A TV drama based on Cassandra Clare's 'Mortal Instruments' book series is developed two years after the movie adaptation failed to impress at the box office.
- April 1, 2015
AceShowbiz -
Cassandra Clare's young adult novel "Mortal Instruments" is being adapted for TV. The epic fantasy saga gets a straight-to-series order from ABC Family. Dubbed "Shadowhunters", the project is plotted as a 13-episode drama.
Ed Decter ("The Client List") serves as a showrunner and executive producer. No premiere date has been announced, but production is expected to begin in May in Toronto. Casting will be announced at a later date.
"Shadowhunters is a big, epic saga that will resonate with viewers who come to ABC Family for the Harry Potter, Hunger Games and Twilight franchises," ABC Family president Tom Ascheim said. "A New York Times best-seller for 122-consecutive weeks, with over 35 million copies in print worldwide, Shadowhunters is the perfect story to share with our audience."
The book series was first turned into a movie in 2013. Adapted from the first volume, "The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones" starred Lily Collins and Jamie Campbell Bower. No sequel is made due to disappointing performance at the box office.
Set in the world where fairies, warlocks, vampires, and werewolves exist, it follows Clary Fray, a descendant of human-angel hybrids who hunt down demons. After her eighteenth birthday, she learns about her family history and begins a journey of self-discovery.
