Sir Terence David John Pratchett, or Terry if you're nasty, was an English fantasy author whose most recognized work is the Discworld series – a collection of 41 novels set in a world that's balanced on the backs of four elephants who keep a wondrous world turning as they ride atop a giant turtle. No, I haven't been eating acid along with my morning oatmeal, this is truly the way that Mr. Pratchett rolls.
This morning, BBC Studios announced that Pratchett's DISCWORLD series is being adapted into a six-part TV series. Deadline, who exclusively broke the news, says that Simon Allen, writer of the series Strike Back, The Musketeers and Sky’s forthcoming reboot of Das Boot, will pen the DISCWORLD presentation, which for the moment has a working title of THE WATCH.
If you're a fan of Pratchett's DISCWORLD series, and are bummed to hear that only a six-part series is being planned for the massive saga, fear not, because BBC Studios is hoping that the project will be a returnable endeavor. For the time being, no broadcasters are currently attached to the project, so there's a chance that this could turn into a multi-national effort in due time. What has been confirmed, is that BBC Studios will co-produce THE WATCH with Narrativia, the production company which was founded by the iconic author in 2012 and is now managed by his daughter Rhianna and his former business manager Rob Wilkins.
For those of you who're unfamiliar with the DISCWORLD series, Pratchett's expansive fantasy universe tells of an on-going battle fought between members of a rich fantasy world and modern civilization. Several of the books in the series focus on the rise of the Ankh-Morpork City Watch, who grow from a hapless group of three to a commanding police force as the novels progress. The organization is headed by Sam Vimes, a blue-collar street cop who finds himself battling battling dragons and other creatures of mystical origin. Each installment to the DISCWORLD series is essentially a self-contained story, which should lend well to the program's planned episodic rollout.
The DISCWORLD TV adaptation would be the newest project announced from the Pratchett camp, as another six-part series based on Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett's GOOD OMENS is on the way from BBC Two and Amazon's SVOD service. Set to air in 2019, the show stars Michael Sheen and David Tennant who walk a world populated by angels, demons, witches, and an 11-year-old antichrist. Oh Terry, you so crazy!
Sadly, Mr. Pratchett passed on in March of 2015 after battling Alzheimer's disease since December of 2007. Thankfully, his talented spirit lives on through his extensive library of fantasy works, as well as the many fans he's left in wonder across the globe.
Be sure to stay close as more information regarding the adaptation of Terry Pratchett's DISCWORLD is bound to surface as the show nears production.