BBC America has announced they intend to make The Watch based on Terry Pratchett’s subset Discworld novels City Watch.
City Watch centers on misfit cops as they fight to save a ramshackle city of normalized wrongness, from both the past and future in a perilous quest. The show is expected to feature a gaggle of famous Discworld characters including City Watch Captain Sam Vimes and Pratchett’s iconic characterization of Death.
The series will be produced by BBC America and co-produced with Narrativia. Simon Allen will write, Hilary Salmon and Ben Donald will executive produce along with Rob Wilkins and Phil Collinson.
As reported by The Wrap, BBC America president Sarah Barnett said,
“The Watch has been startlingly reimagined for television by writer Simon Allen, while still cleaving to the humor, heart and ingenuity of Terry Pratchett’s incomparably original work. BBC America embraces what’s fresh and exhilarating in TV; we believe The Watch will astonish audiences. With events in our own world making the insanity of Discworld seem outrageously familiar, there couldn’t be a better time to bring Terry’s fun, fire and fury back to the small screen or a better place than BBC AMERICA. I’m grateful to them, BBC Studios and especially Rob Wilkins at Narrativia who has been a constant source of inspiration on this epic and emotional journey.”
Hilary Salmon said,
“The Watch is a distinctly British but defiantly global exhilarating thriller that is disruptive in its approach to the fantasy genre and also big on the themes of mortality, inclusion, alternative facts and justice. It’s a dizzying riot of hope, joy, suspense and audaciously dark humor. We can’t wait to work with BBC America to bring it all to life for existing fans and brand new audiences.”
Finally Rob Wilkins from Narrativia,
“Many years ago Terry made the brave decision to allow brand new Watch stories to be told with his existing characters. It’s taken a long time for anything to happen because we guard these characters with our very lives! So many of Terry’s biggest ideas seem more vital and urgent now than ever before and I am thrilled to be working with Simon and such a talented team, who understand the unique genius of their creator. They have really keyed into the subversive qualities of Terry’s voice and they clearly adore Discworld as much as I and millions of fans around the world do.”
Sounds very interesting and whilst I have never read many of the Discworld novels I have caught a few TV adaptations already and enjoyed them. I guess we can add Discworld to the many other fantasy properties being developed over the next few years. If unsure what I mean by that check the related section editorial about the subject below.
RELATED: We Are Entering The Golden Age Of Fantasy On TV
Are you excited to see The Watch from BBC America, or do you think there are better corners of the Late Pratchett’s universe more worthy of exploration? Sound off in the usual place below.
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SOURCE: The Wrap
