We have Game of Thrones to thank (or blame) for the current wave of fantasy television. The success of HBO’s adaptation of George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire grimdark saga ultimately paved the way for The Lord of Rings: The Rings of Power and The Wheel of Time, both of which were afforded glossy budgets to bring their lofty visions to life. HBO, meanwhile, has since returned to Westeros with House of the Dragon and the upcoming A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, with several other spin-offs in various stages of development.
With fantasy shows spawning hit franchises, it was only a matter of time until some ambitious soul acquired the television rights to Raymond E. Feist’s Riftwar Saga. After all, it’s a best-selling series that encompasses over 30 novels and a few short stories, meaning that it’s perfect for a long-running show with multiple spin-offs. However, the quest to bring Feist’s grandiose vision to life is moving at a snail’s pace, but a recent update shared by the author on his Facebook page reveals that the project is still alive, but barely moving.
“If there was [information] I’d share it. A whole lot of a development deal is waiting for the other side to call back. But stuff is happening.”
The Riftwar adaptation was first announced in 2022, with Six Studios optioning the rights to the first six books — Magician, Silverthorn, A Darkness at Sethanon, Daughter of the Empire, Servant of the Empire, and Mistress of the Empire (the latter three of which were co-written by Janny Wurtz) — and tapping Hannah Friedman, Jacob Pinion, and Nick Bernardone to bring it to the screen.
The hold up is understandable, however, as condensing Feist’s sprawling saga for television will be no easy task. The novels feature interdimensional warfare, decade-spanning storytelling, and multiple characters, so no pressure, eh? Still, if the Six Studio team pulls off this ambitious adaptation, the Riftwar show could be something special.
What to Expect from a Riftwar TV Series
The Riftwar Saga debuted in 1982 with Magician, an epic tome that centers around Pug, a lowly servant boy who realizes his potential as a powerful wizard after a multiversal conflict erupts between his homeworld, Midkemia, and Kelewan. Midkemia is the type of medieval European-esque world that’s common in Tolkien-inspired fantasy fare, while Kelewan is reminiscent of feudal Japan.
The Magician timeline runs concurrently with Raymond E. Feist and Janny Wurtz’s “Empire Trilogy,” which examines the war between the worlds from a Kelewanian point of view. The cusp of the story follows a young convent novice, Mara, as she rises to power in a cutthroat political system following the death of her father and brother. Thus begins a fight to claim the throne as she contends with schemers, spies, and other threats.
Details about the Riftwar TV series are being kept close to the vest for now, but Pug and Mara’s journeys will probably serve as the centerpiece storylines early on. That said, the war between Midkemia and Kelewan isn’t the only conflict that could factor into the show, as Silverthorn and A Darkness at Sethanon mainly focus on the adventures of Prince Arutha as he protects Midkemia from assassination conspiracies, dark elves, and evil warlords.
The material is there for Six Studios to create a compelling television series, and the first six books only scrarch the surface of Feist’s expansive literary universe, so there is a wealth of material here for a bona fide franchise. At the same time, the adaptation’s delay suggests that there have been hiccups behind the scenes, and we will believe this show exists when we see the opening credits roll.