Kingfountain coming to TV

I’ve shared a few press releases recently about this news, but I wanted to follow it up with more detail that I’m sure you’ll be curious about. Several months ago, a screenwriter approached me to ask if I’d be interested in making a TV show out of my books. He introduced me to Bruno Zarka, the CEO of a new studio called Nucleus Media Rights. For the last few months, Bruno and I have been discussing doing a live-action TV series based on the books of the Kingfountain series.

As you can imagine, I’ve been very hesitant and cautious about tying up the rights to my books unless I’m confident that they will be family-friendly productions. That is incredibly important to me. I want my kids and nieces and nephews to be able to read anything or watch anything that has my name on it. I also would never want to disappoint my fans, all of you!

So why did I choose Nucleus? Well, after many, many discussions with Bruno (and after he read The Queen’s Poisoner), he convinced me that he would respect my vision of the series. He believes strongly that there needs to be more shows that families can watch together. That he wanted me to be a full partner in the production of the show, and that I’d be able to help choose the people brought in to breathe life into the story. In other words, I get full creative control.

I’m the first to admit that I know very little about creating TV shows. Nucleus is providing talented individuals who will help me make this happen. We’ve already begun discussing possible script writers, directors, concept artists, and I’ve made plenty of suggestions of my own (like asking/begging for Richard Armitage to play Severn). There is still a lot of work to be done, but we’re hoping to put the lead team together within the next couple of months. Before we cast the roles, we need to assemble the creative team.

Another question you probably have is where you’ll be able to watch the Kingfountain TV show. I don’t have an answer for you yet, because we don’t have that locked down, but Bruno and I are in strong agreement as to our #1 choice of who that would be. But before we can pitch the show to them, we need to have the team assembled, scripts written, artwork created, and the right chemistry to increase the odds of success. If all goes well, we’d be able to start filming next year, 2021. The plan is for Season 1 to be based on The Queen’s Poisoner.

I’m also very grateful to have an excellent entertainment attorney, Matt Sugarman. He represents Patrick Rothfuss, Naomi Novik, Brandon Sanderson and many other fantasy authors, so I’m in good hands. In fact, because Matt works with Brandon, he knows my desire to keep it PG or PG-13 rated, and we’ve even built that into the contract.

This is very new territory for me, but it feels strangely familiar. Years ago, I was approached by a brand new publisher, 47North, looking for new fantasy authors. It’s turned into a long-term partnership which has changed my life. Nucleus isn’t well known right now. Just you wait…(nods to Hamilton).

I’m sure you have other questions that I probably can’t answer right now because it’s too early into the process. I just wanted to share this amazing news with you because many of you have been there for me the whole time. And Bruno has assured me, multiple times, that he wants to create a show that won’t disappoint you, the true fans. No, he wants you to be amazed. And so do I.

As the pieces begin to come together, I’ll keep you informed here on my blog as well as sharing pictures on my Instagram account (@muirwoodwheeler).

Now, if we can only find a little boy who can play Owen Kiskaddon…

 

Jeff Wheeler

Jeff Wheeler

Wall Street Journal bestselling author of over forty epic fantasy novels.

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41 Comments

  • Megan Cantwell says:

    Jeff I am so happy for you in this endeavor and so excited to see the characters come to life!

  • Holly Euer says:

    I’m so excited!

  • Ashley Owens says:

    Yay! Yay! Yay! I’m so excited! I can’t wait! Congratulations!

  • Sean says:

    I am so happy for you!
    I’ve always pictured Stephen Root as Mancini, if you are taking fan suggestions.
    Can’t wait!
    Have a better day!
    PS. I would be glad to help if you need miniatures made!

  • Dianne Gaynor says:

    Awesome news, I hope it will be shown in Australia..

  • Van Green says:

    This is amazing! I hope it’s something I’ll be able to watch after I move overseas later this year.

  • Amy says:

    Congratulations! This makes me so happy!

  • Anne says:

    Fantastic news. I hope I’ll be able to watch it in Denmark.

  • Angie C says:

    This is SO incredibly exciting! Congrats to you. I cannot wait to see it… and whose cast for it.

  • Theresa says:

    This is incredible!! I am so happy.

  • Fantastic! I am a great fan of the series and anxious to see how Kingfountain plays out on tv. It is one of my favorite worlds to visit as I am sure is many others. Congratulations and wishing you much success with this endeavor.

  • Monica Stross says:

    This is going to be EPIC! So excited for you Jeff!

  • Kylee says:

    Cant wait. Hope it will we will be able to watch the series here in Australia. Thank you for keeping your books and now series family friendly so i can share my love of reading with my girls. Best of luck.

  • Jami says:

    My kids and I love the Kingfountain series. It will be amazing to be able to watch a tv show together as a family based on these books! What an exciting project, congratulations.

  • James says:

    I am a big fan of books being readable by anyone. I have read many thousands of sci fi and fantasy books over the years … while you definitely have your own style, your work reminds me of Terry Brooks. Your books are fantastic and I cannot wait to read each one. Please do everything in your power to make sure what happened to the TV version of Shannara does not happen to Kingfountain.

  • Connie says:

    This is great news as I love this series and couldn’t get enough of it! When picking a boy for owen, think of who you would want to play him as an adult…Hope it will be on a network that streams (netflicks, stars, etc)

  • J Soo says:

    Crossing my fingers for Hong Kong! I love all your books…huge fan here!

  • Athena Corodimas says:

    That is so exciting! I am looking at the ARC of Knight’s random right now and wondering if I need to read books 4 5 and 6 first

    Also bravo on the end of The Immortal Words!

