Top 10 Shows That Could Be the Next Game of Thrones
#10: “His Dark Materials” (TBA)
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Based on the fantasy book series by Sir Philip Pullman, “His Dark Materials” follows a young girl in a world where people’s souls manifest as animal “dæmons”, and her adventures in parallel universes. Although a movie adaptation failed to garner much praise, this was largely due to its rushed pace. Hopefully the TV series will be able to take a more relaxed approach that will allow its story to unfold at a better speed. With many big names like James McAvoy and Lin-Manuel Miranda set to star and the show already renewed for a second season before it airs, the future looks “bright” for “His Dark Materials.”
#9: “The Watch” (TBA)
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Set in Terry Pratchett’s long-running fantasy series “Discworld,” “The Watch” will not be a complete adaptation of the late author’s absurd and comic stories, famous for turning fantasy tropes on their heads. Rather, “The Watch” will adapt or be based on the stories about the city watch of Ankh-Morpork City, one of the books’ major settings, in a kind of fantasy police procedural. While the concept isn’t entirely original, (ahem, “Bright!”) hopefully “The Watch” won’t take itself too seriously; which, if Pratchett’s usual style is any indication, seems very likely.
#8: “The Dark Tower” (TBA)
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The first of several fantasy shows in development by Amazon on our list, “The Dark Tower” series will be based on the Steven King books of the same name. A departure from King’s usual repertoire, “The Dark Tower” blends the fantasy, horror, and western genres, as it follows a gunslinger and his companions attempting to reach the titular tower. Although a film adaptation failed, likely due to being a pseudo sequel to the series that also tried to appeal to casual audiences, we’re optimistic that the show can deliver a more inclusive and faithful rendering of King’s longest running book series.
#7: “The Kingkiller Chronicle” (TBA)
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Patrick Rothfuss’ “Kingkiller” series follows Kvothe, an orphaned musician and arcanist-in-training on various adventures that build toward him becoming a legendary figure. “The Kingkiller Chronicle” TV series…will not be Kvothe’s story. Rather, that will be adapted into a film series. Instead, the TV show is said to be a prequel, possibly focused on Kvothe’s parents, though the details are still sketchy. However, the spreading of the franchise across multiple mediums could prove popular, and the fact that “Hamilton” creator Lin-Manuel Miranda is writing the songs for both has us thinking that “The Kingkiller Chronicle” will be music to our ears.
#6: “The Chronicles of Narnia” (TBA)
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C. S. Lewis’ celebrated fantasy series follows the adventures of British children transported into the magical land of Narnia; home to talking animals, powerful villains, and many other wonders. While several television and feature films have been made about the series, the entire franchise has never been committed to screen. Given that Netflix has the rights to all seven books (a first, for any company), fans may finally get the chance to see Narnia’s origins AND conclusion on screen at last. While in many ways, these classics of children’s literature are practically the opposite of “Game of Thrones”, Lewis’ series remains beloved among fantasy fans, and they’re sure to strike a chord with viewers.
#5: “The Wheel of Time” (TBA)
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One of the most famous, bestselling, and longest high fantasy series ever written, Robert Jordan’s “The Wheel of Time” is a sprawling story of political intrigue, epic battles, and unlikely heroes. At the centre is a reluctant hero whose actions could either save the world . . . or destroy it. Set to air on Amazon, “The Wheel of Time” promises to bring the kind of expansive lore and massive cast that “Game of Thrones” fans love, while also incorporating a complex magic system. George R. R. Martin credited Jordan with helping to “redefine the genre”, paying tribute with the character “Trebor Jordayne of Tor” in his own series. We have high hopes . . . so long as the show doesn’t take its cues from those cheesy book covers…
#4: “Lovecraft Country” (2019-)
H. P. Lovecraft’s cosmic horror fiction has terrified and fascinated readers for over a century, and inspired other writers as well. Such is the case with Matt Ruff’s “Lovecraft Country,” a novel that follows an African American man searching for his father during the Jim Crow era, while also contending with Lovecraftian monsters. Given that J. J. Abrams and Jordan Peele, two of the biggest names in entertainment right now, are executive producers on the show, we think we can safely expect thrilling and thought provoking things from “Lovecraft Country.”
#3: “The Witcher” (TBA)
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This Polish fantasy series follows Geralt, one of the titular superhuman monster hunters, and his adventures with a colorful cast of companions - including the bard Dandelion, the sorceress Yennefer, and their adopted daughter Ciri. Andrzej Sapkowski’s short stories and novels have been adapted for TV and film before, to less than critical acclaim . . . The eponymous video game series has fared much better however, increasing demand for more “Witcher” on screen. Answering the call, Netflix is adapting a new TV series, with Sapkowski as creative consultant and Henry Cavill as Geralt. Given that the franchise is noted for its violence, social commentary, fantastic creatures, and sex, “The Witcher” is a strong contender to fill the void once “Game of Thrones” ends.
#2: “Game of Thrones” Spin-Offs
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Who better to take up the mantle of “Game of Thrones” than another series set in Westeros? A currently unconfirmed number of prequel spin-offs to the franchise are in development, but the one that’s confirmed so far will take place in the Age of Heroes, when the White Walkers launched their first assault on Westeros, and is set to star Naomi Watts. Other potential shows are rumored to focus on Valyria, the lost home of the Targaryens and their dragons, as well as a series about the Targaryen civil war “The Dance of Dragons”. However many end up coming to screens, we’ll definitely be watching! Before we get to our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions: “Queen of Shadows” (TBA) “Good Omens” (2019) “The Fifth Season” (TBA) “Cursed” (TBA) “Who Fears Death” (TBA)
#1: “The Lord of the Rings” (TBA)
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“The Lord of the Rings” is the granddaddy of most modern fantasy and it’s still got some stories to tell. The TV adaptation is reportedly a prequel to the familiar trilogy, set thousands of years before during Middle-Earth’s Second Age, the time period of the lost kingdom of Numenor, when the Rings of Power were forged, and Sauron was first defeated. How much of these pivotal events will be shown is still unknown, but if there’s one fantasy show in development that might be able to match or exceed the hype of “Game of Thrones,” to “rule them all,” we believe it’s this one.
