I Recently Started Reading King Of Ashes, And I Just Know The Netflix Series Adaptation Is Going To Be Fire

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Every book that I’m currently reading or listening to sparks a desire to read hundreds more. That’s why finding out that a former U.S. President had included “King of Ashes” by S.A. Cosby in his summer reading list, further motivated me to move it up on my To-Be-Read pile.

Although the popular author has written many acclaimed books, this is the first one I’ve had a chance to read. So far, I’m only one-third of the way through it, but the compelling narrative and vivid imagery have piqued my curiosity about whether it will be turned into a film or TV series. In fact, it appears that Netflix has plans for a series adaptation, which is exciting as the story already seems tailor-made for the big screen, with its cinematic elements evident from the outset.

What Is King Of Ashes About?

Even before Barack Obama shared his summer reading list in an Instagram post in late August, King of Ashes was on my radar due to the buzz it was getting. The story sounded intriguing, and it also sounded like it had the potential to offer some of the gritty edginess I occasionally crave in a good mystery/crime thriller.

The narrative focuses on Roman Carruthers, a man who heads back to his Virginia hometown to assist his sibling and sister in managing their funeral home, as their father falls into a coma following an accident. However, the town holds more than just memories for Roman, as there’s an unresolved mystery concerning the disappearance of their mother years ago. As if that wasn’t enough, Roman soon finds himself entangled in a predicament created by his brother Dante, which involves a substantial debt owed to some formidable local criminals.

As previously mentioned, I’ve only read approximately one-third of the book, but I must say, it’s incredibly captivating thus far. The story is dark and gritty, yet engaging, and I find myself drawn to the main character, Roman. Initially presented as a polished and successful Atlanta financier, the narrative subtly unveils his complexities before thrusting him and his family into a perilous predicament. This book has all the elements of a thrilling page-turner that I’ve been eager to find, so I’m relieved I decided to read it, and I can hardly wait to see how the story unfolds.

What We Know About Plans For The King Of Ashes Adaptation

It’s been disclosed that the rights to adapt S.A. Cosby’s book, King of Ashes, were acquired last year, well before its publication. According to Variety’s report, after a long and intense bidding war that spanned over weeks, Netflix, Amblin Entertainment, and Higher Ground Productions jointly obtained the rights. Their intention is to transform this story into a television series.

You probably know that Amblin Entertainment is the production company run by Steven Spielberg. On the other hand, Higher Ground is the company founded by Barack and Michelle Obama, who have produced several movies and TV shows through it, including the successful Netflix film Leave The World Behind, starring Julia Roberts.

It appears that no new information about the project has emerged since Variety’s report, which isn’t too unexpected given that the book was published in June of this year. Since adaptations can take a significant amount of time to materialize, I doubt we’ll be able to stream it on Netflix anytime soon. However, if the project does come out in the near future, an episodic format seems like the ideal way to tell the story. This would allow us to gradually understand Roman, Dante, and Neveah’s characters as Dante’s debt situation escalates rapidly.

As a film enthusiast, I can’t help but express my curiosity about who will land the lead role in this upcoming adaptation. While the book doesn’t explicitly state Roman’s age, given that his mother vanished twenty years ago when he was around 18, I imagine him to be in his late 30s. That said, I envision actors like Donald Glover or Michael B. Jordan delivering a remarkable performance in this role. However, it could also serve as an excellent platform for an up-and-coming talent to shine and make a name for themselves.

It seems we may have jumped the gun a bit, but don’t worry, for now. However, I can’t help but feel eager if indications arise that this project progresses positively. There’s definitely a chance for another engaging, family-oriented crime drama on Netflix’s list of upcoming movies, and that’s something to look forward to!

For now, I definitely plan to delve deeper into S.A. Cosby’s book over the coming weekend.

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2025-09-06 20:51