John Milton‘s Paradise Lost, which tells a revisionist take on Satan’s fall from Heaven – is a classic piece of literature that Hollywood has been desperate to turn into a film for years. In their frustration, it seems they’ve turned to TV in order to get the seminal work adapted.
Martin Freeman is working with Dancing Ledge Productions to create a TV series based on Milton’s book, which is excitedly being described as: “a biblical Games of Thrones transporting the reader into an internecine world of political intrigue and incredible violence. At stake? The future of mankind”.
That sounds great, but getting Milton’s book adapted has proved incredibly difficult in the past. Perhaps the closest was Alex Proyas‘ (The Crow, I, Robot) potential adaptation in 2012, where he wanted Bradley Cooper to play Satan. Unfortunately the project fell through and Proyas turned his attention to Egyptian gods and made Gods Of Egypt.
The Game Of Thrones comparisons are interesting as a potential Paradise Lost show should attract a very similar fanbase. With TV now not solely on television, and hundreds of shows of all natures being created for various streaming giants, this might be the perfect time for a genuine adaptation of Milton’s work to finally get the treatment it deserves.
Whether it can finally get made, and whether it can live up to the hype, is another story.
#Peace.Love.ParadiseLost
