20 Fantasy Adaptations That Could Be Bigger than Game of Thrones
By Jenn Reid
A Darker Shade of Magic. Image via Macmillan
6. A Darker Shade of Magic
The Books: A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab
The Story: A Darker Shade of Magic takes place in London, but there isn’t just one London. There are four cities on different planes of existence and only a few have the ability to travel between them. Traveler Kel visits our world’s ordinary Grey London, the magical Red London, the sinister White London, and the closed-off Black London, where a mysterious accident sealed the doors between the worlds. Kel is meant to bring messages between the royals of the different Londons, but he works off the books as a smuggler and gets caught up in a dangerous situation.
The series consists of A Darker Shade of Magic, the second book A Gathering of Shadows, and the final book A Conjuring of Light, released February 2017.
The Adaptation: Since Schwab’s series is set in Regency-era London, it makes perfect sense to adapt it as a BBC series. The historical aspects of our world (aka Grey London) would function as a more straightforward period piece, with the opportunity to have some fun with the alternate Londons.
It could be in the vein of Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrel in that it uses strong British talent and high production values to really sell the fantastic elements.