Helix showrunner Ed Decter will develop Cassandra Clare's YA fantasy franchise for the small screen
After stalling at the box office, The Mortal Instruments is coming back. As a television series.
Constantin Film, the production company that controls the rights to Cassandra Clare's best-selling YA fantasy franchise and which produced The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones film, is relaunching Mortal Instruments as a high-end drama series.
Constantin had originally planned to turn Clare's fantasy series into a feature film franchise but shelved that idea after the first Mortal Instruments film, starring Lily Collins and Jamie Campbell Bower, tanked at the box office, earning just $31 million domestically. Constantin, however, insisted it had not abandoned the franchise and planned to return to Mortal Instruments.
“It actually makes sense to do (the novels) as a TV series,” Constantin film and TV head Martin Moszkowicz told THR. “There was so much from the book that we had to leave out of the Mortal Instruments film. In the series we'll be able to go deeper and explore this world in greater detail and depth.”
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“@LuraPanda: " please, do you know if the actors will be recast?” I don't know, no.
— Cassandra Clare (@cassieclare) October 12, 2014
“@Alvampirita: " What do you think about the news?” I think it is cool. There is so much scope in a TV series to explore the story.
— Cassandra Clare (@cassieclare) October 12, 2014
“@uanrunes: " do you think they will start over with city of bones or start from city of ashes?” Start over.
— Cassandra Clare (@cassieclare) October 12, 2014
I'm so happy. Those books are my guilty pleasure. I hope it works, really i want this work. I was so dissapointed with the movie, it was boring tho the first book is boring as hell but after that one things get on really well.
ReplyDeleteYes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteMy major complaint with the film was that this should have been a series all along, same with the Beautiful Creatures series. Hope it's on Netflix or something :)
I didn't read the books or watch the movie but I'll check this out.
ReplyDeleteI loved the books but didn't see the movie as other fans of the book warned me away from it. I haven't seen Helix but I've heard great things about it so I have hope that this time around will be better!
ReplyDeleteI read the books but only the first one was a tight coherent story. Never finished the movie: casting was terrible and it was way too jumpy.
ReplyDeleteMortal Instruments biggest problem was the miscasting of a few roles. Beautiful Creatures on the other hand I think got the casting right. The talent among the actors in BC was really impressive and it's too bad it didn't do better at the box office. I enjoyed BC and would really like to see it become a series. I think Mortal Instruments has real potential as a series as well.
ReplyDeleteBeautiiful creatues has a lot more chance to be popular being a TV series, all the stuff about magic, witches, demons. It's so interesting if they do it right. TMI has a big chance too but they need to do it good.
ReplyDeleteHave you read dangerous creatures?
ReplyDeleteSO PUMPED! hope it lands on a network that would actually giving it a chance though
ReplyDeleteNot a fan of ANY teen franchise trying to swim with the hype Twilight created, Beautiful Creatures, The Host and to an extent Hunger Games (I know, I know....unpopular opinion. I consider the triangle too forced and Lawrence not good enough of an actress, against all popular belief sure but this is what I think, I'm usually REALLY critical but Lawrence really only reaches to the talent of Stephen Amell what, if you know me, isn't much in my opinion. Don't jump me Hunger Games fans....please?)
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen this but unlike most YA films the trailer seemed action focused, I'm sure the triangle was forced to the main center like ALL these films tend to do.
But I'm actually glad this is happening, TV offers storytelling opportunities such movies RARELY take the time for. What might have gone under the romance in a movie franchise might actually have a place on TV.
Not sure wich network we're talking here though
theCW can't afford a 'high-end' drama, the Flash is as high end as it gets and, nothing against that shows production values, that show isn't really a technical achievement (gorgeous yes, but full of easy to pull effect, no visuals that were truly amazing).
NBC, CBS and FOX seems like the wrong place as well, NBC and CBS really don't care about YA skewing shows whereas FOX is currently struggling with Sleepy Hollow wich is probably as YA as FOX can go (and I doubt they swap SH for this).
