Terry Brooks' SHANNARA heading to the big screen

[Space Pirate Roberts]

From The Hollywood Reporter:

Warner Bros. buys 'Shannara' books
By Borys Kit

June 6, 2007
Warner Bros. Pictures is bringing Terry Brooks' "Shannara" fantasy book series to the big screen, picking up the rights to the series.

The Shannara series, which blends technology and magic, is set in a world decimated by apocalyptic battles, with mankind splitting into races of trolls, gnomes, dwarves and men, with elves coming out of hiding. Politics and war are waged using magic with a backdrop of the skeletal remains of skyscrapers and subways.

The first book, "The Sword of Shannara," was published by Random House in 1977, written by Brooks to stave off boredom brought on by entering law school. The book was the first fantasy book to get on, and then top, the New York Times best-seller list.

Brooks wrote more than a dozen books in the series, most recently 2005's "Straken." The studio is eyeing the second book, "The Elfstones of Shannara," as the book most likely to serve as the jumping off point. Writers are no being sought to adapt.

Dan Farah, who developed a relationship with the reclusive Brooks, will exec produce. Farah started out in the industry as a Benderspink intern, moving onto management company Energy before striking out on his own with shingle Farah Films and Management. Ryan Colucci ("Terra") is co-producing.

Dan Lin and Matt Reilly are overseeing for Warners.

Brooks is repped by Anne Sibbald at Janklow & Nesbit Associates.

My dad's a huge fan of this, so he'll be excited. I could never get into them, but maybe I'll give it another go.

[haohmaru]

I read these an awful long time ago.

I'd rather see Thomas Covenant, myself.

[GohanX]

I'm not entirely certain that the Shannara books will work on the big screen, but with the right director behind it it might work.

I am glad that they didn't start out with Sword though, Elfstones would make a better movie although they would have to add a lot of backstory to it so the audience would know wtf was going on.

Sword of Shannara movie synopsis:
OMG! BLACK THINGS!
Walk walk walk walk
OMG SWAMP CREATURE!
Walk walk walk walk
Where the fuck are we?
Walk walk walk walk
DWARVES!
Walk walk walk walk


....by the second book they magically discovered horses.

[Some Stupid Japanese Name]

The Wishsong of Shanara was the first "real" fantasy book I can remember reading. I was around ten yeas old. I was hooked on that book and have followed Brooks ever since. For the past ten years though it's been more out of habit than awe. Other writers like Feist, Goodkin, and Martin have proven to be much more eloquent and enticing.
Brooks is no Piers Anthony, but lately he seems to be working on attaining the hack status. His latest book is the first one I've completely skipped.

[Compass]

The original three Shannara books are my favorite fantasy novels ever. Pretty much perfect in every way for my tastes. Subsequent Shannara books and the Magic Kingdom series were all at least good, some great (Scions), but none came close to that original trilogy.

I got a book signed by Terry Brooks years ago, just after the first LOTR movie had been announced, and he was talking about how much he wanted his Shannara tales movie-ized. Also, he pronounced "Shannara" with stress on the first syllable. I'd always stressed the second.

[Therum]

I tried to read Sword of Shannara, and it was one of the most boring books I'd ever read. Maybe I'll check this out, though.

[Calliander]

I couldn't take the Shannara books. I do, however, agree with haoh... a Thomas Covenant movie would rock.