It’s not every day we bring you news of a story—one that involves a demon and an angel, the antichrist, the end of the world, and the death of a beloved author—that anyone would describe as “feel good,” but this is one of those rare occasions. Because Neil Gaiman just made an exciting announcement about Good Omens, one he only decided on after receiving a very special letter.
One from beyond the grave. Spooky!
The Guardian reports that Gaiman will write a six-part television adaptation of Good Omens, the novel he co-authored with the late Terry Pratchett, even though Gaiman had previously sworn never to do anything related to the novel following Pratchett’s death in March of 2015 from Alzheimer’s. Mostly because the two had always collaborated on every single aspect related to the novel.
So what changed? Well, Pratchett asked him too actually. Gaiman revealed that he was given a letter, written by Pratchett and meant to be read by Gaiman only after his co-author had passed away, that requested Gaiman do an adaptation without him.
“At that point, I think I said, ‘You bastard, yes,'” Gaiman told the crowd Thursday night at a memorial service for Pratchett in London where he announced the news. That’s a very funny and somewhat dark way for Pratchett to have made such a request of his co-author, which means it could not be any more appropriate.
Past attempts to adapt the novel—a story about an angel and demon working together to foil the antichrist—to the screen have fizzled, though their was an adaption done by BBC Radio 4 in 2014. Sadly Terry Pratchett won’t be here to see it get made, but it wouldn’t exist without him.
What are you most looking forward to with this adaptation? Tell us in the comments below.
Image: Talks at Google/YouTube
