The fantasy book series Earthsea is being adapted into a TV series. Written by the late and highly influential Ursula Le Guin, there are six books in the series which began with A Wizard of Earthsea (in 1968) and concluded with The Other Wind, released in 2001. A final short story, “Firelight”, was published in 2018.
An introspective volume, which has garnered comparisons to J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, Earthsea is set in an extensive group of islands that are endangered by forces which use magic in order to obtain power. The stories are notable for being comprised, to a large degree, of people of color and for the fact that an emphasis is placed on understanding human nature rather than presenting a simple, cut and dry narrative about good and evil. The book series has won numerous awards and has been adapted for radio and television in the past, as well as being presented as an anime.
Now, as reported by Deadline, A24 and Oscar-nominated producer Jennifer Fox are teaming up to develop Earthsea for television. Fox has been involved as a producer for a number of notable films, including the recent Velvet Buzzsaw. A24 is an independent studio behind such hits as Moonlight, Lady Bird, and Hereditary. On the television side, they’ve emerged as the production company behind HBO’s Euphoria.
The idea of developing Earthsea for the screen was initially floated by Fox last year and, before she passed away, Le Guin had given the producer her blessing to turn the written works into a series of films. Since then, the adaptation has settled into a television series. Speaking of Le Guin, Fox referred to the late literary legend as second to only Tolkien in terms of influence. Fox further elaborated that the project was a sacred trust and a top priority, in addition to being an opportunity to create an iconic piece of American culture.
Le Guin’s legacy is indeed considerable. In a career which spanned nearly sixty years, the author published more than twenty novels and over a hundred short stories. Looming large over the genre of speculative fiction, Le Guin has been cited as an influence for Margaret Atwood and many other famous writers. Her themes have also helped to shape seminal films, including the work of Hayao Miyazaki. With such widespread acclaim and a dedicated fanbase, any adaptation of Le Guin’s stories is sure to find an audience. That is doubly true for Earthsea.
Source: Deadline