Percy Jackson and the Olympians starts shooting in Vancouver

Production on fantasy series Percy Jackson and the Olympians is underway in Vancouver, Canada.

The upcoming Disney+ Original series is directed by Rick Riordan — who wrote the pentalogy of fantasy novels between 2005 and 2009.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians follows 12-year-old modern demigod, Percy Jackson (Walker Scobell), who is newly acquainted with his previously unknown divine powers after the sky god Zeus accuses him of stealing his master lightning bolt.

With help from his friends Annabeth (Leah Sava Jeffries) and Grover (Aryan Simhadri), Percy must embark on an adventure of a lifetime to find it and restore order to Olympus.

Writers for the pilot are Riordan and Jon Steinberg - who also serve as pilot producers - together with James Babin.

Filming will take place between June, 2022 and January, 2023.

Announcing production commencement on his website, Riordan said: 'This is it, demigods! Here in Vancouver, we have all hands on deck for the first day of filming on Percy Jackson and the Olympians. The excitement is so thick you could cut it with a celestial bronze ballpoint pen!'

Riordan also shared an update on the film's adult cast members set to star in the first couple of episodes: Virginia Kull will play Sally Jackson, Jason Mantzoukas is Mr. D / Dionysus, Megan Mullally is Mrs. Dodds / Alecto, Glynn Turman is Mr. Brunner / Chiron and Timm Sharp is Gabe Ugliano.

A release date is to be announced.