GAME OF THRONES Producer is Adapting The Sci-Fi Thriller Novel THE SWARM into a TV Series
Game of Thrones, Rome and John Adams executive producer Frank Doelger is set to develop an adaptation of the environmental sci-fi thriller novel The Swarm into a TV series. For those of you not familiar with the story that was written by Frank Schaetzing:
The Swarm is a global environmental thriller set in a present day where anomalies and unnatural behavior in marine animals are causing upheaval all over the world. Millions of strange worms suddenly appear on the bottom of the North Sea, drilling their way through frozen methane, threatening to destabilize the entire continental shelf. Swarms of mussels stop large vessels from maneuvering. Toxic jellyfish, lobsters and whales start attacking human beings along the coasts of the world. It follows a global group of scientists and military who come together to tackle one of the biggest challenges mankind has ever faced. They make the chilling discovery that we are not the only intelligent species on this planet – and that deep down at the bottom of the sea resides a collective intelligence which has suffered the ravages of civilization on its habitat and decided to fight back.
This actually could make for a great series if handled properly. The plan is to tell this story over the course of eight episodes and it's said to be a big-budget project that will begin production in early 2019.
Schaetzing had this to say in a statement:
"The question about a possible film adaptation of The Swarm was the one I was most frequently asked about. Every time my answer was: deadlock. Who would have thought that the ideal team would come together after all, that visionary TV producers and pro-players including Game of Thrones creative force Frank Doelger would come on board to steer this large-scale international TV series, which is the strongest narrative form one could adapt an adventure like The Swarm into. It’s full steam ahead from now on. I’m very excited and looking forward to this collaboration."
Doelger added:
"After having spent eight seasons in the mythical world of Game of Thrones, it is great to return to the present with The Swarm and its searing exploration of the impending doom brought about by man’s callous disregard of the oceans, a doomsday scenario as dire as anything imagined by George R.R. Martin."
This isn't the first attempt to adapt this novel. There was a feature film in development at one point with Uma Thurman set to star and The Silence of the Lambs screenwriter Ted Tally had written the script.
Doelger has worked on some great shows. He seems to have a talent for putting together creative teams for his projects. Hopefully, this next project of his turns out to be just as great as his previous endeavors. I'm looking forward to seeing what comes of it!
Do you think The Swarm will make for a good series!?
Source: Deadline