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I don’t know why this fantastic grimdark fantasy book series hasn’t been adapted yet

I don’t know why this fantastic grimdark fantasy book series hasn’t been adapted yet

Summary

  • Joe Abercrombie’s First Law series is an ideal candidate for adaptation in an R-rated adult fantasy setting with black humor and violence.
  • Due to its brevity, the trilogy is ideally suited for a film format, so that, unlike extensive fantasy epics, no adaptation for television is necessary.
  • Although a film adaptation of “Best Served Cold” seemed promising, delays due to strikes in the industry raised doubts about its chances.



In recent years there have been a number of fantasy book adaptations, and There is a phenomenal grimdark series that I am shocked has not been made into a film or television series. Since game of Thrones I’m waiting for the next great fantasy TV series that will lure me into its world and capture my imagination in a similar way. I was really excited by shows like The Sorcerer And The Wheel of Timebut I couldn’t believe the production value compared to what HBO had offered game of Thrones or what Peter Jackson developed with Lord of the Rings Movies.

There are still so many great fantasy books that deserve adaptation, and I have started diving into many of these extensive series to fill the gap left by GoT and The Song of Ice and FireFrom modern authors like Brandon Sanderson and Samantha Shannon to older fantasy books by Guy Gavriel Kay and Tad Williams, there is so much great material that I would love to see brought to life on screen. That is, if they are brought to life with the resources and respect these stories deserve.



I am surprised and disappointed that the First Law trilogy has not yet been adapted

The First Law Could Be the GoT Answer Hollywood Is Looking For Without Damaging Its History

Cover of the books of the trilogy “The First Law” by Joe Abercrombie

Joe Abercrombie is one of the most exciting contemporary fantasy authorswith a witty sophistication in his prose that matches the strength of his character work and world-building. The first law Trilogy, which is the first part of a larger saga with standalone novels, short stories and another book trilogy, is perfect for an adaptation. I have made comparisons between The first law And game of Thrones I couldn’t imagine them having the same cultural appeal as dark fantasy stories that subvert the norms of the genre.

The first law
is packed with black humor, it’s raunchy, it’s brutal. It’s the perfect trilogy to make into an R-rated, adult fantasy,
Lord of the rings
Counterpoint.


With shows like The young, There is undoubtedly a market in Hollywood for material that offers a generally more cynical approach to classic archetypes and narrative structures. Even more than game of Thrones, The first law is a series that examines characters with questionable morals and challenges the reader to have compassion for their situation in an often cruel world. The first law is packed with black humor, it’s raunchy, it’s brutal. It’s the perfect trilogy to make into an R-rated, adult fantasy, Lord of the rings Counterpoint.

Why Joe Abercrombie’s first legal books would be ideal for adaptation

The First Law is not as extensive as other fantasy epics, which means it could fit into the film format

The First Law Illustrated Representations


As mentioned, The first law can appeal to modern audiences’ desire for morally questionable characters and darker fantasy worlds. One of the main reasons why many fantasy series are struggling is that many streaming services have poured money into series in the hope of creating the next game of Thrones if not every story game of Thrones. Naturally, The first law is not game of Thrones too, but it does not require as big a tonal shift as a fantasy world like The Wheel of Timewhich is much more magical and alive.

Joe Abercrombie’s books have the ideal tone and length to be turned into marketable Hollywood films.


One of my biggest points for The first law is this Each volume is concise enough to function as a film. Television budgets seem to be a problem for several fantasy series, giving them an aesthetic that seems kitschy and inauthentic. Three medium-length films could cover the essential material in The first law trilogy, while other fantasy books simply cannot be compressed into film format without sacrificing important elements. Joe Abercrombie’s books have the ideal tone and length to spawn marketable Hollywood films.

Best Served Cold News offers hope for the fantasy series (but I’m still skeptical)

A film was in development, but there have been no updates for almost a year

Rebecca Ferguson appears stoic as Ilsa in “Mission Impossible – Dead Reckoning”

There was news about an adaptation of Best served cold in 2023, with Rebecca Ferguson as the star and Dead Pool Director Tim Miller is reportedly on board to direct the project (via Deadline). Best served cold is a standalone novel in The first law universe that is full of gripping action and strong character work, making it ideal for a one-off audition. If the film goes ahead and is a success, it seems quite plausible that The first law Adaptations of the trilogy could soon follow.


However, this news came before the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, and it seems many Hollywood studios have shied away from big-budget fantasy projects. None of the fantasy TV shows that have been launched have had anywhere near the success of the cultural appeal of game of Thronesand they represent enormous investment risks. There were no news about Best served cold after the strikes. Although I hope that it will continue to progress, I am skeptical. Hopefully The first law The universe will soon find a new way, but in the meantime there are at least plenty of great books to read.

Sources: Deadline