This Fantasy Movie With 38% On RT Should Be The Next 2000s Flop To Get A TV Reboot

In 2008, the book-to-movie adaptation of Inkheart was poorly received, but 16 years later, it may be the perfect candidate for a television reboot. Written by Cornelia Funke, Inkheart is the first in a trilogy of young adult fantasy novels called the Inkworld series. The story follows Meggie, a young woman who is thrust into a dangerous situation when her father reads from a book called “Inkheart” and accidentally summons a magical villain. Using the magic her father has released, Meggie is the only one who can save herself and her father from this story that has come to life.

After the complete Inkworld trilogy was released in 2007, Funke’s Inkheart story was picked up for movie adaptation. The film included a star-studded cast including movie star Brendan Fraser, Helen Mirren, Andy Serkis, and Eliza Bennett. However, the story’s popularity wasn’t enough to make the movie a success. 2008’s Inkheart earned 38% on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics claiming the film was confusing and not particularly exciting. Furthermore, on a budget of $60 million, the movie only earned $64 million at the box office. Ultimately, Inkheart was a flop, which does not mean the book does not deserve a new adaptation.

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Inkheart Should Be The Next 2000s Fantasy Movie To Get A TV Reboot

Inkheart Deserves A Second Chance

Reboots, sequels, and prequels continue to be commonplace for Hollywood, and Inkheart is the ideal candidate to receive this treatment. Though the Inkheart movie failed, there is a reason that Cornelia Funke’s fantasy series was so popular. There is something within the story that is worth telling. In this way, an Inkheart TV reboot could give the franchise a chance to redeem itself on-screen. New audiences could finally get the opportunity to fall in love with the Inkheart story in a way that the 2008 failed to.

In particular, Inkheart deserves a second chancebecause it was so botched the first time. The movie failed to make sense of Cornelia Funke’s world, leaving audiences perplexed and uninterested in learning more. By bringing Inkheart back, a new team of writers and producers could find a way to make Inkheart sensical, but also enjoyable. The movie is a perfect example of what a potential show should not do. Learning from the movie’s mistakes would allow this potential Inkheart TV show to flourish and become the adaptation the series deserves.

Why Cornelia Funke’s Inkheart Series Would Work Better As A TV Show Than A Movie

TV Gives Inkheart A Better Chance At Success

Making Brendan Fraser’s Inkheart into a TV reboot is the best course of action because TV offers opportunities that movies don’t. In under two hours, it was difficult for 2008’s Inkheart to cover all the important points of Funke’s original novel. However, in a television format, this won’t be a problem. Thanks to the serialized format, an Inkheart show could properly explain the world and get audiences invested. Then, it will be much easier for Inkheart to delve into the plot and action once viewers are caught up in the background. TV offers extra time that a movie cannot waste.

Furthermore, an Inkheart television series has a better chance at success than another movie would. Although movie theaters have somewhat bounced back since COVID-19, television still seems to be the preferred medium for taking risks, especially in the form of streaming. If there was an attempt to make another Inkheart movie, audiences may dismiss it, having already seen the disappointing 2008 version. However, in the form of a television series, Inkheart may be able to garner more interest. In a different format, Inkheart will appear shiny and new, and therefore, more appealing to new viewers.

Fantasy Shows Like Percy Jackson & His Dark Materials Prove This Strategy Works

Young Adult Fantasy Shows Are On The Rise

Turning Inkheart into a television series would not be a strange choice either. In recent years, many young adult fantasy book series have been adapted to TV. Notably, many of these stories had failed movie adaptations as well. Percy Jackson is a great example. The Percy Jackson film franchise was nostalgic yet poorly received due to a lack of accuracy. Therefore, Disney+’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians show was highly anticipated and did very well. The same goes for the His Dark Materials series, a much better adaptation than the theatrical Golden Compass movie.

As such, an Inkheart show would be coming right in the middle of this young adult television renaissance. His Dark Materials and Percy Jackson have already found success, but other television shows are on the way as well, including the Harry Potter TV show and the animated Twilight show. Overall, this is the ideal time for Inkheart to make a resurgence, but only if treated with great care and respect for the source material.

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  His Dark Materials

  Based on author Philip Pullman’s beloved novel trilogy, His Dark Materials is a fantasy/drama television series that follows Lyra, a brave young woman from another world. Lyra’s quest to find her kidnapped friend leads her to uncover a sinister plot of a secret organization, encounter extraordinary beings, and protect dangerous secrets. Lyra will find that her life is inextricably linked with another as they discover they may be the ones to change the world.

  Cast

  Andrew Scott , James Cosmo , Will Keen , Jade Anouka , James McAvoy , Lin-Manuel Miranda , Daniel Frogson , Clarke Peters , Nina Sosanya , Anne-Marie Duff , Lewin Lloyd , Simone Kirby , Dafne Keen , Lucian Msamati , Amir Wilson , Gary Lewis , Sean Gilder , Ruth Wilson , Ariyon Bakare , Ruta Gedmintas

  Release Date

  November 3, 2019

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  Percy Jackson & the Olympians

  Based on the novel series by Rick Riordan Percy Jackson & the Olympians is an action-adventure fantasy television series created for Disney+. When Percy Jackson is framed for the theft of Zeus’ almighty thunderbolt, Percy must clear his name, all while harnessing the powers inherited by his father, Poseidon, at a camp created for demi-gods.

  Cast

  Walker Scobell , Leah Sava Jeffries , Aryan Simhadri , Jason Mantzoukas , Megan Mullally , Glynn Turman , Adam Copeland , Virginia Kull , Lance Reddick

  Release Date

  December 20, 2023