film series before that version quietly fell apart. For a franchise centered on siblings discovering their lineage as descendants of ancient pharaohs, the path to the screen has been as intricate as the mythology itself.

Now, it seems that the wait is over. A recent report indicates that Riordan and writer-director Angela Robinson are set to adapt a ‘Kane Chronicles’ series at 20th Television for Disney+, with the studio acquiring the rights to the trilogy back in 2024.

This shift from film to television represents a significant change in how Riordan’s second major franchise will finally reach viewers. Paramount had initially secured the film rights for Netflix, but that deal ultimately fell through, returning the property to Riordan before 20th Television picked it up for Disney’s streaming service.

Based on ‘The Red Pyramid,’ ‘The Throne of Fire,’ and ‘The Serpent’s Shadow,’ the trilogy follows siblings Carter and Sadie Kane as they uncover the active presence of ancient Egyptian gods in the modern world. This story exists within the same universe as Riordan’s other franchises, including ‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians,’ but it shifts the focus from Greek to Egyptian mythology, highlighting the siblings’ lineage from pharaohs Narmer and Ramses the Great.

Robinson’s background should resonate with genre enthusiasts, having directed episodes of Netflix’s ‘Wednesday’ and contributed to ‘How to Get Away with Murder’ and ‘True Blood.’ While it hasn’t been confirmed whether she will direct the new series, her recent work on ‘Wednesday’ makes that a likely expectation.

Disney+ has already demonstrated its capability with Riordan’s work, as ‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’ quickly became a hit for the platform after its debut season adapted ‘The Lightning Thief.’ The series attracted millions of views in its first week and has since expanded into a second season based on ‘The Sea of Monsters,’ providing Disney with every reason to continue developing Riordan’s expansive mythological world.

‘The Kane Chronicles’ introduces a fresh element to this expanding universe, focusing on Egyptian mythology and featuring protagonists whose multiracial identities were inspired by real students Riordan taught during his time as a middle-school teacher. This unique perspective, combined with the established fan base the books have garnered since their original run from 2010 to 2012, offers Disney a solid foundation as the series progresses through development.

Details regarding casting, a premiere date, and further creative aspects have yet to be disclosed, and the project has not received an official announcement from Disney or 20th Television at this time. Nevertheless, with Riordan directly involved as a creator alongside Robinson, fans now have genuine momentum behind an adaptation that once seemed unlikely to move beyond the page.

As ‘Percy Jackson’ continues to grow and ‘The Kane Chronicles’ moves forward, Disney+ appears increasingly dedicated to becoming the ultimate home for Riordan’s interconnected mythological universe.

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