In March, the first report surfaced of a new series based on Terry Pratchett's always readable and often genius Discworld books in development. Things have moved on apace and now BBC America has announced a show based on the The Watch.
Specifically, for those who may be unfamiliar with Pratchett's work, the City Watch, a misfit group of officers patrolling the streets of sprawling city Ankh-Morpork, home to all manner of normalized wrongness. The eight-episode thriller will feature several famous Discworld creations including City Watch Captain Sam Vimes, the last scion of nobility Lady Sybil Ramkin, the naïve but heroic Carrot, the mysterious Angua and the ingenious non-binary forensics expert Cheery together with Pratchett’s iconic characterization of Death.
Simon Allen is on to write the series, and it has the backing of Narrativia, which own the rights to Pratchett's work. "Many years ago Terry made the brave decision to allow brand new Watch stories to be told with his existing characters. It’s taken a long time for anything to happen because we guard these characters with our very lives!" says Narrativia's Rob Wilkins. "So many of Terry’s biggest ideas seem more vital and urgent now than ever before and I am thrilled to be working with Simon and such a talented team, who understand the unique genius of their creator. They have really keyed into the subversive qualities of Terry’s voice and they clearly adore Discworld as much as I and millions of fans around the world do."
The Discworld books have had a mixed history on TV, but our fingers are still crossed that the Watch will be given the right treatment. Pratchett's work will also be hitting screens next year via Good Omens, Neil Gaiman's adaptation of the beloved book he wrote with the author.
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