20 new shows that could become the next Game of Thrones

His Dark Materials

James McAvoy

CR: HBO

His Dark Materials (BBC/HBO)

“Two children embark on a magical adventure through parallel universes.” That’s the succinct description on His Dark Materials‘ IMDb page. The TV show is an ambitious co-production between New Line Cinema and Bad Wolf for BBC One and HBO. Like so many other shows on this list, it’s based on a popular book series, a fantasy trilogy (The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass) by author Philip Pullman.

Although the His Dark Materials books have been marketed as Young Adult novels, Pullman wasn’t writing for any specific audience, and actually tackles some adult topics. The somewhat controversial story is influenced by John Milton’s epic poem Paradise Lost; Milton’s work chronicles the biblical story of the fall of man, but Pullman turns the narrative on its head by presenting original sin as a positive force.

The books follow the journey of 11-year old Lyra Belacqua as she tangles with mysterious mythical beings, nefarious relatives, child-abducting organizations, armored polar bears and soul-eating specters. His Dark Materials is slated to premiere November 3, 2019 on BBC One and on November 4 on HBO.

Potential: Mixing fantasy with a dash of steampunk flair, His Dark Materials has a lot going for it. The steampunk genre been resurgent lately, with successes like Carnival Row and misfires like Mortal Engines. It’ll be interesting to see if Materials will tamp down the religious overtones from the books, which is also an issue for the next entry…