Stephen Colbert to adapt Roger Zelazny’s The Chronicles of Amber for TV
By Daniel Roman
We’re in the middle of a boom for fantasy television, spurred on by the success of HBO’s mega-hit Game of Thrones, based on George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire books. A veteran author who’s also worked in TV for years, Martin himself has a list of fantasy properties he’d love to see adapted to the small screen.
“I am a fantasy fan, and I want more fantasy on television… Most of all, I want Roger Zelazny’s Nine Princes in Amber,” Martin wrote on his blog last year. “I will never understand why Corwin and his siblings are not starring in their own show. And hey, if epic fantasy continues to do well, maybe we will finally get that. A boy can dream.”
Now, it sounds like that dream may be on its way to coming true, thanks to fellow fantasy fan and latenight host Stephen Colbert.
Stephen Colbert: “George R.R. Martin and I have similar dreams”
Roger Zelazny’s The Chronicles of Amber is an epic sci-fi tale that follows Corwin, a mysterious man who wakes up without his memories on Earth only to eventually discover that he’s the lost prince of a royal family with the supernatural ability to travel between worlds. The series spans 10 novels split into two distinct arcs, “The Corwin Cycle” and “The Merlin Cycle.”
Martin’s latest plug on his Not A Blog is far from the first time he’s publicly wished that someone, anyone would bring Zelazny’s work to the screen. And now it may happen. “George R.R. Martin and I have similar dreams,” Colbert told The Hollywood Reporter in a statement. “I’ve carried the story of Corwin in my head for over 40 years, and I’m thrilled to partner with Skybound and Vincent Newman to bring these worlds to life. All roads lead to Amber, and I’m happy to be walking them.”
A deal was already in place between Skybound Entertainment and Vincent Newman Entertainment to produce an adaptation of The Chronicles of Amber; now, Colbert’s own production company Spartina has joined forces with them.
“Adapting one of my favorite book series of all time is the fulfillment of a lifelong dream,” added David Alpert, CEO, Skybound Entertainment. “Producing it alongside someone like Stephen Colbert, who is a true-blue super fan, is a thrill for me, and will be for anyone who’s ever listened to Stephen talk about fantasy. We can’t wait to share this amazing story both with the legion of current fans like ourselves and a new generation of fans that will undoubtedly fall for Amber.”
THR notes that the producing team is currently on the hunt for a writer to pen the adaptation. No network is attached as of yet, though Spartina has a first look deal with CBS Studios, which is owned by Paramount. We’ll be keeping an eye out as the story develops.
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