Harry Potter, The Hobbit and now … Dragonriders Of Pern? On an endless search to find big-scale fantasy books that lend themselves to global franchises, Warner Bros has optioned the Pern book series from the estate of American-Irish author Anne McCaffrey. There is a lot to work with here, with 22 volumes that make it one of the biggest selling sci-fi series ever. The first book was published in 1968, and the focus is on an elite group of warriors who take to the skies on the backs of giant, fire-breathing dragons with telepathic powers. They try to save the exotic planet of Pern from a terrifying airborne menace — a rain of deadly spores that comes with the orbit of the Red Star.
Related: Warner Bros Taps Drew Crevello As Senior Movie Production Veep
The deal was spearheaded by Warner Bros exec Drew Crevello, who joined the studio only a couple of months ago after writing for two years. He previously had been in production at Fox as a VP, where he worked on the X-Men franchise pics. Warners’ Julia Spiro also is working on the project. The series option deal comes as the studio searches keenly for another big franchise; this one could launch an entire merchandising and licensing product line. Just as important, it could be the fantasy the studio craves after Warner Bros rode Harry Potter into The Hobbit, which winds down later this year as Peter Jackson completes the final installment of the trilogy with The Battle Of The Five Armies, complete with its own fire-breathing dragon Smaug.
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Any of these folks still involved? http://m.deadline.com/2011/04/david-hayter-to-adapt-scifi-book-series-dragonriders-of-pern/
Finally! Every dorky band girl in every high school in America just raised their fists in triumph. Oh, and me, too.
An awful song just popped into my head, and I need to leave a quote from it here … If you’re gonna do it, do it right, yeah.
Such a great series of books… loved it as a kid. Couldn’t have been made until now thanks to CGI.
Inevitable, especially following the recent death of Anne McCaffrey, who spent much of her life making it difficult for anyone trying to make a Pern movie.
Also, some Pern trivia: The books in your picture — Dragonsong, Dragonsinger and Dragondrums — are from a separate set of books from the same universe, known as the Harper Hall trilogy. Curious to know if they’re included in the WB option since they have a different publisher.
The reason she made it hard is she didn’t want it turned into another Xena or Transformers movie.
The assassin’s apprentice by robin hobb. That is all.
I hope the WB doesn’t mess it up
and absolutely keep JJ Abrams out of it (Todd too, I really don’t care to see riders flying thread on watchweyrs)!
Not the first go-round on Pern for Warner. Ron Moore tried to roll this ten years ago, but WB dicked with everything so badly that what was left was unrecognizable.
I’ve waiting a long time for this series to get its proper recognition. So glad its time has come. I only wish “The Pern Lady” was here to enjoy it. I met Anne McCaffrey many times and she wanted the series to be made into a movie, but wanted them to adhere to her vision of Pern. I hope so, also. Should be an exciting movie!
Let’s hope this goes better than the pilot almost made for The WB back in ’01. Ron Moore was set to be showrunner. The show got to the point of starting production when WB tried rewriting it into something that more closely resembled Xena or something. Ron Moore elected to shut the whole thing down than have WB screw it up.
I’m amazed Ron Moore shut down Dragonflight from being filmed because WB didn’t want to follow the book closely enough.
“Not following the book closely enough” didn’t stop him from absolutely butchering Battlestar Galactica.
OMG, I hope this gets made, I grew up reading Anne McCaffrey’s books and have been praying for this to eventually get on the big screen!
A very hit & miss series. Some books are really good. Some are really terrible. Has the potential to be a good movie, but expect changes. Dragonflight could never hold a movie on its own as it is written. Moreta could though.
Please for the love of God make this!
Yes! I have read the series of Pern books and would love to see a movie based on these stories!
OMFG!!! This is my FAVORITE Science Fiction series of my life – I have read and re-read these books – I have literally every one of them and to see that a major studio is finally considering them is just awesome!!!