Cable or netflix I suppose? Lifetime has been doing a good job with Witches of East End and Netflix loses Hemlock Grove after 2015.
Hulu might be a possible place as well since their exclusive lineup is pretty...low
After I finish the Maze Runner series, gonna re-read at least 2-4 of BC and then read it, I figure that will just be a few less months to wait to read the sequel lol.
ReplyDeleteWeird that I'm almost 30, and seem to only look forward to YA series...in high school I was always the opposite and read "adult" books lol
Everything you listed is exponentially better than Twilight, especially Beautiful Creatures, but I don't see the harm... A shitty story that's popular paving the way for better stuff in the same genre? So be it.
ReplyDeleteI dropped TMR, the second book didnt work for me i dunno what happen there. BC is one of my favorites im not an avid reader most of what what i have read it's young adult but BC it was one the first and tho sometimes is cheesy i found them really good cause of that magic world that is aroud them, same with TMI.
ReplyDeleteseems like network channels would give an immediate cancellation. Something on cable likely preferred.
ReplyDeleteThe Scorch Trials is my favorite MR book so far, although I'm a little halfway through book 3 so that could change. I love them, they're well written and I think the last time I was so into a book was when I first read BC haha
ReplyDeleteThe first book got me all pumped. but halway through the second it was like there wasnt much interesting on the story, I plan on re-starting the book again to see if i change my mind.
ReplyDeleteHave you read Winger? i believe that book could make a good tv show xD
yeah, or netflix or something :)
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't expect the series to have the budget of Game of Thrones and it is not clear if the producers are planning to do each book as a 10 episode season (or maybe tackle two books in 10 episodes), it is possible the writers of the TV series will want to using the books as a starting point but than tell their own stories. As for a network, why not MTV? They are expanding their scripted programming.
ReplyDeleteThere's also TNT, who's developing Titans. Cable seems the right place for quality, but considering the storyline I would go with the CW or FOX, which is unlikely since Delirium never got a chance there.
ReplyDeleteSeriously curious about the cast now...
ReplyDeleteThe producers should consider MTV. Not sure if MTV can afford the entire budget alone but if the series can sell overseas and work out a streaming deal with Netflix, Amazon or Hulu, than it might be doable.
ReplyDeleteSo, they're not doing the second movie? I thought they were doing that...
ReplyDeleteOMGGGG DONT TEASE ME THIS BETTER HAPPEN
ReplyDeleteYES!! So excited! I hope they do TID, too.
ReplyDeleteThis made my day :D These books (and TID too) are so incredible and it was sad to see the movie do so badly..... Even though it lacked a lot compared to the book....... I really hope this is a sure thing!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteAre they going to recast the actors and actresses from the movie, or are they going to have a whole different cast? I'm so excited about this! The movie was okay, but I thought it lacked a lot of information that was in the book. I think a tv series will be better suited for the books because of all the information they contain.
ReplyDeleteMy complaint about the Beautiful Creatures movie had nothing to do with the casting or their talent, it was the plot. The movie didn't really match up with the book on a lot of aspects. The movie took some parts from the book, and made up or twisted things from the book, as well. I think if I wouldn't have read the books, I would have liked the movie was a lot better!
ReplyDeleteit has to be a full recast and it will eb better that way, let the crazyness to find the right Jace begins.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure it is fair to demonize an entire genre of lit because you disliked one example of it. YA is hugely popular, but it is also very diverse. Catering to an
ReplyDeleteOh God yes! recast Jace! I didn't mind Lily Collins, but the guy that played Jace, whose name I can't recall, was so... off. And while they're are at it they should recast Jocelyn too (love Lena, but not in that character)
ReplyDeleteI'M FREAKING OUT RIGHT NOW. I loved the movies, and the books, now this.. I don't care if the actors are recast, as long this happens: Well, so Constantin Film is going to produce it and find buyers (networks) ??
