HBO Max gives series order to adaptation of Madeline Miller’s Circe

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

Chance are good that you or someone you know has read Madeline Miller's "Circe" over the past year, and now the international bestseller is set to be adapted for the small-screen. Deadline reports that HBO Max, WarnerMedia's upcoming streaming service, has given an 8-episode straight-to-series order to a fantasy/drama series based on Miller's novel.

Circe is a modern take on the world of Greek mythology told from the powerful feminist perspective of the goddess Circe, who "transforms from an awkward nymph to a formidable witch, able to challenge gods, titans and monsters alike." The series will be penned by Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver, best known for their work on the rebooted PLANET OF THE APES franchise as well as JURASSIC WORLD, MULAN, and James Cameron's AVATAR sequels. "Circe tells an epic story of love, loss, tragedy and immortal conflict, all through the eyes of a fierce female lens," said Sarah Aubrey, head of original content, HBO Max. "I’ve been a longtime fan of Rick and Amanda’s work and their ability to simultaneously build epic imaginative worlds while creating emotional dynamic characters. In partnership with Peter Chernin and Jenno Topping, we have the dream team to bring Circe to life."

A synopsis of "Circe" via Amazon:

In the house of Helios, god of the sun and mightiest of the Titans, a daughter is born. But Circe is a strange child–not powerful, like her father, nor viciously alluring like her mother. Turning to the world of mortals for companionship, she discovers that she does possess power–the power of witchcraft, which can transform rivals into monsters and menace the gods themselves.

Threatened, Zeus banishes her to a deserted island, where she hones her occult craft, tames wild beasts and crosses paths with many of the most famous figures in all of mythology, including the Minotaur, Daedalus and his doomed son Icarus, the murderous Medea, and, of course, wily Odysseus.

But there is danger, too, for a woman who stands alone, and Circe unwittingly draws the wrath of both men and gods, ultimately finding herself pitted against one of the most terrifying and vengeful of the Olympians. To protect what she loves most, Circe must summon all her strength and choose, once and for all, whether she belongs with the gods she is born from, or the mortals she has come to love.

In addition to drawing content from HBO and other WarnerMedia Entertainment Networks, HBO Max also has a number of other original programs in development, including Dune: The Sisterhood, Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai, and a Gossip Girl sequel. The streaming service is slated to debut in spring 2020.