Hollywood frequently finds delight in expanding successful series, a preference that’s hard not to understand given the enthusiasm from fans who cherish their favorite stories and desire more content. When seeking promising new franchises, adaptations often serve as the starting point. However, there are instances where Hollywood attempts to develop broader cinematic universes for films to inhabit. Interestingly, a significant number of fantasy movies, if they hadn’t been disappointing box office failures, could have been transformed into successful franchise series.
Adaptations offer a significant advantage by starting with a built-in audience from the original source material (books, comics, or games). This can give them a headstart during the official launch. However, adaptations are like a double-edged sword because they also heighten expectations and open the door to criticism. We’ve all witnessed a mismanaged adaptation, and fans have no qualms about voicing their disapproval.
1) Mortal Engines (2018)
To begin with, “Mortal Engines” is a 2018 film that was adapted from Philip Reeve’s novel of the same name. This steampunk movie had high expectations as fans were eager to witness the story unfold on the big screen. The plot of Mortal Engines takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where people have resorted to living in giant, mobile cities for survival. In this movie, we follow Tom Natsworthy, a young resident within the city of London, who gets entangled in something far bigger than himself after encountering a mysterious girl named Hester Shaw.
In simpler terms, the movie titled “Mortal Engines” featured Hera Hilmar, Robert Sheehan, Hugo Weaving, Jihae, Ronan Raftery, among others. When it was released, it received mixed reactions and didn’t perform well at the box office, failing to recoup its production costs. One reason for its poor performance might have been the delay in its release. The producers had acquired the rights to “Mortal Engines” as early as 2009, but they took several years before officially announcing an adaptation. As a result, the movie was released 17 years after the novel. Although this isn’t always a problem (consider the success of The Lord of the Rings trilogy), it missed out on the peak interest that usually comes with a new novel.
Mortal Engines is available to stream on Peacock.
2) Eragon (2006)
Enthusiasts of fantasy literature, particularly those who love immersing themselves in such tales, were eagerly anticipating the movie adaptation of “Eragon” back in 2006. This film was an adaption from Christopher Paolini’s book by the same name, which kick-started a very popular series. Given the novel’s tremendous success, it was only natural for fans to expect great things from its big-screen counterpart. However, as a word of caution, the movies didn’t quite live up to those expectations.
The story of Eragon unfolds in a fantastical realm teeming with dragons, elves, and sorcery. Meet Eragon, our protagonist and the central character of the narrative. He’s an ordinary farmhand living a simple life until fate intervenes-whether it’s good fortune or bad luck depends on one’s perspective. One day, he stumbles upon a remarkable blue dragon egg, which he names Saphira. This discovery marks the beginning of an extraordinary journey filled with magic and adventures that would put any other to shame.
In the “Eragon” series, “Eragon” is the initial book in the four-part saga known as the “Inheritance Cycle.” During the preproduction phase, movie producers intended to film the subsequent stories, “Eldest” and “Brisingr,” concurrently. However, this plan did not materialize. The movie adaptation significantly reduced elements that made the book enchanting, leaving fans with a less profound story. Consequently, the film underperformed, ending any prospect of further installments in the series.
Eragon is available to stream on Disney+.
3) King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (2017)
For centuries, tales about King Arthur have held a captivating allure, with their popularity waxing and waning over time. This leads us to the 2017 film, King Arthur: Legend of the Sword, which aimed to leverage our enduring fascination with the character. The movie recounted the origins of King Arthur, from his discovery to his battle against tyranny and every event in between. The cast was stellar, featuring Charlie Hunnam, Àstrid Bergès-Frisbey, Djimon Hounsou, Aidan Gillen, Jude Law, and Eric Bana. With such a high-profile ensemble, it’s surprising that the movie didn’t perform better purely based on its star power.
It’s clear that the filmmakers were aiming for a series with “King Arthur: Legend of the Sword”, having six installments planned initially. However, if things had gone better, they would have likely expanded the series even further. Unfortunately, the movie failed to impress at the box office, barely covering its production costs. Although it didn’t cause financial losses, the poor performance made the project less promising.
You can stream the movie King Arthur: Legend of the Sword on various platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Sling TV, or The Roku Channel.
4) The Dark Tower (2017)
It’s fair to say that the release of The Dark Tower was eagerly awaited by many. The movie adaptation was derived from Stephen King’s series of novels bearing the same title. Considering that choosing the series as the primary title for the first film might have been a hint of things to come, fans were thrilled at the prospect of seeing this series unfold on the big screen.
