MTV’s new fantasy series The Shannara Chronicles just premiered this week. In a recent conversation with The Hollywood Reporter, showrunners Al Gough and Miles Millar discussed the series’ influences, the fantasy genre on television, and their hope for many more seasons.
Based on the novels by Terry Brooks, the series stars Austin Butler, Poppy Drayton, and Ivana Baquero as an unlikely trio tasked to save their land from demons.
Speaking to the Hollywood Reporter, Gough addressed the series’ comparison to other high fantasy series like Game of Thrones:
I find it interesting that in a lot of the reviews people were saying, ‘It’s trying to be Game of Thrones,‘ and it’s actually not. It would be saying that all these other superhero shows [Arrow, Flash, Supergirl, Gotham, etc.] are trying to be Smallville and they’re not; they’re trying to be their own thing. What Game of Thrones did for television — and I’m a huge fan — is it kicked the doors down and it proved that you could do high-quality, high-level fantasy.”
Gough also mentioned that The Shannara Chronicles is much more than fantasy:
With this show, Terry’s books are more hopeful, they’re definitely more fantasy — you’re dealing with elves and trolls and different races and magic — and you’re dealing with a quest but you also have a science fiction bent to it. It feels more Star Wars than Lord of the Rings. Game of Thrones proved there’s a big audience for [fantasy]. This show is different; we’re trying to be Shannara, we’re not trying to be Game of Thrones.”
At the end of the conversation, Millar said The Shannara Chronicles could continue for some time:
We could do this show for years and years. We could be like Law & Order!”
The first four episodes of The Shannara Chronicles are available online.
What do you think? Did you watch the premiere of The Shannara Chronicles? Do you feel it’s different enough from other fantasy series?
Please let there be any more seasons of Shannara Chronicles, I absolutely Love this show n want to watch more of it.. I look forward to every Tuesday when it comes on and now I’m disappointed cause there aren’t anymore to watch, sadness
I really liked the show and am hoping for a season 2 !!
Wishsong is the book I really want to see Weapons Master Garet Jax, Moor Cat named Whisper, and Jair and Brin Ohmsford. They need to keep going, let them get better with the next series.
As Series One is based on the classic 1982 novel The Elfstones of Shannara it is unlikely that the same characters will return for Season 2. The next book in the series is The Wishsong of Shannara which is equally amazing set later in time with new characters. Or they might go back to the original novel, The Sword of Shannara and do a prequel. However, If they base Season 4 on The Heritage of Shannara (4 books) then look out for some of the most epic fantasy since the Lord of the Rings. They are my favourite of all… Read more »
Did you not watch this season? The ending absolutely sets it up to use the same characters again next season. Which is one of many awful mistakes they made in the production of this show.
This series was quite enjoyable however will this be like Netflix they pull the rug from under you when you’re looking for a full series.
Please give us a season 2 with the same characters!