Summary
In 2008, the book-to-movie adaptation ofInkheartwas poorly received, but 16 years later, it may be the perfect candidate for a television reboot. Written by Cornelia Funke,Inkheartis the first in a trilogy ofyoung adult fantasy novelscalled theInkworldseries. The story follows Meggie, a young woman who is thrust into a dangerous situation when her father reads from a book called “Inkheart” and accidentally summons a magical villain. Using the magic her father has released, Meggie is the only one who can save herself and her father from this story that has come to life.
After the completeInkworldtrilogy was released in 2007, Funke’sInkheartstory was picked up for movie adaptation. The film included a star-studded cast includingmovie star Brendan Fraser, Helen Mirren, Andy Serkis, and Eliza Bennett. However, the story’s popularity wasn’t enough to make the movie a success. 2008’sInkheartearned 38% on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics claiming the film was confusing and not particularly exciting. Furthermore, on a budget of $60 million, the movie only earned $64 million at the box office. Ultimately,Inkheartwas a flop, which does not mean the book does not deserve a new adaptation.
10 Children’s Fantasy Books That Deserve TV Shows After Percy Jackson
Disney+’s Percy Jackson & The Olympians TV show has done exceedingly well, giving hope to 10 great YA book series that they could be adapted next.
Inkheart Should Be The Next 2000s Fantasy Movie To Get A TV Reboot
Inkheart Deserves A Second Chance
Reboots, sequels, and prequels continue to be commonplace for Hollywood, andInkheartis the ideal candidate to receive this treatment. Though theInkheartmovie failed, there is a reason that Cornelia Funke’s fantasy series was so popular. There is something within the story that is worth telling. In this way,anInkheartTV reboot could give the franchise a chance to redeem itselfon-screen. New audiences could finally get the opportunity to fall in love with theInkheartstory in a way that the 2008 failed to.
Learning from the movie’s mistakes would allow theInkheartTV show to flourish and become the adaptation it was always meant to be.
In particular,Inkheartdeserves a second chancebecause it was so botched the first time.The movie failed to make sense of Cornelia Funke’s world, leaving audiences perplexed and uninterested in learning more. By bringingInkheartback, a new team of writers and producers could find a way to makeInkheartsensical, but also enjoyable. The movie is a perfect example of what a potential show should not do. Learning from the movie’s mistakes would allow this potentialInkheartTV show to flourish and become the adaptation the series deserves.
Why Cornelia Funke’s Inkheart Series Would Work Better As A TV Show Than A Movie
TV Gives Inkheart A Better Chance At Success
MakingBrendan Fraser’sInkheartinto a TV rebootis the best course of action because TV offers opportunities that movies don’t. In under two hours, it was difficult for 2008’sInkheartto cover all the important points of Funke’s original novel. However, in a television format, this won’t be a problem. Thanks to the serialized format,anInkheartshow could properly explain the worldand get audiences invested. Then, it will be much easier forInkheartto delve into the plot and action once viewers are caught up in the background. TV offers extra time that a movie cannot waste.
Cornelia Funke revived theInkheartbook series in 2016 when she announced a sequel calledThe Colour of Revenge.
Furthermore,anInkhearttelevision series has a better chance at successthan another movie would. Although movie theaters have somewhat bounced back since COVID-19, television still seems to be the preferred medium for taking risks, especially in the form of streaming. If there was an attempt to make anotherInkheartmovie, audiences may dismiss it, having already seen the disappointing 2008 version. However, in the form of a television series,Inkheartmay be able to garner more interest. In a different format,Inkheartwill appear shiny and new, and therefore, more appealing to new viewers.
Fantasy Shows Like Percy Jackson & His Dark Materials Prove This Strategy Works
Young Adult Fantasy Shows Are On The Rise
TurningInkheartinto a television series would not be a strange choice either. In recent years,many young adult fantasy book series have been adapted to TV.Notably, many of these stories had failed movie adaptations as well.Percy Jacksonis a great example. ThePercy Jacksonfilm franchise was nostalgic yet poorly received due to a lack of accuracy. Therefore,Disney+‘sPercy Jackson and the Olympiansshow was highly anticipated and did very well. The same goes for theHis Dark Materialsseries, a much better adaptation than the theatricalGolden Compassmovie.
As such, anInkheartshow would be coming right in the middle of this young adult television renaissance.His Dark MaterialsandPercy Jacksonhave already found success, but other television shows are on the way as well, including theHarry PotterTV showand the animatedTwilightshow. Overall, this is the ideal time forInkheartto make a resurgence, but only if treated with great care and respect for the source material.
His Dark Materials
Cast
Based on author Philip Pullman’s beloved novel trilogy, His Dark Materials is a fantasy/drama television series that follows Lyra, a brave young woman from another world. Lyra’s quest to find her kidnapped friend leads her to uncover a sinister plot of a secret organization, encounter extraordinary beings, and protect dangerous secrets. Lyra will find that her life is inextricably linked with another as they discover they may be the ones to change the world.
Percy Jackson & the Olympians
Percy Jackson and the Olympians follows the journey of Percy Jackson as he embarks on a perilous quest to return Zeus’s master bolt. Joined by friends Annabeth and Grover, Percy confronts mythical challenges, seeking to avert a divine war and discover his place in the world.