I hope they start with trilogies: like the Harper Hall series (which is a good starting point for meeting the planet and the people of Pern) then over to Dragonquest/Dragonflight/The White Dragon – then they can throw in the “prequel” books as more mini-series movie set-ups. The Dragonriders of Pern is a very RICH series in terms of action, drama, characters and the science fiction element – plus who didn’t want a dragon to talk to them? :)
Anne herself had given a reading order to the series, the movie/tv series makers (SHOWTIME BUY THIS!!!!!) should follow her blueprint on the order of things – hopefully Todd McCaffrey will be overseeing as an executive producer.
BTW ew: Ms. McCaffrey always saw her series as SCIENCE FICTION not “fantasy”. Not ever. I was privileged to meet her and Todd back in 1983 in Houston. She was very very clear on that subject.
the reason why it was never made, despite MAD interest at many times, is that she would NOT give up full rights, she wanted final say at least. the studios and/or the producers wouldnt take her terms. i just hope Todd got some kind of oversight on the making of these films. yes if you havent read them, they do start out seeming “fantasy” but are MOST definitely science fiction.
Agreed. I’m thinking only a multi-episode series such as Battle Star Galactica could do justice to this rich multigenerational saga. When I read her books I easily “saw” them on the big screen. Whomever brings this magical collection to the realm of visual art, please just read …. this series is already written, word for word. Take your time to tell this tale … you will be richly rewarded. (beware of the Avatar – The Last Airbender failure.
John Rhys Davies has to play Masterharper Robinton. He’s perfect for it.
He is probably a bit old. I always imagined Robinton in his 30s for most of his bits :) I dont remember if they actually said how old he is…
I can see him being a bit too old but it would also depend on where they start in the series. Personally I think they should start with Dragonflight and he might be too old for that period. But I always got the feeling that he was 10-20 years older than F’lar. I just think that JRD could handle the bombast as well as the gravitas of Robinton. I keep going back to the scene in the Indiana Jones movie where he bursts into song as the ship is leaving carrying away his friends.
not sure if he would be tall enough, supposed to be tall and lanky, not midsized and buffed. in the white dragon he is old enough to be having a heart attack “not unexpected with his age and activities” (or there abouts ) quote from Master Healer Oldive
If you go by the Masterharper of Pern book and count up the approximate years including his marriage and subsequent begrievement he was about 35 when Lessa was born and about 50 when Lessa and Flar met. By the time they discovered the ships he was nearly 70. Remember their son was a dragonrider of some seniority. Loved the whole series still have most of the books on my living room shelf.
just don`t muck it up
How about Robert Jordan , Wheel of Time.
fantastic. will make me go back to watching movies at a theater.
Since being introduced to the Pern series only a handful of years ago, reading whatever I could get my hands on and being totally engrossed I have, from day one, said that this series would make the greatest movie(s) AND franchising of all time. I pray they do it right. I had the similar thoughts after reading Jurrasic Park when it was first published…
…AND merchandising…to a new level!
Yaaaaaayyyyy!
If it’s going to be done, please for all things “by the Shard of my Dragon’s Egg”, do not make it like Eragon.
Please,please,please what ever you do to put the movies on the air or in movies, please read the book first before you do any movie stuff that you do. I write this in hopes that however directs the movie will not make the mistake of the other dragon movies that had fail made money but failed badly these books of Anne Mccaffery are so beloved by people who have read them are very loyal and true fans of Mrs Mccaffery. so please do not mess it up. I can believe that you will make tons of money if it is done correctly. thank you letting me say my peace.
well said! the script is already written, please do not mess it up.
By the first egg please do this movie justice and you will make a lot of money on this project. and remember that the dragons have four (4) legs and not two(2)you will have a fan base that will not let you down.
It’s about time. We’ve been waiting for the Dragon Riders of Pern for more than two generations. I loved the books when I was young and turned my children on to them. How exciting and we so look forward to the movie creations. I’ll have to read all the books again. You can bet that Anne McCaffrey will be watching from the grave.