The tale centers around an enigmatic edifice, diverse realms, a resolute gunfighter, and a wandering youngster. Given that Stephen King’s series spanned eight novels, it was expected that this film would aim for something equally impressive. In fact, the audience shared the same anticipation. This movie seemed destined to become extraordinary, as Idris Elba secured the lead role (the Gunslinger) and Matthew McConaughey introduced a fresh take on a villainous character, Walter Padick. Regrettably, the film shifted focus from this protagonist/antagonist duo and instead chose to emphasize the third character, Jack Chambers (played by Tom Taylor).
It seems like adapting “The Dark Tower” wasn’t an easy feat right from the get-go, given that production spanned over a decade and, despite recouping its modest budget, it didn’t receive favorable critiques. Fans felt disillusioned by the creative decisions made, but fortunately, Idris Elba’s portrayal was generally well-received, leaving room for optimism about potential future appearances in some capacity.
The Dark Tower is available to stream on Netflix.
5) The Mummy (2017)
Whether you’re fond of them or not, remakes are quite prevalent these days, and we find ourselves discussing the 2017 revamp of “The Mummy.” The story revolves around U.S. Army Sergeant Nick Morton, who unwittingly sets into motion a perilous mission to save the planet. The danger? The curse he accidentally awakened, which was the doing of Princess Ahmanet.
As a devoted fan, I’d say “The Mummy” starred me alongside Tom Cruise, Annabelle Wallis, Sofia Boutella, and Jake Johnson, among others. This movie took a timeless premise and spun it into a chilling horror tale, which I found incredibly intriguing. Yet, despite its innovative concept, the film struggled to recoup its investment – even more so when marketing expenses were factored in.
Initially, “The Mummy” was intended to kick off a series of movies called Dark Universe, an interconnected universe featuring classic Universal Monsters such as Dracula, Frankenstein’s Creature, and the Wolf Man. Other plans involved spinning standalone films around these characters. However, the entire concept was abandoned after “The Mummy” received unfavorable reviews.
The Mummy is available to rent through Amazon Prime Video and YouTube.
6) The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones (2013)
The movie titled “The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones,” released in 2013, was developed from Cassandra Clare’s popular novel series, “The Mortal Instruments.” This film adapts the initial book of the series (City of Bones). Readers were thrilled to see the narrative unfold on screen. It’s plausible that the producers aimed to replicate the enchantment and achievement seen in other successful franchises like “The Hunger Games.” The plot centers around a gang of beings known as Nephilim, who are called Shadowhunters. Clary Fray plays a pivotal role within this group. Upon witnessing an astonishing incident, she discovers her true identity and learns that she’s been hidden within the ordinary world; she is now one of the few entrusted with the task of hunting demons.
I was one of the many enthusiastic supporters who eagerly anticipated the release of “The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones”. With high expectations, we were ready to delve deeper into the series with “City of Ashes”, and even heard exciting news about Sigourney Weaver joining the cast for the sequel. Unfortunately, the film underperformed at the box office, barely recouping its production costs. This temporary setback left the sequels hanging in the balance before they were ultimately shelved. If the adaptation had remained truer to the original material, I believe fans like me would have found the story more satisfying.
The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones is available to stream on Netflix.
7) The Golden Compass (2007)
At last, let me not forget to mention “The Golden Compass.” This is a captivating fantasy adventure inspired by Philip Pullman’s novel bearing the same title. The book was the first installment in a series (originally a trilogy, but Pullman has been expanding it more recently), so there were high expectations that the films would continue the trend.
In this narrative, the setting is imagined as one where every individual possesses a daemon, an entity that closely bonds with them. This significant aspect forms the core theme for the initial novel. Introducing young Lyra, who becomes part of an endeavor aimed at rescuing abducted children (with the ultimate goal being experimental testing on both children and their daemons).
Initially, it seemed that the trilogy would indeed be brought to life, with “The Subtle Knife” slated for a 2010 premiere and “The Amber Spyglass” following closely behind. However, the production team eventually halted and ultimately abandoned all work on the trilogy, mainly because of the film’s underwhelming response. While fans were largely disappointed with the film’s deviation from the source material, interestingly, “The Golden Compass” garnered a few accolades, such as Best Visual Effects. The movie featured Nicole Kidman, Sam Elliott, Eva Green, Dakota Blue Richards, and Daniel Craig in its star-studded cast.
The Golden Compass is available to stream through The Roku Channel.
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2025-08-25 21:16