Sam Raimi to Direct Kingkiller Chronicle Adaptation

Sam Raimi is in talks with Lionsgate to direct the adaptation of Pat Rothfuss' New York Times bestseller The Kingkiller Chronicle. Based on the popular fantasy series about a wandering adventurer named Kvothe whose tragic upbringing leads him to notoriety, Raimi will helm the first film in the planned trilogy, titled The Name of the Wind. However, it's unclear whether or not Raimi will maintain involvement throughout all three films in the trilogy.

Lionsgate is taking a bold and innovative direction with this adaptation, releasing the films concurrently with a Lin-Manuel Miranda, who has been attached to this project since 2016 and will serve as executive producer on both the film and the series.

According to Transformers: The Last Knight's screenwriters Lindsey Beer.

While Raimi's involvement has been all but confirmed, Miranda's creative role is especially significant, considering the important role that music plays in the novel (the main character, Kvothe, is a skilled lute player). In fact, while writing the songs for his Tony award-winning musical Hamilton, Miranda cited Rothfuss' novel as inspiration, tweeting, "The Story Of Tonight is me trying to capture the feel of Kvothe & his friends leaving the Eaolian."

This will mark Raimi and Miranda's first working relationship together, but not Raimi's first foray into the fantasy genre. He currently serves as producer and creator on the Starz series Spider-Man trilogy starring Tobey Maguire. Considering his experience in the genre, as well as the cult status of his earlier work, Raimi could potentially help draw in a more creatively diverse crowd to this ambitious collaboration outside of the series' loyal fanbase.

The Name of the Wind has no official release date.

Source: Variety