A series, with a planned decade-long run and each season based on one book, would have the space, in the words of Casey Bloys, the chairman of HBO, to “dive deep,” i.e., to cram in everything on superfans’ “What the movies left out” lists. But with a limited run time and no access to Hermione Granger’s time turner, they had to make cuts. Rowling would produce the adaptation despite the controversy - even among many Potter fans - over her criticisms of “ the new trans activism.” But another curiosity in Max’s attempt to squeeze more blood from the sorcerer’s stone was its description of the series as “a faithful adaptation.”įaithful compared with what? The books have already been adapted into eight films, whose adherence to the plots was as tightly monitored as the prison at Azkaban. Much of the response focused, understandably, on the news that J.K. Discovery’s most valuable properties, the Harry Potter books. Martin, a series version of the horror movie “The Conjuring” and a “Big Bang Theory” spinoff (congrats, Nandor!), Max confirmed plans for a series repurposing one of Warner Bros. Along with a new “Game of Thrones” prequel adapted from novellas by George R.R. In its recent rebranding presentation, Max (the streaming service now known as HBO Max, which downsizes its name later this month) announced a slate of programming full of Things Based on Other Things.

It’s a term that raises a lot of unanswered questions: Faithful to what, or whom? Do fans of the original work have more of a claim on the adaptation than everyone else? Can you be faithful and creative at the same time - and do people asking for faithfulness even want that? Or do they simply want obedience? “Faithfulness” has become a watchword for adaptations, sometimes a measure of authenticity, sometimes a billy club to police divergences from a favorite story. Films have become TV series (including “Shadows,” an adaptation of a 2015 movie), as have books and superhero comics and podcasts and manga and video games. But Nandor is on to something: TV today is full of Things Based on Other Things.

There is not yet a series based on a slot machine - that I know of. “Very faithful to the slot machine!” he marvels. In a 2021 episode of “What We Do in the Shadows,” the ancient vampire Nandor goes to Atlantic City and is smitten with a slot machine themed on “The Big Bang Theory.” Later, he’s amazed to discover that “The Big Bang Theory” is also a TV show.

Friend of the devil a reckless book