Is Now The Perfect Time For Television Producers To Revisit Wilbur Smith’s Egyptian Series?

26th July 2023

Is Now the Perfect Time for Television Producers to Revisit Wilbur Smith’s Egyptian Series?

Wilbur Smith was one of the great historical writers, with more than 50 books offering fictional stories across a vast range of eras. Many of his works have been adapted for the screen in the past, but none have been touched since the 1990s.

As television producers from streaming services desperately search for the next big thing, Smith’s Egyptian series could be an excellent option to revisit. River God and The Seventh Scroll were made into a miniseries in 1993 and 1995, but they could arguably be improved upon with modern techniques. There are five novels in Smith’s original ancient Egyptian series, along with two more recent ones that were written with Mark Chadbourn.

Why Would an Ancient Egyptian Series Be a Hit?

Historical series are all the rage in the modern era, with offerings like Vikings and Vikings: Valhalla bringing in a lot of viewers for Netflix. There are also acclaimed fantasy titles like Game of Thrones and The Witcher that are heavily influenced by history and mythology, and evidently popular with diverse demographics all around the world. It’s clear that audiences are hungry for content based on eras of yesteryear, and there’s a gap in the market for a fictional series based on ancient Egypt.

It’s strange that there have been so few Egypt-inspired television offerings when the theme has been so prevalent elsewhere in the entertainment industry. It’s one of the top genres in gaming, with titles like Assassin’s Creed Origins and Age of Empires among the best titles based on those times.

The perfect and booming online casino industry is awash with ancient Egypt-themed titles as well. With this being one of the internet’s biggest sectors, it’s a good indication of how appealing this era continues to be in the present day. This is even despite the constant shiny examples of new, innovative technologies and titles on the market. At the moment, one of the best games in the genre is Book of Dead, which is available in conjunction with a free spins no deposit UK bonus. Players can get 10 spins on the game at no cost, meaning that they have a chance to win something before they’ve even deposited. The game is well-loved among slots players, acting as a secondary draw alongside the tantalising bonus.

What is Smith’s Egyptian Books About?

Smith’s books take place in historical settings but include fictional characters and stories. The ancient Egyptian series starts with River God, which was released in 1993. It follows the journey of a eunuch slave around the time of the Hyksos invasion. There’s a vast amount of intrigue and excitement as readers enjoy the cunning skills of the multi-talented Taita who also serves as the book’s narrator. The novel was lauded for its action sequences and was quickly adapted for television thanks to its popularity.

There are four other books in the series by Smith, meaning that television producers would have a lot of content to work from if they decided to turn it into a modern adaptation. The Seventh Scroll, Warlock, The Quest, and Desert God are his other highly-rated books set in the era, and all of them would be easily transferable to the small screen.

It’s about time a streaming service tackled ancient Egypt and gave viewers some epic stories set in the era. Smith’s novels could be among the best source material to adapt into a long-running series on the small screen.

Is Now the Perfect Time for Television Producers to Revisit Wilbur Smith’s Egyptian Series?

Facebook

Google

Twitter

We hope you're enjoying BRWC. You should check us out on our social channels, subscribe to our newsletter, and tell your friends. BRWC is short for battleroyalewithcheese.