Columbus admits 'Percy', 'Potter' concern

Chris Columbus has admitted that he was keen to prevent his new movie Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief from being compared to Harry Potter.

The director, who helmed the first two Potter films, admitted that the wizard series was never far from his mind when he was working on his latest fantasy project.

In an interview with Screenstar, Columbus explained: "To a certain extent, if I felt there were any similarities - because people always ask the question - I really, really tried hard to remove them from the film.

"I didn't really want the comparisons, but the comparisons, when you're doing anything in the fantasy genre, are inevitable. Every time I saw a bit of a pitfall we'd move away from it."

Meanwhile, asked whether he would like to be involved in another Percy Jackson film, Columbus replied: "Honestly, I don't want to curse this one. But if we're lucky enough, if this film is successful enough, I'd love to do a second one."

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, based on the novel by Rick Riordan, tells the story of a young boy who discovers he is the son of Greek god Poseidon.

> Percy Jackson film 'not like Potter'