IM Global Television has announced development on The Black Company, an adaptation of Glen Cook’s books, a fantasy series with Eliza Dushku’s Boston Diva Productions and David Goyer’s Phantom Four.
Boston Diva Productions optioned the ten-book epic action fantasy series, as well as the forthcoming book, Port of Shadows, which falls between Book 1 and 2 in the series and will be published by Tor Books in 2018. Dushku (Dollhouse, Buffy the Vampire Slayer) will portray the pivotal role of the dark sorceress, “The Lady.” Under IM Global Television’s first-look deal, David S. Goyer (Da Vinci’s Demons, Flash Forward) will executive produce along with Kevin Turen (Birth of a Nation, All Is Lost, Arbitrage). Also on board as executive producers through their Boston Diva company are Dushku, Nate Dushku, and Ami Lourie, along with Sam Maydew (Ghetto Klown) of Silver Lining Entertainment.
IM Global Television President Mark Stern said, “Glen Cook’s books turn the traditional fantasy adventure tropes on their ear with wry, dimensional characters and a modern sensibility. We’re excited to explore this intricate and exciting world for television with David and Kevin along with Eliza, Nate, Ami and Sam.”
Dushku added, “’The Black Company’ is vast in scope yet remains fundamentally relevant through the morally ambiguous choices it presents at every turn. We are excited to bring Glen Cook’s classic story to life with Mark and David, luminaries in the cinematic pursuit of science fiction and epic fantasy, who will inevitably assemble poignant characters embroiled in jaw-dropping action.”
The series follows the exploits of the Black Company, an elite mercenary unit that carries out the often nefarious deeds of the highest bidder across a Tolkeinesque landscape. When these hard-bitten men discover the prophecy that the embodiment of good has been reborn, they must re-examine their loyalties. “The Lady,” who rules over the Northern Empire, uses the Black Company to further her domination of a power structure rife with usurpers. Additional casting will be announced in the coming weeks.
The book series began with The Black Company in 1984 with Cook having since published eight additional novels, a spin-off, several short stories, and with two more books forthcoming.
(Photo Credit: Getty Images)
