Why do the powers that be insist on ruining everything we love?
Okay, maybe that’s a bit dramatic, but it’s hard not to feel cynical after so many fantasy properties have either been utterly tarnished by god-awful adaptations, or got a worthy attempt only to get a premature cancellation. We were in a brief panic, which has since (blessedly) eased, after learning of a potential Legend of Zelda adaptation, but the brief relief we felt at that false rumor was dashed on the rocks of disappointing Lord of the Rings news.
Then there’s Good Omens, a stellar adaptation of a stellar book, which is also facing roadblocks. Well, not so much “roadblocks” as “incompetence,” after an Amazon blunder sent even typically even-keeled Neil Gaiman into a rage.
Thankfully, there are a few nuggets of good news mixed in with all the bad. While we’re more amused than anything about Professor Sprout actress Miriam Margolyes’ dismissal of Harry Potter, we’re properly excited about news that early reviews for War of the Rohirrim are almost universally positive. At least that’s one good mark in Lord of the Rings’ favor. That — paired with a very odd Harry Potter-adjacent question — is taking all of our attention for the day, as sci-fi hits like The Flash steal all the attention from our fantasy favorites.
Neil Gaiman doesn’t mince words on Amazon’s Good Omen season 2 fumble
Amazon’s Good Omens adaptation is set to release its second season in just a few weeks, but the platform is already failing to stick the landing. Promos for season 2 are certainly stirring up interest, but one may also spoil a massive plot point from the upcoming season – a fact that instantly infuriated one of the story’s original authors, Neil Gaiman.
Gaiman, who is presently on strike in solidarity with the Writers’ Guild, has been largely absent from the final stages of season 2’s rollout, and many fans are blaming the slip-up on his absence. Gaiman, after revealing that he is “furious” over the inadvertent spoilers, noted that his presence may not have made a difference — but that the people at Amazon “knew better and it still went out somehow.”
The first reactions to War of the Rohirrim are in
The world of The Lord of the Rings is expanding, and rapidly, as various heavy-hitters work to milk that cash cow for absolutely everything it’s worth. In some cases, this could be good news — I, for one, still have hope that Rings of Power will reach its full potential — but in other cases *cough Gollum cough* it’s nothing but a stain on what was once a shining legacy.
Thankfully, not every fresh Lord of the Rings offering is off sub-par quality — at least according to early reactions to the animated War of the Rohirrim. The flick is still around a year off from its full theatrical release, but initial reactions have nothing but praise for its marriage of Lord of the Rings and anime, and for a stellar and tear-jerking delivery.
Our own Professor Sprout is clear on where Harry Potter lands in the cultural zeitgeist
Harry Potter is a behemoth, there’s no denying that, but i’s also far from the most impacting story ever put to screen. Miriam Margolyes, who played Professor Sprout in the film adaptations of J.K. Rowling’s books, isn’t shy about sharing this fact, as she made clear in a recent interview. The notoriously bold actress noted that, while she enjoyed her time in the franchise, “it’s not Charles Dickens.” She even went so far as to point out that, despite its favor among fans, “for me Harry Potter wasn’t important.”
We love an honest queen.
There was never going to be a Legend of Zelda adaptation
Thank god. Concerns over the hurdles of a potential Legend of Zelda adaptation divided the fandom over the last several weeks, but Illumination chief Chris Meledandri shut those rumors down with a definitive statement. He told the Wrap that he has no idea “where that [rumor] came from” and largely shut down any reports of a Zelda adaptation in the works. While he’s not explicitly stating that an adaptation is a complete impossibility, it seems that — should that bad idea ever come to pass — it won’t be any time soon.
Great, Embracer plans to milk Lord of the Rings for all it’s worth
Those reviews for War of the Rohirrim are certainly heartening, but they’re not nearly enough to erase some very concerning developments. People were already massively disappointed by Amazon Prime Video’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power — despite my more generous thoughts on the series — and news that Embracer Group gained rights to the works, and intends to “exploit” the beloved story to bring itself back from the brink, is hugely disheartening. Of all the fantasy properties out there, many would argue that Lord of the Rings most deserves to be protected, but it seems Embracer plans to do just the opposite.
The oddest Harry Potter question to date challenges the familial connection between two obvious siblings
Of all the characters that appear in the Harry Potter films, Fred and George are the most obviously related. Despite this, some fans are bafflingly confused about their sibling status, likely thanks to a viral interview from awhile back. A very foolish question — paired with the real-life twins’ propensity for pranks — led to mass confusion, and forced us to address whether or not Fred and George actors James and Oliver Phelps are twins IRL.
Published: Jun 19, 2023 10:00 pm