When Amazon first launched its Prime Video streaming service, the tech company was unsure what types of series it wanted to promote. Hell, there was a time when Amazon would release pilot episodes of a number of series and check the viewership stats to see which ones moved forward. But now, it appears the strategy is in line with the Streaming Wars competitors, each looking for the biggest, coolest property (based on an IP, of course) available. And Amazon apparently thinks that “Ringworld” might be just that and the studio has brought in a “Game of Thrones” filmmaker to help bring the novel series to life.
According to a new interview on Collider with Akiva Goldsman, the writer explained that he’s currently writing a TV adaptation of the famed “Ringworld” novel series for Amazon, with director Alan Taylor attached.
The writer revealed, “Alan Taylor is attached to direct, and hopefully that will turn into an actual set of moving pictures, but God knows.”
Taylor is probably best known for his work on TV series such as “The Sopranos” and “Game of Thrones.” However, he also has quite a bit of big-screen experience, helming both “Thor: The Dark World” and “Terminator: Genisys.” Though, those films aren’t necessarily the best blockbusters in recent memory.
“Ringworld” is based on the novel series of the same name from sci-fi author Larry Niven. The novels follow the adventures of Louis Gridley Wu, a lonely man in the far distant future, who accepts the invitation to join a young woman and a couple of aliens on a journey to the mysterious Ringworld, which is outside of what is referred to as Known Space.
When asked about Amazon’s strategy when it comes to picking and choosing which series move forward and which get stuck in development, Goldsman isn’t quite sure he knows the answer. However, he’s confident that ‘Ringworld” is a series that can not only attract Amazon but also a large number of viewers.
“I don’t know what Amazon is looking for, but they seem to like these larger objects that have scope and scale…,” said Goldsman. “I think that these big, comprehensive universes, there are very few of them still available, and I certainly think Known Space is one of them, for those of us who were Larry Niven fans in our high school days. Niven’s world, his universe, dare I say, is incredibly complex and nuanced, and ‘Ringworld’ has always been this entry point. Better minds than mine have tried to crack it, but hopefully we’ll do it this time.”
Obviously, with a series this scale and requiring a massive budget and effects work, it’s unclear if/when Amazon might move forward with the series. That being said, “Ringworld” does seem like it could be an exciting new show and something that could bring viewers to Amazon Prime Video.