CONAN, NEIL GAIMAN'S LATEST, AND MORE JOIN UPCOMING LORD OF THE RINGS AND CURSED IN A BATTLE FOR THE TV FANTASY THRONE. PLUS, FOUR MORE SERIES WE'D LIKE TO SEE.


TV is set for an onslaught of high-profile fantasy epics come 2019, and we at Rotten Tomatoes can’t wait. Witness the buzz around The Lord of the Rings television series in development at Amazon — acquired for $250 million and expected to ultimately cost more than $1 billion — the Gormenghast series announced last week by FreemantleMedia North America, and Netflix’s new take on the Arthur legend, Cursed. It’s a big change from the genre’s historical position in the medium.

It may be strange to think of it now, but Game of Thrones was a risky proposition when HBO first began development of the series, and its prospects were buoyed by the fact that its more fantastic elements appeared later in the narrative (we had to wait so long for those dragons). Prior to that, fantasy was relegated to syndicated fair like Conan the Adventurer and Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. Xena: Warrior Princess was an outlier in terms of quality storytelling, but its occasionally cheesy effects proved to the television executives that fantasy TV was too expensive, while other series proved it was often built on poor story standards. GoT changed that perception, even if the fantasy shows which emerged in its wake — The Shannara Chronicles and Shadowhunters for example — proved closer in story quality to the BeastMaster television series.

But The Lord of the Rings, Gormenghast, and Cursed are not the only promising fantasy series in development at the moment. A number of classic fantasy epics and novels will become television thanks to the power of streaming services like Amazon, cable options like BBC America, and others outlets that are worth spotlighting. There are also a few notable series not yet scooped up by the powers in television that we think should get the TV treatment as soon as possible. So here are the six fantasy epics set to hit your screen soon and four we hope will follow them.

FANTASY SERIES COMING TO TV AND STREAMING

GOOD OMENS


TV Release Date: 2019

Based on: The 1990 novel by the late Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman (or vice-versa, depending on which cover you bought). Set in a world where biblical legends are true, the keeper of the east gate of Heaven and the Serpent from the Garden of Eden unite to prevent the apocalypse as they’ve come to enjoy their quaint lives in the United Kingdom.

The Fanbase: The combined fanbases of Gaiman and Pratchett, poets, jokesters, lovers of myth and song.

Everything we know so far: David Tennant and Michael Sheen star as the serpent and the angel, respectively, with actors like Jon Hamm, Anna Maxwell Martin, and Nick Offerman set to feature in key roles. Filming is currently underway with Gaiman acting as an executive producer and showrunner. The six-episode series will debut on Amazon and then air in the United Kingdom on BBC Two.

It’s most like: Time Bandits, the 1985 Terry Gilliam film that also featured an irreverent look at God, angels, and Evil Geniuses.

Chances it will be a Certified Fresh hit: Season 1 of Gaiman’s only other television show, American Gods, is Certified Fresh at 92% on the Tomatometer. While it has similar themes, Gods is a far more serious — even portentous — take on Gaiman’s love of myths and legends. But Good Omens’ very British mindset may find an audience in the U.S. that American Gods has yet to capture.

HIS DARK MATERIALS


TV Release Date: TBD

Based on: Philip Pullman’s epic trilogy — Northern Lights (published in the North America as The Golden Compass and adapted into a movie of the same name, pictured above), The Subtle Knife, and The Amber Spyglass — centers on two children who grow up while journeying across parallel worlds, where they encounter talking armored bears and, of course, our world. Pullman’s story upends fantasy conventions and revolves on the notion that Original Sin is one of mankind’s greatest qualities.

The Fanbase: The kids who read Harry Potter and wanted more.

Everything we know so far: The British Broadcasting Corporation commissioned an eight-part adaptation of the entire trilogy in 2015. In April of last year, writer Jack Thorne said the program was still in preproduction and that he was still trying to balance “what works and what doesn’t” while maintaining as much fidelity to the books as possible.

It’s most like: Harry Potter with a healthy skepticism of organized religions. Pullman was surprised by the intense scrutiny the Potter books received from religious groups in the U.S. while his series openly criticized a Catholic form of government. Catholics eventually took notice and campaigned against the series’ film adaptation, 2007’s The Golden Compass.

Chances it will be a Certified Fresh hit: Produced by Jane Tranter and Julie Gardner — two of the people heavily involved in Doctor Who’s revival (88% Fresh) — the series may prove successful depending on how much compression of Pullman’s world is required to make it fit into eight hours of television.

THE WATCH


TV Release Date: TBD

Based on: Elements from the 41 Discworld novels by Terry Pratchett. Set on a world that is really a disc held in place by four elephants standing on the back of a turtle, Discworld is both a parody of early fantasy works and a sweeping universe in its own right. Thanks to the series, Prachett was the U.K.’s best-selling author in the 1990s. While Discworld does not tell one single overarching tale, its characters weave in and out of story lines, with characters like Death receiving major ongoing tales and constant cameos.

The Fanbase: Trickster know-it-alls with hearts of gold.

Everything we know so far: The BBC series will focus on the Ankh-Morpork City Watch. It is said to be a police procedural set in the major Discworld city, which will definitely set it apart from the likes of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and NCIS. The program does not have a U.S. distributor yet, but you can imagine it will be scooped up quickly by Syfy or Netflix.

It’s most like: . Like Douglas Adams’ comedic sci-fi yarn, Pratchett’s work appeals to those with a wide sense of humor and a love of rich characters.

Chances it will be a Certified Fresh hit: Previous Discworld-based television series like the Cosgrove Hall–produced Discworld animated shorts and The Hogfather are cult classics in the United States, but that doesn’t necessarily translate to major critical or commercial success. But the series could last a long time should the BBC and the eventual U.S. streamer or broadcaster position it toward the right audience.

GAME OF THRONES PREQUELS


TV Release Date: TBD

Based on: The yarns of history or myth A Song of Ice and Fire author George R.R. Martin likes to tell while characters eat sweet meats and plot their next move in the Game of Thrones. Also based on the stories he tells his audience while not finishing The Winds of Winter.

The Fanbase: Game of Thrones fans, which is a large part of HBO’s subscriber base at this point.

Everything we know so far: According to HBO president Casey Bloys, there could be as many as five prequel series after Game of Thrones completes its run next year. Developed with Martin and talents like The Leftovers‘ Carly Wray and Kick-Ass‘s Jane Goldman, multiple premises are said to be in a competition for one singular broadcast slot. But Bloys also called having two or more potential series ready for air a “high class problem” he would solve should more than one pilot script prove exceptional. No matter how many prequels HBO ends up putting in production, they will all be set before the era depicted in Games of Thrones.

It’s most like: Game of Thrones. Unless, of course, Martin convinces HBO to put an outright GoT parody on the air.

Chances it will be a Certified Fresh hit: Unless it’s a colossal train wreck, it will be a hit. Even in its toughest moments, GoT, season-by-season, never dipped below 90% Fresh on the Tomatometer – though the episode “Unbroken, Unbowed and Unbent” wiped out at a barely Rotten 58%. It would take an act of the Old Gods and the New to make it a dud. And should it fail, they have four more ideas to use.


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