Every network seems to be looking for the next Game of Thrones-- including the network behind Game of Thrones-- and HBO rival Showtime isn't messing around.
The premium cable network is developing Patrick Rothfuss' The Kingkiller Chronicle with Hamiltonmastermind Lin-Manuel Miranda, who has been working on the project with production studio Lionsgate since last November.
According to Showtime, the fantasy series "will follow a pair of wandering performers on their adventures through the unique and startling world of Temerant, immersing audiences in a universe of unexpected heroes, mystical places, and terrifying dark forces." In a slight twist, the show is being touted as an origin story that will begin a generation before the events of Rothfuss' first novel in the trilogy,The Name of the Wind.
Lionsgate is clearly hoping for a multiplatform franchise for Kingkiller, with a feature film and interactive games also being developed alongside the Showtime project.
Warner Bros. planned a similar rollout for its Dark Tower adaptation, which was slated to include a tie-in TV show as well as a series of movies -- but given the film's lackluster box office haul and critical mauling, author Stephen King is now describing the TV series as "a complete reboot."
Still, Miranda and his creative partners are clearly optimistic about Kingkiller-- the multi-hyphenate even plans to compose music for the show.
"Showtime has always championed bold storytelling,” Miranda said in a statement. “Pat Rothfuss' Kingkillerseries is some of the most exciting storytelling I have ever read. I could not be more thrilled to help bring the sights and sounds of his wondrous world of Temerant to the screen.”
“The Kingkiller Chronicleis one of the most coveted properties in the world, and we’re thrilled to partner with a brilliant creator in Pat Rothfuss, a creative genius in Lin-Manuel Miranda and a renowned showrunner in John Rogers,” added Lionsgate Television Group Chairman Kevin Beggs. “With Showtime as our network partner, we continue to assemble a world-class team for our Kingkillerfranchise.”