Massive New Discworld TV Adaptation in the Works

As BBC Studios finishes up work on its new TV series The Watch, inspired by Terry Pratchett’s tales of the Ankh-Morpork City Watch from his Discworld books, the production company the author founded a few years before he sadly passed away in 2015 has struck a brand-new deal with Motive Pictures and Endeavor Content for a proposed slate of Discworld TV adaptations.

The mammoth undertaking seems set to adapt the Discworld series of over 40 novels. Not much is known about the logistics of bringing them to the small screen, but the team behind the new project says they will remain “absolutely faithful” to Pratchett’s books.

“Discworld teems with unique characters, witty narrative and incredible literary tropes, and we feel these should be realised on screen in a form that my father would be proud of,” said Rhianna Pratchett, co-Director of Narrativia, in a statement. “It’s wonderful to embark on this journey with Motive and Endeavor Content, who both perfectly share our vision to make this a reality.”

The comic-fantasy book series centres on tales from the Discworld, which is a flat planet balanced on the backs of four elephants, who stand on the back of a turtle. Pratchett’s novels began with 1983’s The Colour of Magic, and the writer’s final Discworld book, The Shepherd’s Crown, was released in 2015, a short time after his death.

Rob Wilkins, Managing Director of Narrativia, said: “The Discworld books are a huge source of joy to millions of readers, and rightly so; every paragraph, phrase and footnote was crafted with brilliance and flair and we are committed to bringing Terry’s world to the screen with the respect and care it deserves. With this partnership, we are delighted to say that Discworld has finally found its home.”

“Discworld is a national treasure and we are thrilled to be forging this new partnership with Narrativia and Endeavor Content,” Simon Maxwell, CEO of Motive Pictures, said. “Together we will produce shows that will be loved by millions of Discworld fans worldwide, whilst also opening up Sir Terry Pratchett’s epic creations and legacy to new audiences. We launched Motive to make high quality British shows with global scale and impact and I can think of nothing that exemplifies that ambition more than this hugely exciting partnership.”

Lorenzo De Maio, Head of TV Advisory for Endeavor Content added, “We are honoured to bring Sir Terry Pratchett’s Discworld to the screen, in partnership with best-in-class producers Narrativia and Motive Pictures. Discworld is a masterpiece of storytelling, and we look forward to working with our partners to bring it to audiences worldwide.”

We’ll bring you more on this as it becomes available.