Dafne Keen’s Underrated Fantasy Show Deserves a Sequel After New Book Update

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I have long believed that Dafne Keen’s undervalued fantasy series, scoring 84% on Rotten Tomatoes, deserved a second season, and the recent news about the latest book only strengthens this conviction for me. Similarly, after learning about new developments in Philip Pullman’s “His Dark Materials” series, I am convinced that the show should receive a follow-up. The TV adaptation of this fantasy series, also titled “His Dark Materials,” ran for three seasons and did a commendable job of adapting the original material compared to the earlier film adaptation in 2007, “The Golden Compass.” That film was one of the biggest disappointments in fantasy from the 2000s, but it was gratifying to see Pullman’s story portrayed faithfully more than a decade later.

Even though some questionable adaptations were made to the books, His Dark Materials effectively conveyed Pullman’s original tale. Although it didn’t entirely meet the hype surrounding its comparison to Game of Thrones, it still stood out as a remarkable contribution to the fantasy genre – one that remains underappreciated. Its ending for a fantasy TV show was exceptional, but I must admit, I’m not completely content with how Lyra’s story wrapped up. Moreover, Pullman’s recent book update has fueled my desire for a sequel series even further.

Philip Pullman Is Writing The Final His Dark Materials Sequel Book

The Book Of Dust Series Ends In Fall 2025 With The Rose Field

In my perspective, I’m thrilled to follow where J.P. Pullman takes Lyra next in the Book of Dust series. Contrary to the original His Dark Materials trilogy ending with The Amber Spyglass, this new series delves further into Lyra’s story. The Secret Commonwealth, the first book, actually unfolds before the events of the original trilogy, but it’s 10 years after its conclusion that we rejoin her. This time, we find Lyra as an adult navigating fresh challenges alongside Pan. This novel offers a satisfying continuation, shedding light on what becomes of Lyra beyond the closing pages of His Dark Materials.

In a recent announcement, Pullman has revealed that the third book in “The Book of Dust” series, which marks the conclusion of Lyra’s story, is scheduled for release in autumn 2025. Titled “The Rose Field,” this new installment will pick up where “The Secret Commonwealth” left off, providing few clues about how the sequel series will conclude. However, fans can anticipate another heart-wrenching and thrilling climax from Pullman. With the book on its way, I’m looking forward to seeing HBO adapt “The Book of Dust” series.

I’m Convinced Dafne Keen’s Underrated Fantasy Show Needs To Adapt Pullmans’ Sequels

Considering the outstanding performance of HBO’s adaptation of “His Dark Materials”, it seems only fitting that the network should consider adapting Philip Pullman’s sequel series as well. If Lyra’s story didn’t continue in the source material, I could understand why they might choose to leave her emotional conclusion untouched after season 3. However, since “The Book of Dust” provides a canonical tale that can be translated onto screens, there seems little reason for HBO not to prolong its underrated fantasy series. It might even bring back Keen as the leading character, a move that would surely delight fans of the initial show.

Translating the text into a more natural and easy-to-read form: Adapting the sequel series of “His Dark Materials” would allow HBO to further explore the intricate universe crafted by Pullman, focusing on the consequences following the events of the original finale. Although the third season of “His Dark Materials” provided a satisfying conclusion, it also left some unanswered questions regarding Lyra and Pan’s future. These queries are addressed in Pullman’s subsequent novels, and an HBO series addressing them would offer the same resolution for viewers who only watched the show. Given that the final book is about to be released, this is the ideal moment for HBO to dedicate themselves to such an adaptation.

The New His Dark Materials Book Makes Now The Perfect Time To Continue Lyra’s Story

HBO Wouldn’t Need To Worry About Running Out Of Material

Considering the challenges series like “Game of Thrones” faced when exhausting their source material, it’s not surprising that HBO might hesitate to move straight from “His Dark Materials” to “The Book of Dust.” However, with Philip Pullman announcing that “The Rose Field” will be the concluding book in Lyra’s saga, this presents an ideal chance to bring her sequel story to life on screen. If the book is released in fall 2025 as planned, HBO would never face the issue of running out of story again. This would give them ample time to strategize another three-season run, and guarantee a mostly accurate adaptation.

Furthermore, HBO could seize the momentum of the book series finale by producing an adaptation concurrently with the release of book 3. This move would offer fans something extra to anticipate and solidify His Dark Materials as a lasting fantasy franchise. I sincerely hope that the network recognizes the potential in this idea, as launching a series of equal quality to the original show presents an enticing opportunity.

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2025-05-06 06:29