Netflix has decided not to move forward with the adaptation of Rick Riordan's 'Kane Chronicles' book series into feature films. The news was shared by Riordan himself in response to a fan question on Goodreads. The project is currently in 'turnaround,' indicating that Netflix's option has lapsed after two years of attempting to develop a script they were satisfied with. The fate of 'The Kane Chronicles' now rests on whether another studio is willing to step in, cover preproduction costs, and push the project forward.
Riordan had announced the film trilogy based on 'The Kane Chronicles' in 2020. The first film, based on 'The Red Pyramid,' was in the works with a script penned by Diandra Pendleton-Thompson, a writer known for her work on 'Star Trek: Prodigy.' The series follows the adventures of Carter and Sadie Kane, teenage descendants of Egyptian pharaohs Narmer and Ramses the Great, across three books: 'The Red Pyramid,' 'The Throne of Fire,' and 'The Serpent's Shadow.'
Additionally, Riordan's universe expanded with a series of spinoff novels titled 'Demigods and Magicians,' where characters from 'The Kane Chronicles' intersect with the 'Percy Jackson' universe. The decision by Netflix comes amidst a growing interest in screen adaptations of Riordan's works. Disney+ recently wrapped up the first season of its 'Percy Jackson' TV series, which received praise from Disney CEO Bob Iger during the company's latest earnings call. The show garnered over 110 million hours of streaming, equivalent to an estimated 20.6 million total views, prompting a renewal for a second season.
Riordan acknowledged the commonality of such developments in the film industry, stating that project cancellations are not uncommon. He also highlighted the current trend of streaming platforms reducing their development slates, resulting in more cancellations and fewer new projects. Despite the success of 'Percy TV,' 'Kane Chronicles' fell victim to this industry-wide shift. Netflix has not provided any immediate comment on the matter.
