Hello all, Mad Dashiell here and thanks for joining me. We have some cool news for Gaiman and Peake fans today so let's get started. P.F.D.(Peters Fraser and Dunlop are one of the longest-established literary and talent agencies in London.) just won a highly contested battle to make the five books in the Gormenghast series into a new television adaptation of the books. Most of the series was written by the late British author Mervyn Peake. The tales follow the inhabitants of Castle Gormenghast, it is a sprawling, rotting, gothic-esque structure being reclaimed by time while hosting a raft of characters. This includes Titus, the heir to the throne of the House of Groan, a scheming kitchen boy Steerpike and the twin sisters Cora and Clarice. Originally it was conceived as a single on-going novel, the series abruptly ended by Peake's death and comprised three novels, Titus Groan (1946), Gormenghast (1950), Titus Alone (1959) and a novella, Boy in Darkness (1956-canonical status is debated) Peake was writing the fourth novel, Titus Awakes at the time of his death, which was later was completed and released to the public by Peake's widow in 2009.
An illustration of Mervyn Peake’s Gormenghast by Alan Lee.
This is the latest FremantleMedia project Gaiman will have his hands in, already the writer of many talents is wearing the hat of exec producer for the recent Starz fantasy drama AMERICAN GODS. He will be a non-writing exec producer on the project alongside Oscar-winning writer Akiva Goldsman. It is the latter’s latest high-profile major television series, having worked on Fox’s mystery drama FRINGS, TITANS, AND STAR TREK: DISCOVERY. THE DEER HUNTER's academy award-winning Barry Spikings will also serve as an executive producer, along with David Stern HOWARDS END, who was instrumental in bringing the deal together. FremantleMedia North America is in talks with potential showrunners for the project right now.
“Nothing combines a dark atmosphere with humor and intrigue the way that Gormenghast does. It’s one of the most eccentric and vividly imagined universes ever created,” said Dante Di Loreto, President of Scripted Entertainment, FremantleMedia North America. “We’re excited to continue our relationship with Neil and the producing team assembled for this project is ideal to explore the series’ perfect mix of humor, pathos, and tragedy.”
“There is nothing in literature like Mervyn Peake’s remarkable Gormenghast novels,” said Gaiman. “They were crafted by a master, who was also an artist, and they take us to an ancient castle as big as a city, with heroes and villains and people larger than life that are impossible to forget. There is a reason why there were two trilogies that lovers of the fantasy genre embraced in the Sixties: Lord of the Rings and the Gormenghast books. It’s an honor to have been given the opportunity to help shepherd Peake’s brilliant and singular vision to the screen.”
“We are tremendously excited by the prospect of seeing the Gormenghast books realized for television,” added Fabian Peake, son of Mervyn and executor of the Peake estate. “This venture presents a unique opportunity to explore the imagination of a multi-faceted artist.”
Well, this sounds like just what the creepy macabre morbid dark humor doctor ordered. I don't think there could be any better minds attached to the project and I will wait with baited breath as this story develops. This marks the second made for television adaptation since the BBC made the first two books into a four-part series back in 2000. -TITUS GROAN and GORMENGHAST, starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers(Bishop Heahmund from the series VIKINGS) and the immortal legend Christopher Lee.(You have heard of Hammer Horror, right? If not GTFO!)
Thanks for joining me, until next time,
Mad Dashiell signing off.
