Acclaimed fantasy novelist Neil Gaiman has lined up his next TV project, but it may not be what you expect. The British network, Sky Arts has officially ordered Neil Gaiman’s Likely Stories, a four-part anthology series that will adapt previously published short stories by Gaiman.
Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard are slated to direct the four episodes of Neil Gaiman’s Likely Stories, with a cast that includes George MacKay, Tom Hughes, Johnny Vegas, Kenneth Cranham, and Rita Tushingham. The performers will take on different roles in each story.
“Short stories traditionally do not get a lot of love from television,†said Gaiman in a statement. “I’m really excited to see what the team [is] going to do and make with Likely Stories – they’ve given it real thought and it feels like it’s going to be something very, very special.â€
The four stories set to be adapted are “Foreign Parts†and “Looking For The Girl†from the Smoke & Mirrors anthology; as well as “Feeders & Eaters†and “Closing Time†from the Fragile Things anthology. Forsyth and Pollard are slated to write the script for “Looking For The Girl,†while screenwriter Kevin Lehane will adapt the other three stories.
A release date for Neil Gaiman’s Likely Stories was not included in the announcement, nor does the project currently have U.S. distribution. But given Gaiman’s fanbase, that seems likely to change. If we had to bet, Netflix or Amazon Prime would be likely destinations for the miniseries in this country.
Starz is already lining up an adaptation of Gaiman’s American Gods, which Gaiman is executive producing alongside Bryan Fuller. The full extent of Gaiman’s involvement with the American Gods TV show is unclear, although Fuller has stated his desire for Gaiman to write some of the scripts. Previously, Gaiman has scripted episodes of Babylon 5 and Doctor Who, as well as the screenplays for Beowulf and MirrorMask.
Are you intrigued to hear that Gaiman’s short stories are coming to television? Let us know in the comment section below!
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Image Credit:Â Sky Arts
