HBO is eager to make sure that the departure of Game of Thrones does not leave behind too much of a void in its prestige genre department. The network has been proactive on this front and will debut two hotly anticipated genre series this fall. One is a new adaptation of the graphic novel Watchmen from Damon Lindelof (The Leftovers).
The second is a gorgeous-looking new adaptation of Phillip Pullman’s classic fantasy trilogy, His Dark Materials. In 2007, New Line Cinema adapted the first book in the trilogy, The Golden Compass into a film. It received a lukewarm reception from critics and audiences alike. A plethora of book fans such as myself was disappointed that the film didn’t capture the wit and magic of the source material.
HBO and BBC teamed up to deliver a TV adaptation with all that wit and magic, and so far, so good.
The cinematography is scrumptious, the production design dazzles, and the visual effects on the all-important dæmons look superb (Pan is so cute!). The cast looks like the strongest selling point aside from the source material itself. The star-studded cast includes James McAvoy (It: Chapter Two), Ruth Wilson (Luther), Dafne Keen (Logan), Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton), and Clarke Peters (The Wire).
The first season consists of eight episodes and will drop sometime this fall (the exact release date has yet to be revealed). Stay tuned to That Shelf for more coverage!
In the meantime, check out the San Diego Comic-Con trailer below. What do you think of this new HBO series? Let us know at @ThatShelf.
His Dark Materials trailer
His Dark Materials synopsis:
His Dark Materials stars Dafne Keen, James McAvoy, Ruth Wilson and Lin-Manuel Miranda. Adapting Philip Pullman’s award-winning trilogy of the same name, which is considered a modern masterpiece of imaginative fiction, the first season follows Lyra, a seemingly ordinary but brave young woman from another world. Her search for a kidnapped friend uncovers a sinister plot involving stolen children, and becomes a quest to understand a mysterious phenomenon called Dust. As she journeys through the worlds, including our own, Lyra meets Will, a determined and courageous boy. Together, they encounter extraordinary beings and dangerous secrets, with the fate of both the living — and the dead — in their hands.