ReplyDeleteAs long as they find a good Simon im ok woth whatever they cast as Jace xD. I found him really good i dunno but i liked him (Jamie Campbell Bower) as Jace maybe because i didnt have anyone in my mind for the role
ReplyDeleteOh I totally agree. I basically enjoy the movie for the visuals and scenery which are awesome, and the cast. I loved most of them. They kind of slaughtered the book... I wish I had the seen the movie before reading them too lol. I know a TV series runs the risk of not being faithful either but the story ccan'the done justice with one movie per book. My dream is that someone like Netflix or maybe The CW or Amazon would develop it as a four season show and somewhat faithfully go with the story in the books. I'd take that over a MI series any day although I must admit when reading them they seem to beg to be a television series lol. Whereas a lot of the beauty of BC comes from how well written it is, a lot of which could be hard translate to a visual medium.
ReplyDeleteThe story gets better as it goes IMO. My favorite though is the prequel trilogy which would make excellent material for a (superior) spinoff should it prove successful.
ReplyDeleteThe broadcast nets are all much more patient with shows now than they were a few years ago... Especially FOX... I could see this being on Fox or the CW, but not any other broadcast network. Maybe ABC. But Netflix would be the best bet most likely.
ReplyDeleteBetter be 5 seasons at least.
ReplyDeleteor a restart. if cast change.
but some good news .
What abt cw???)
ReplyDeleteThis is great! YA series fit better as TV adaptations than film adaptations, which are certainly riskier and leave out too much from the books. TV adaptations can be 13-15 episodes long so that there are no filler episodes and all the important moments from the books can be incorporated.
ReplyDeleteI sure hope we can get a do-over for Vampire Academy as a TV series too!!
OMG! Same here. I think I'll eventually read The Death Cure, but Scorch Trials annoyed me to no end and I really took a dislike for TMR after that book.
ReplyDeleteTHIS!
ReplyDeleteTwilight gave such a bad reputation for all YA that it's cool to hate and joke on the genre now. But there are some series that are a million times better than what Twilight was.
I recently read these books and I personally would like to see them being developed as a TV show.
ReplyDeleteI hope they better cast the characters though this time. Jace is supposed to be hot but this guy only looks scary.
I actually think this show could work on the CW.
I really like this idea and I like Jamie Campbell, but I'm not opposed to an entirely new cast. The books were good, not great and the movie was rushed. Exploring it on TV and taking the time to show the character development is a better idea. I wonder when we'll find out who is developing it? I'll watch it.
ReplyDeleteI love these books, I think they will do great as a tv show! I'll be watching!
ReplyDeleteOh please, just not on the CW.
ReplyDeleteI am a huge fan of the books but the film was awful. I hope the tv show will be better.
ReplyDeleteThis made me so so happy!! I really liked Lily Collins and Jamie Bower Campbell in the film, I thought their chemistry was good. They're not super huge stars so perhaps they'd do the show for TV as well? Either way, I do think they should totally start over - for both the fans and just to set the story for TV in it's own way (with TV you can go crazy with more details since you're not trying to get everything in 30 minutes). Obviously a pilot has to be created AND picked up by a network - do we know anything on that expected timeline or this is still very much in the development phase? I think it'd do well on the CW (personal opinion).
ReplyDeleteI loved the film Simon and hated Jace, it's the opposite for the books ha
ReplyDeleteI like simon better xD... I cried a lot with the last book ,before the epilogue and after too.
ReplyDeleteI didn't mind Simon, the actor did well. Sure he doesn't look the way I pictured book!Simon but he pulled it off. I felt the same way with Clary. I was against Lily Collins from the get go, she didn't look enough like a girl next door, they didn't even get her hair red enough!!! But in the movie she did fine. But JCB (thank's for the name ;-))... I don't know he lookes too skimpy, not that he's skimpy, but not big enough??? LOL, I don't know how to put it. And then his interpretation of Jace was off a bit, is like the personality didn't fit his appearance.
ReplyDeleteBut hey, it looks like it's a whole new world, so let's hope they do it better this time around ;-)
I'm still trying to get myself to read CoHF! I hate endings so I've been putting it off. Imagine, it took me a year and a half to watch the last episodes of BSG and I only watched Fringe's final season last july, so I can probably put it off a Little longer, LOL!
ReplyDelete