I always felt Dafne Keen’s underrated fantasy show with 84% on Rotten Tomatoes needed a sequel series, and I’m even more convinced His Dark Materials should get a follow-up after the latest book news. Based on Philip Pullman’s fantasy series of the same name, His Dark Materials ran for three seasons — and it did a far better job of adapting the source material than the earlier film adaptation. 2007’s The Golden Compass was one of the 2000s’ biggest fantasy disappointments, and it was refreshing to see Pullman’s story done justice, more than a decade later.
Even with a few iffy book changes, His Dark Materials managed to capture the heart of Pullman’s story. And while it didn’t necessarily live up to all the Game of Thrones replacement talk that came before, it proved a standout addition to the fantasy genre — one that remains wildly underrated. It also has one of the best endings for a fantasy TV show, but that doesn’t mean I’m totally satisfied with Lyra’s conclusion. And Pullman’s latest book update makes me want her story to continue in a sequel series even more.
Philip Pullman Is Writing The Final His Dark Materials Sequel Book
The Book Of Dust Series Ends In Fall 2025 With The Rose Field
Although the original His Dark Materials series ends after The Amber Spyglass, Pullman continues Lyra’s journey in The Book of Dust series. The first book is actually set before the events of the original trilogy, but The Secret Commonwealth picks up 10 years after its finale. And it reintroduces readers to Lyra, this time as an adult. The novel presents her and Pan with new challenges as they evolve, and it gives readers more closure regarding what happens to Lyra after His Dark Materials closes.
Given that the sequel series is about to be completed, I’m convinced that HBO should adapt it.
Pullman recently announced that the third book in The Book of Dust series — and the final chapter of Lyra’s story — will come out in fall 2025. According to The Guardian, it will be titled The Rose Field, and it will resume where The Secret Commonwealth left Lyra. That doesn’t tell us much about how the sequel series will end, but readers can likely expect another emotional and gripping finale from Pullman. And knowing that it’s coming makes me eager for HBO to adapt The Book of Dust series.
I’m Convinced Dafne Keen’s Underrated Fantasy Show Needs To Adapt Pullmans’ Sequels
Given how great HBO’s take on His Dark Materials was, I’m convinced that the network should adapt Pullman’s sequel series. It would be one thing if Lyra’s narrative didn’t continue in the source material. That would make a case for leaving her emotional ending as-is after season 3. However, with The Book of Dust offering a canon story that could be brought to the screen, there’s no reason HBO shouldn’t continue its underrated fantasy series. It could even bring Keen back to her leading role, which would undoubtedly appeal to fans of the original show.
Adapting His Dark Materials‘ sequel series would also give HBO the chance to expand on the rich world created by Pullman, all while showing the aftermath of the original finale. Despite His Dark Materials season 3 delivering a solid ending that ties up a lot of loose ends, it also raises some new questions about Lyra and Pan’s future. Pullman answers those in his follow-up novels, and an HBO series tackling them could do the same for show-only fans. And with the final book on the horizon, there’s no better time for HBO to commit to such an adaptation.
The New His Dark Materials Book Makes Now The Perfect Time To Continue Lyra’s Story
HBO Wouldn’t Need To Worry About Running Out Of Material
Given the issues shows like Game of Thrones have had when running out of source material, I could understand why HBO wouldn’t want to jump directly from His Dark Materials into The Book of Dust. However, with Pullman announcing that The Rose Field will be the final book in Lyra’s story, it’s now the perfect opportunity to bring her sequel story to life. If the book comes out in fall 2025 as intended, HBO would never need to worry about running out of story. It could properly plan out another three-season run, and it could ensure another mostly faithful adaptation.
Additionally, HBO could capitalize on the excitement of the book series ending if it chose to green-light an adaptation around the same time as book 3’s release. This would give readers more to look forward to, and it would help cement His Dark Materials as a fantasy franchise. I hope the network comes to see the value in that, as a franchise boasting the same quality as the original show is a promising endeavor.
Source: The Guardian
His Dark Materials
- Created by
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Philip Pullman
- First Episode Air Date
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November 3, 2019
Summary
His Dark Materials is a critically acclaimed fantasy franchise based on the trilogy of novels by Philip Pullman. The story is set across multiple parallel universes, exploring themes of religion, free will, and the nature of the soul through the adventures of young protagonists Lyra Belacqua and Will Parry. The franchise includes the original book series, a film adaptation, a successful television series, and several companion works that expand the universe. Known for its complex themes and richly imagined world, His Dark Materials has garnered a devoted following.