Amazon continues to live up to its namesake. Their latest achievement is acquiring the rights to JRR Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings for a TV adaptation. With this rumoured $250 million deal, Amazon will not only be able to reproduce LOTR, but also spin-offs with any of its characters.
Amazon, that has been fighting for space and prominence in the battle for web streaming with Netflix and Hulu, may have just added a major incentive for the enormous fan-following of the fantasy series.
GRR Martin’s Game of Thrones, JK Rowling’s Harry Potter franchise have proved how lucrative a series adaptation can be. And in the spirit of that, here’s our wishlist of books we’d LOVE to see adapted into TV series.
1) Wuthering Heights – Emily Bronte (1847)
Yes, they’ve already made a series on Emily Bronte’s dark love story (starring Tom Hardy, FYI) in 2009. But have you seen it? That would be a no, right? Precisely why the murky world of WH needs to come alive yet again – to reintroduce us to the ruthless and twisted love story of Heathcliff and Cathy.
2) Discworld – Terry Pratchett (1983)
Terry Pratchett’s books would not be easy to adapt – what with the writing being both over-the-top and subtle at the same time. Discworld takes us to a magical world of witches and wizards taking potshots at contemporary news while being set in presumably the middle ages.
3) Mistborn – Brandon Sanderson (2006)
Another fantasy novel series that could turn out great as a TV series is the Mistborn series. As is usual in most stories about a magical realm, there is a ‘Dark Lord’ in the picture here as well. However unlike other stories about magic, here the villain is in control, and his supposed vanquisher (as promised by a prophesy) fails spectacularly. The series follows the trails of a world in which a hero is struggling to cope, to fight, to win.
4) The Hunger Games – Suzanne Collins (2008)
Another book series that has already been seen on silver screen and yet has great potential to do well on TV. Those who have seen the films and read the books will no doubt vouch that Panem deserved better. Both from the Capitol and the makers of the film. The films miss the gory and often cruel details that could have made the Rebellion look that much more potent. And it is a truth universally acknowledged that the last installment of the film series – Mockingjay 1 & 2 were both pretty awful.
5) Goosebumps – RL Stine (1992)
Because, why not? RL Stine’s Goosebumps series has been a beloved horror series staple for years now. The books are now almost a rite of passage for teens everywhere. And who doesn’t love being scared? As the Annabelle series is proof, there’s quite a bit of money there.
6) Bertie Wooster and Jeeves – PG Wodehouse
PG Wodehouse too has graced the hallowed halls of TV series. The last one starred the inimitable Hugh Laurie in Jeeves and Wooster(1990-93). But that was decidedly too many years ago and to survive these perilous times we could definitely do with bland British humour courtesy the rich and rather dim Bertie Wooster and his adventures.
7) The Famous Five – Enid Blyton (1942)
The world would be a better place with more Enid Byton in out lives. If there is a staple children’s book that can be found in nearly every household that encourages reading. The Famous Five – the kids and Timmy the dog – meet conspiracies at every corner and have a knack for resolving them.
Would you like to add to this list? Tell us in the comment box below.
