In a recent story from Deadline talking about upcoming projects from Amazon Television, a rather big revelation – at least for all of us here at FTN – was announced.
The article was talking about newly acquired properties by the studio, including the already announced Lord of the Rings series (here) as well as Iain M. Banks’ classic sci-fi Culture book series be inning with the first book, Consider Phlebas; “The story of the Culture is so rich and captivating that for years Hollywood has been trying to bring this utopian society to life on the screen,” said Sharon Tal Yguado, Head of Scripted Series at Amazon Studios.
“We are honored that we have been chosen, along with Dennis Kelly and Plan B Entertainment, to make Consider Phlebas into a television series we think will be loved by fans for years to come.”
However in the announcement it went on: Amazon made a mega deal for a Lord Of the Rings TV series and is developing a slew of high-profile titles, including The Dark Tower, Wheel of Time, Ringworld, Lazarus and Snow Crash.
Sorry, what?
Amazon are making a Dark Tower series?!
Well, you may recall a while back (here) that we reported that, while creator of the series, Stephen King, was supportive of the movie, he said that it just didn’t serve the story properly and that he heard a full reboot for TV was happening?
Well, that’s what we’re hearing is occurring here.
The movie, while entertaining in places, was a totally disaster on many, many levels. It utterly disrespected the source material – eight books and counting (with another on the way?) – and boiled down an epic tale to a two hour mess. On top of that, it stank of studio interference.
So we have hope that Amazon can best serve the story, not just of Roland and Jake, but of Eddie and Suzannah, Cuthbert and Alain, Rita of the Coos and Susan, Walter and Mordred… and the Crimson King.
There’s a tale on the pages of King’s magnum opus that makes Game of Thrones look like an episode of Two Broke Girls… someone just needs to do it with love and attention, and to remember the faces of their fathers.
Hopefully Amazon is that group of people.
Marc
Marc is a self-confessed nerd. Ever since seeing Star Wars for the first time around 1979 he’s been an unapologetic fan of the Wars and still believes, with Clone Wars and now Underworld, we are yet to see the best Star Wars. He’s a dad of two who now doesn’t have the time (or money) to collect the amount of toys, comics, movies and books he once did, much to the relief of his long-suffering wife. In the real world he’s a graphic designer. He started Following the Nerd because he was tired of searching a million sites every day for all the best news that he loves and decided to create one place where you can go to get the whole lot. Secretly he longs to be sitting in the cockpit of his YT-1300 Corellian Transport ship with his co-pilot Chewie, roaming the universe, waiting for his next big adventure, but feels just at home watching cartoons with his kids….
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