His Dark Materials reveals the first look at the show's seed-riding creatures, the mulefa. Adapted from the book series of the same name, His Dark Materials season 3 will be the show's final one, drawing inspiration from the third book in Philip Pullman's series, The Amber Spyglass. While the show - and Pullman's source material - are renowned for being high-concept fantasy, season 3 promises to be the wildest yet. The series will introduce ethereal angels, tiny insect-riding creatures called Gallivespians and, perhaps the strangest of all, the wheeled sentient beings known as the mulefa.
Although absent in His Dark Materials season 3 recent trailer, the mulefa has now finally been revealed thanks to a pair of photos shared by EW. The first images of the mulefa show the majestic beasts in all their glory, showing off their elephant-like trunks and short horns. One picture also shows a mulefa, or zalif, as they're singularly known, interacting with Mary Malone. Check out the images below:
How Do The Mulefa Differ From Their Source Material Counterparts?
Just how the show will handle the mulefa has been a source of fan debate ever since the show began approaching its endgame. Pullman's novel describes the mulefa as spineless creatures with elephant-like trunks, with their most notable evolutionary feature being spur-like feet. The mulefa attach seed pods to these spurs, allowing the creatures to transport themselves across land. While the images seem to show that the mulefa's anatomy has been successfully translated from page to screen, it's still difficult to tell how His Dark Materials' weirdest creations will transport themselves. Executive producer Jane Tranter has, however, confirmed the mulefa will have their seedpods, stating that Pullman was "generous" with the show's producers, but was also "clear about what a red line is" - one of which being the mulafa's iconic transport method.
As the strangest aspect of The Amber Spyglass, the mulefa were always going to be difficult to translate. Although they don't directly affect Lyra's journey, their impact on Mary Malone and their connection to dust are key aspects of the final chapter of His Dark Materials. Tranter confirming the mulefa will have their seedpods will no doubt keep many fans happy, but it makes sense to tone down their oddest aspects as much as possible, allowing the show to focus on the mulefa's culture and their connection to dust, rather than divulging too much in their stranger elements.
With a strong reception from fans and critics alike, His Dark Materials has, so far, managed to achieve what 2007's The Golden Compass movie failed to do. The show has remained exceptionally close to its source material, handling even Pullman's strangest aspects with respect while making them translate better for wider audiences. With the final chapter introducing so many strong elements - and featuring the welcome return of James McAvoy's exceptional portrayal as Lord Asriel - His Dark Materials has every chance to solidify itself as one of the best fantasy TV series of all time.
Source: EW