Phillip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy is renowned as one of the most popular children's fantasy series, receiving more mainstream fame with a film adaptation of its first part (The Golden Compass) albeit with mixed reviews. However, the HBO TV adaptation managed to receive better acclaim from Pullman loyalists.With season 3 of His Dark Materials nearing its end this December, some fans are hoping that HBO will take a look at Pullman's other classics and adapt them too. His sequels and spin-offs to the trilogy would definitely make for good follow-up adaptations while even his renowned multi-genre one-off stories can be translated to the screen as either movies or shows.
10 The Book Of Dust Trilogy (2017-)
More than a decade after he ended His Dark Materials with 2000's The Amber Spyglass, Philip Pullman began expanding upon Lyra Belacqua's adventures in a whole new trilogy that kicked off with La Belle Sauvege in 2017.
While Pullman is still working on the third book, La Belle Sauvege and The Secret Commonwealth have enough content to easily add up to the His Dark Materials show, leaving enough space for a sequel series. The show's universe would also go through a major evolution as Pullman's books not only add to Lyra's adventures but also offer more context behind the mystical nature of the so-called "Dust." The time jump can add some freshness to the fan-favorite characters filling in the void that would set after the His Dark Materials finale. Hopefully, when Pullman pens the final part, a TV show adaptation can be greenlit.
9 The Goodman Jesus And The Scoundrel Christ (2010)
Reimagining the New Testament, Pullman's historical fiction novella is set in a world where Jesus and Christ exist as two separate individuals. The former is a morally righteous saint while the other exhibits a more scheming persona. As their paths clash, the His Dark Materials writer embarks on an introspective journey to understanding human morality, organized religion, and a lot more.
The Goodman Jesus and The Scoundrel Christ can definitely be a sensitive book to adapt given its content but still, if done right, can make for a compelling miniseries. The titular characters also get enough monologues in the source material that can perhaps offer some Emmy-worthy performances. Historical fiction TV also seems to be drawing its own sprawling fandom given the success of recent shows like Vikings, The Last Kingdom, Alias Grace, and The Crown, so there's a possibility this could be well-received too.
8 Sally Lockhart Series (1985-1994)
Apart from fantasy trilogies, Philip Pullman has also authored a children's mystery quartet based around the exploits of the teenage orphan Sally Lockhart. Trained in accounting and shooting by her late father, Lockhart embarks on all sorts of historical adventures that make her cross paths with the likes of magicians and royals as she investigates across the globe.
The four Sally Lockhart books would not only make for engaging thriller but also represent the society of the 19th-century era in which the series is set in. Given the limited freedom of women in this period, Pullman's books address gender relations and class society in the same vein as movies like Enola Holmes on Netflix. And given the massive love that the Millie Bobby Brown-led franchise has generated, a Sally Lockhart adaptation would make for a good companion watch.
7 The Broken Bridge (1990)
The Broken Bridge is one of those Pullman books that are more grounded in reality. The story centers around a young girl called Ginny who discovers that she might have a half-brother and that her mother might still be alive.
The subsequent journeys that Ginny undertakes form the remainder of the premise, making for quite an emotional character arc. The Broken Bridge can easily make for a good coming-of-age adaptation evoking tropes from classics in the "dysfunctional family" and "slice of life" subgenres.
6 The Haunted Storm (1972)
The Haunted Storm was Philip Pullman's debut novel, which he authored merely at the age of 25. It might not be his finest work but shows enough potential, foreshadowing the rise of an author who is capable of mixing several genres. Evoking a sense of magical realism, The Haunted Storm is set in a town that is marred by violence and chaos while a spiritually-perplexed investigator is caught in the middle.
As the protagonist goes down a path of self-discovery, The Haunted Storm perfectly evokes the power of the human spirit while also asking philosophical questions. In fact, a powerful movie or miniseries can make for a good adaptation in the pantheon of dystopian fiction. The central character's moral ambiguity would also be reminiscent of Andrew Garfield's committed performance as detective Jeb Pyre in this year's Under the Banner of Heaven.
5 The Adventures Of John Blake (2008)
Pullman's first and only contribution to comic books, The Adventures of John Blake, doesn't have many new thrills but sums up some of the best themes of his work.
The comic book series takes the world-building of His Dark Materials and the youthful teenage experience from his Sally Lockhart books to construct the mythos of a hero, who accidentally goes back in time to a 1920s-era steamer, traversing the Seven Seas and encountering ghost ships. With some sharp visuals, the comics can provide the basis for a binge-worthy animated series with enough emphasis on action and adventure.
4 Companion Books To His Dark Materials (2003-2022)
His Dark Materials was not only supported by The Book of Dust trilogy but also a variety of prequels and spin-offs, including stories set between both trilogies. This only proves how rich Pullman's mythos is with most of these companion books being seen as significant lore instead of just unnecessary entrants to the franchise.
For instance, Lyra's Oxford tells its titular heroine's aftermath two years after the events of His Dark Materials while the prequel Once Upon A Time in North offers more comprehensive origin arcs behind iconic characters (like the armored bear Iorek Byrinson and aeronaut balloonist Lee Scoresby). Then, there's Serpentine which serves as the middle chapter. With many of the characters getting increased focus instead of just Lyra, an anthology series on Pullman's His Dark Materials spin-offs can be a perfect exercise in fan service. The recent success of Prime Video's The Rings of Power and HBO's House of the Dragon have also proven that reinterpretations and new additions to established fantasy franchises help in defining the genre further.
3 The Butterfly Tattoo (1998)
First released as The White Mercedes (and then republished in its present form), The Butterfly Tattoo was Pullman's first foray into Young Adult fiction, delving into the story of an innocent teen couple who get embroiled in a reckless cycle of violent revenge, complete with themes of school life, juvenile crime, and the struggles of adolescence.
With no dearth of deep themes, The Butterfly Tattoo is a perfect amalgamation of the naivety of youth as well as the loss of innocence. For fans of more mature YA stories, an adaptation of The Butterfly Tattoo is definitely needed for modern audiences of the genre. Even though it was adapted in a low-budget 2008 drama, a revised film adaptation of the 186-page novel would be much needed.
2 Count Karlstein (1982)
Before becoming a household name in Britain, Philip Pullman was an English school teacher who once wrote a play for his student, the story that eventually got adapted as his first children's novel Count Karlstein.
A fantasy classic, Count Karlstein deals with its titular antagonist working out a deal with a demon huntsman that involves a human sacrifice. The novel goes on to garner individual perspectives of the two characters as well as the ones who are to be sacrificed, leading to enough parallel stories to make a children's movie that also offers a good dose of thoughtfulness along with the magical elements of the fictional Swiss village of Karlstein. Much like his depiction of the multi-world reality in His Dark Materials, Pullman's world building is also top-notch in this case.
1 The Scarecrow And His Servant (2004)
Another classic by Pullman aimed at younger readers, The Scarecrow and his Servant deals with a scarecrow who comes to life after a lightning strike, and then he befriends a young boy who is an orphan. Together, the titular duo journey through a world where the scarecrow wishes to take control of himself.
The humor and adventure are mischievously amusing, similar to the children's fiction of Roald Dahl (who again is no stranger to numerous screen adaptations). With its absurd premise and existentialist themes, The Scarecrow and his Servant can make for an edgy animated movie.