Universal nabs rights to Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series

[Krug]

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117990464.html?categoryid=13&cs=1

Universal Pictures has acquired film rights to the late Robert Jordan's bestselling "The Wheel of Time" novel series in a seven-figure deal.

Adaptations of the fantasy tomes will begin with the first book in the cycle, "The Eye of the World."

Rick Selvage and Larry Mondragon will produce for Red Eagle Entertainment, which published graphic novel adaptations of Jordan's books.

"The Wheel of Time" follows, among its dozens of characters, Rand al’Thor, the latest incarnation of a force for good called "The Dragon." Rand is born to fight an evil character called Shai’tan.

 

[ToddSchumacher]

I don't know if I should be excited or worried...I guess it depends on who directs.

 

[Darkwolf71]

Handled correctly, this would make a very good trilogy.

 

[Pyrex]

My opinion here is much the same as for the upcoming Sword of Truth TV series.

Amidst the 100's of pages of cruft, I'm pretty sure there are at least a couple good movies in there.

It's all up to the screenwriter and director to find the right bits.

 

[Zaukrie]

Agreed. Since these books got incredibly long and tedious, movies might actually be an improvement. However, I'd think that there are so many things in these books that it could end up like Eragon - all the good fluff taken out, lots of plot and context removed, and a mediocre/bad movie of a decent book.

 

[Darth Shoju]

All I can say is I don't envy whoever is writing the screenplay.

 

[Orius]

Agreed. Since these books got incredibly long and tedious, movies might actually be an improvement. However, I'd think that there are so many things in these books that it could end up like Eragon - all the good fluff taken out, lots of plot and context removed, and a mediocre/bad movie of a decent book.

So does that mean the book Eragon was based on doesn't read like Star Wars on dragons?

 

[Spatula]

Good luck trimming WoT down to movie-length material... I think I can already hear the fan outcry over this change or that exclusion.

 

[Darkwolf71]

So does that mean the book Eragon was based on doesn't read like Star Wars on dragons?

Oh, let's not drege that old horse out. It's not like Star Wars was original material.

 

[drothgery]

I've always said the best way to put WoT on film would be 3-4 years of an hour-a-week TV show (or really 45 minutes/wk + commercials and credits).