The Red Queen, a New York Times best-selling YA novel, will be turned into a television series directed by the fabulous Elizabeth Banks, which will be an exciting time for YA fans!
The actress and filmmaker will appear in and direct Red Queen, a television series based on Victoria Aveyard's debut YA novel, which is set in an alternate future where superpowered Silvers (called for their silver blood) to rule over the poor Reds who serve and fight in the Silvers' battles. Mare Barrow, a 17-year-old Red, displays her own power, which changes everything—including the outcome of a growing rebellion.
The author Victoria Aveyard will write the adaptation of her novel with showrunner Beth Schwartz (Arrow, Sweet Tooth). The series is being developed by Peacock, NBCUniversal's streaming service, and will include adaptations of George R.R. Martin's Wild Cards and Elan Mastai's All Our Wrong Todays.
Previously, since 2015, Banks has been working on a film adaptation of "Red Queen." Other prominent Brownstone projects include Fox's "Bedrock," a follow-up to "The Flintstones," where Banks will portray an older Pebbles. In addition, the company has a plethora of other initiatives up and going around the city on various networks and streams. "Invisible Woman," "Science Fair," and "The Magic School Bus" are among their current film releases, while "Shrill" on Hulu and HBO Max's "Over My Dead Body" on HBO Max are among their current television offerings.
Banks and Brownstone are represented by UTA, Untitled Entertainment, Relevant, and Ziffren Brittenham.
On the upcoming Netflix series "Sweet Tooth," which she also co-created, Schwartz is an executive producer and co-showrunner. She is most known for her work on The CW's "Arrow," where she began in Season 1 and ascended to executive producer and showrunner in the last two seasons.
She is represented by UTA and Felker Toczek.
Aveyard's first work, "Red Queen," was followed by "Glass Sword," "King's Cage," and "War Storm." Her works include four #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling novels, two #1 New York Times bestselling novellas, and a #1 New York Times bestselling short story collection. "Realm Breaker," the first book in her new young adult fantasy series, was released on May 4.
In May 2021, Peacock announced plans to develop a Red Queen TV show. As of June 2021, many details are still being ironed out, but we do know a lot about the book series' underlying material. Let's take a look at everything we know so far about the upcoming Red Queen TV show and novels.
According to Deadline, Peacock is developing a Red Queen TV show. This indicates that they have acquired the rights to the book series and are taking the beginning steps toward putting the pilot into production. Nothing has yet been shot, but if the studio likes the screenplay, has the required funds, and wants to move on with the project, they will proceed to the next stage. The next step will be to employ the rest of the cast and crew, as well as to find locations, make costumes, and shoot the pilot.
According to Peacock, Elizabeth Banks will direct the pilot, act as a co-producer on the project, and have a significant supporting role in the Red Queen TV program. Banks has been polishing her directing talents over the past few years. Pitch Perfect 2 and the following Charlie's Angels film are both directed by her.
Peacock hasn't said who Banks would play in the Red Queen adaptation, but if I had to guess, I'd say Elara Merandus, the reigning queen of Norta at the time the first novel begins, and likely the Silvers' most powerful queen. This is a significant position with a lot of responsibility for Banks. However, we'll have to wait and watch till more information about the project becomes available.
The summary of the book:
Blood divides Mare Barrow's world: individuals with ordinary Red blood serve the Silver-blooded elite, who have extraordinary abilities. Mare is a Red who earns a livelihood as a thief in a poor, isolated hamlet until she is accidentally placed in front of the Silver court. In front of the king, princes, and the whole aristocracy, she discovers her own potential.
The monarch forces her to appear to be a lost Silver princess and betroths her to one of his own sons in order to disguise the impossible. Mare gives up all to help the Scarlet Guard, a growing Red insurrection, even as her heart drags her down an unfathomable road further into the Silver world.
One wrong move might cost her her life, but betrayal is the only certainty in the dangerous game she plays.
Red Queen is the first book of a four-volume series that ended with War Storm in 2018, and it also includes novellas and short stories, so if the series continues, there will be plenty of material to read.
This isn't the first time Banks has been linked to a Red Queen adaptation; she was believed to be in talks to direct a film adaptation when the novel was first released in 2015. Elizabeth Banks will play a supporting role" in the series, according to Deadline, but no further casting details have been disclosed.
