Rick Riordan’s The Kane Chronicles trilogy is about to get its time in the spotlight. According to Variety, Netflix is planning to turn The Red Pyramid, The Throne of Fire, and The Serpent’s Shadow into multiple films.
The trilogy follows siblings Carter and Sadie Kane as they discover both their connection to ancient Egyptian pharaohs and new magical abilities that enable them to fight evil. Along the way, the duo encounters various creatures and gods from Egyptian mythology that either aid or hinder them on their journeys. Over the three books, this concept proves as strong and compelling as its two main leads.
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The Red Pyramid
Sadie Kane is a powerful and magical twelve-year-old who charges into battles with courage and flexibility. When she teams up with her intelligent and determined older brother Carter, there’s virtually nothing they can’t do. While Sadie will be a great role model for young girls, Carter serves as an inspiration for minority audiences—the elder Kane is described in the books as a young African-American boy. (Considering that Riordan has been extremely vocal when publishers attempted to whitewash his lead character on book covers, we have hope that Netflix will cast his role appropriately.)
While we eagerly await more news about The Kane Chronicles on Netflix, we’ll also be keeping tabs on Rick Riordan’s tv adaptation of the Percy Jackson series over on Disney+. Even though details about both adaptations are scarce, we’re looking forward to upcoming films and tv shows that hopefully offer a bit more than the live-action Percy Jackson films.
One keeps one’s fingers crossed, especially given my disappointment from the Percy Jackson film attempts
Second one actually wasn’t bad – but disappointing is an apt word for the first one. Casting was great – adaptation of the story – horrible.
I thought that the first one was way better than the second.
Minor quibble – both Carter and Sadie are mixed-race, but Carter presents as Black, while Sadie is white-passing (and has a posh British accent, for extra Hermione vibes). Peoples’ different reactions to the siblings, based on perceived race, is a big theme throughout the series.
Thanks for the tip #4. That’s interesting. I may have to put this series on my list.
Why is somebody who looks white described as passing? I’ve never understood that. And Sadie shouldn’t have a posh accent. She’s a middle or working class Londoner.
Having this at Neflix rather than Disney reduces the chance of Percy Jackson crossover stories :(
I have such a weird relationship with this particular Riordan series – I think it’s because the books came out in May, right after I was done with AP testing and had a weird depression settling in. The third book is definitely my favorite. I’m still wondering after all these years if we’ll ever figure out why that one kid had penguin-summoning powers. I’m waiting on that!!!
princessroxana, mixed people who appear white in most social settings are called “white passing” because:
a) Whiteness has historically been defined using purity language, with concepts like the “one drop rule” (where we get ridiculous and offensive terms like “mullato”, “quadroon”, “octaroon”. Any mixed person is then not white, no matter how they look. Obviously it’s stupid, but race exists to protect the power of the powerful, so mixing to the point of potentially integrating threatens the entire system.
b) Mixed people still experience many of the disadvantages resulting from being members of an oppressed racial group, however, in some spheres of their lives they may also be seen as white, and receive some of the advantages. They are then able, to some extent, to choose how they are seen. To avoid prejudice, mistreatment, and racist violence, they can “pass” as white among white people.
It’s not implying that being white is “passing” and being non-white is “failing”. It’s just a way to recognize that the reality of people’s identities are complex, and that the racist system doesn’t fully or accurately express those complexities.
By the one drop rule I’m black. Which doesn’t alter the fact I make Casper the ghost look like he’s got a healthy tan. It’s obvious nonsense. As is the idea that a mixed race person who identifies as white is being deceptive in some way.
It is obvious nonsense. My understanding is that the whole notion of ‘race’ was invented by racists and has no scientific foundation, something that becomes rapidly apparent when you try to quantify what is meant by the term (the ‘one drop rule’ being a particularly good example).
Can they find a way to cast newly minted Amazon star Harry Kane?
If only.