Keener battles god of underworld in "Percy Jackson"

Actress Catherine Keener arrives at the ''Synedoche, New York'' film gala during the 33rd Toronto International Film Festival, in this file photo from September 9, 2008.

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Catherine Keener has joined the cast of "Percy Jackson," director Christopher Columbus' adaptation of Rick Riordan's fantasy-adventure book series.

The books, which put Greek gods in modern times, involve Poseidon's half-human son, Percy, who is on a quest in modern America to prevent a war among the gods.

Columbus and Craig Titley wrote the screenplay for the Fox 2000 feature.

Keener plays Percy's mother, who has battled to protect her son from otherworldly forces but has been abducted by Hades.

The actress joins a lineup that includes Pierce Brosnan, Uma Thurman, Sean Bean, Kevin McKidd and Melina Kanakaredes. Logan Lerman plays Percy.

Keener, who next appears in "The Soloist" with Robert Downey Jr. and Jamie Foxx, just wrapped Fox Searchlight's untitled comedy with John C. Reilly, Jonah Hill and Marisa Tomei, written and directed by the Duplass brothers ("Baghead").

(Editing by Sheri Linden at Reuters)