hen Peter Jackson released the film adaptation of JRR Tolkien’s novel, The Fellowship of the Ring, fantasy fans suddenly realized Hollywood could produce a quality fantasy movie with realistic special effects, strong story, and believable characters. Thousands of Terry Brooks fans wrote into this website, asking if a Shannara movie could be far behind.
Terry optioned the rights for his Shannara series to Warner Bros. three years ago. An option does not mean a movie gets made; it is merely the first step of many that must take place to bring a movie to the silver screen. Directors were looked at. Actors were considered. A script was purchased and worked on. Assurances were given that the movie would be made. Nothing concrete happened though.
The same thing happened with the Landover movie at Universal Studios.
As of August 9, 2010, the options for both the Shannara and Landover series have returned to Terry.
What does this mean?
In short, it means Warner Bros. and Universal Studios did not greenlight their options into production and now no longer have the ability to do so. It means Terry can be approached by other interested parties, hopefully movie studios with the desire to see Terry’s work adapted correctly in the movie medium.
It means no movies are currently forthcoming. Therefore, do not believe anything you read at IMDB or elsewhere.
There is hope though.
Here is what Terry had to say from his July 1, 2010 Letter to the Fans:
Terry Brooks: “What can I say about this? In a world of uncertainty and misdirection, movie options provides a prototype. I cannot tell you how frustrating it is to try to make any sense out of this or even to believe that anything will happen before I am dead and gone. But, nevertheless, hope springs eternal, and so I have the following information to offer up.
Magic Kingdom was under option at Universal Studios until late April, at which time and option that had been help for more than four years expired. So Universal was out. I thought that was pretty much the end of things. Magic Kingdom for Sale is nearly 25 years old. What are the odds that anyone would want it now? Well, someone does. Actually, 2 someones. So we are requesting offers and biding our time. But not holding our collective breath. When I know something, you will, too.
The Shannara series is under option at Warner Brothers. That was a three year option that is due to expire in early August, I believe. Mike Newell was attached to the project, then left to do Prince of Persia and never returned. So he was out. It is my belief that nothing has happened since and that when the option period expires, that’s the end of Warner Brothers. But there have been inquiries, so I imagine the books will find a new home in which to languish while nothing happens again.
Running With The Demon has not been offered, but there is some real interest in taking that series and making a film. This time we are taking a script to whoever we like best for the project and hoping to guide it with a firmer and more directed hand than before. But we will see.
You notice how vague all this is. Mostly, this is because I cannot give you names or other useful information until we have something in writing beyond what we have now. I would guess that we would have some news by Fall. But I always think that. Where the movies are concerned, nothing is certain. The famous saying, “Nobody knows nothing” is so true.”
There you have it. From the man himself. In the future, the most current information from the movie front will be posted on this page. Again, I repeat, do not believe anything outside of this page. When Terry knows something he will share it in this space.
Until then, let’s hope Hollywood sees what we all see.