    Can’t wait for more Kingfountain updates!

  • Yael Thieme says:

    Oooh! Oooooh!
    (dances in little circle)
    I shared this news with my siblings and we were all laughing and dancing in our kitchen. We. Are. So. Happy. Thaaaaank you!
    Aaaaah!

  • Karen J Holley says:

    Your stories are awesome!! It will be great to see them in action. As was previously mentioned, please don’t make changes to the story or characters for TV!! The Shannara series is a favorite of mine but when I saw the tv version I was very disappointed. The story was changed and characters was not as described. I didn’t get past episode #2. Your stories are great and have become a favorite also. Your vivid descriptions gives us feelings/sight as if we are there. Please keep that for TV and your fans will praise you even more, I know I will. I ‘almost’ patiently await more!!

  • Brittany says:

    I am full of anticipation for this to come to fruition! My heart might explode from excitement! Well done, Mr. Wheeler! I am a HUGE fan!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Julie Robertson says:

    I am a brand new fan who has just today finished reading “The Queen’s Poisoner” and has just come to your website. As I know have “The Thief’s Daughter” downloaded and am looking around for what else you have for me to read after that, I am excited to hear this news! Thank you for proving that amazing books CAN be written without the smut of the world! I and my family will be looking forward to your TV show!

  • Lisa H. says:

    Oh my goodness, this is amazing! I hope it’s available on a streaming platform I use. So exciting for you!

  • Bree says:

    Richard Armitage IS Severn! Now that you’ve planted that seed in my head I can’t imagine anyone else in the role! It was written for him! So many fantastic artist to choose from for Owen, I can’t wait to see who is cast.

  • Stephanie C. says:

    Fan of your books!!
    YES!!! absolutely .. Would LOVE to see these characters come to life .!!
    love Richard Armitage !! Looking forward to watching!!
    (maybe a better end for the beautiful Queens Poisoner? )

    Would love to see my favorite The Covenant of Muirwood trilogy series come to life as well !!! (big fan of Mia)…

  • Shannon says:

    How are you casting for roles? I’d love to apply

  • Devin F. says:

    This. Is. Amazing! I literally thought about this after I finished The Muirwood books. I even discussed it with my family, “wouldn’t this make an awesome movie?” A TV show, if done right, would be even better! I am happy for you and I will be praying that God guides you in this journey.

  • Di Andra says:

    That would be amazing! I so love your work and it would be awesome to see it on the big screen!

  • Anna says:

    WOW! This is such exciting news! I’ve been a huge fan of yours for a couple of years now, and the Kingfountain series was my introduction into your imagination. I hoped I’d be able to see a televised series, esp after reading your request to have Richard Armitage play Severn (huge fan of that idea)!

    THANK YOU so much for your commitment to keeping the show, as well as all your books, clean and family-friendly. It really means the world to some of us in this day and age. God bless you!

  • Elizabethe Walton says:

    Awesome news! It has become so difficult to find good entertainment that is clean and still actually entertaining. Don’t let them change your work!

  • Kelly Smith says:

    This is epic news I can hardly wait to find out when and where I am going to get to watch the stories come to life. I have rear several times I own all of them you are one of my favorite author’s.

  • Leslie says:

    Best news! Especially during this truly hard year! You are my favorite author and to see a screen adaption would be amazing! Hope it comes to fruition! Looking forward to more stories and possible film!

  • Jason A Klimcheck says:

    Any updates on this project? I have been saying with all the garbage they have on TV these days, this and harbinger series would be fantastic to watch

  • Adriana Caro-Vargas says:

    I cannot wait!!!!! My children are only 10 and 11 and I have to confess they do not share my passion for reading, but this TV Show would certainly our new favorite thing to share. The series are smart, nerve-racking and most importantly, provide a moral standard that is hard to find nowadays. Like I said, CAN’T WAIT!!!

  • Chloe says:

    Mr. Wheeler I am so happy to hear this exciting news! I am so close to having read all of your works. I do have to say the Kingfountain series is my absolute favorite. So this is great news!
    I am also loving the First Argentines.
    Just want to say thank you for giving us, your readers, a magical escape!
    Also shout out to Kate Rudd for bringing your characters to life, does a wonderful job!

  • Adena Blair says:

    Hey Jeff, I’m usually not a fantasy reader, I love historic fiction, but I started with Kingfountain and I can’t stop! I just finished the first Muirwood. Pretty sure I knew you at Intel FM when I was there 2000-2010. Great place to be from! I’ve been a career RN ever since. I just googled “Will any of Jeff Wheeler’s books be made into a movie” and this popped up. What luck!! I can’t wait!!!

    • Avatar photo Jeff Wheeler says:

      thanks for leaving a comment – I wonder if we crossed paths in FM those years ago. Probably did! Unfortunately, the TV deal has fallen through. That happens a lot in that industry. Hopefully another opportunity will come someday.

  • Heidi says:

    Eeeeeeeeek!!! I am sooooooooooooo exited!! I can’t wait for it to come out!! I hope it doesn’t end up like the Percy Jackson movies. They were a total bummer. CAN NOT WAIT!!!!

  • Destiny says:

    I just finished all 6 books and I’m so excited to see this but when will it come out I can not find it anywhere just yet.

  • Please make a tv series me and my sister have all of your books and we would love to watch the show we saw some false news that said it was coming out an we were incredibly disappointed to learn that it was fake so please make it into a tv show or at least a movie

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