Elizabeth Banksis returning once more to the director’s chair, this time for the adaptation of the bestselling YA fantasy novelRed Queenby authorVictoria Aveyard, in which she will also co-star in a major supporting role. Banks will also be producing the series along withMax Handelmanof their Brownstone Productions, where they are currently under an overall deal with Warner Bros. TV. Banks was actually attached to direct the projectas early as 2015when the novel was first published, but its move to Peacock bodes well for an expedited production schedule.
Although no official description has been announced yet, the YA fantasy novelRed Queenis set in a world divided into two sects — Red for the commoners, Silver for the elite that rules over them with their superpowers. The main character is 17-year-old Mare Barrow, a Red commoner who discovers that she has a superpower similar to those of the Silver elite. Adopted by the Silver so that they may control her power, she secretly works with the Red Guard, a militant resistance group, to take down the Silver regime. If I were to guess which supporting role Banks would take on, it would certainly be Elara Merandus, the queen of Norta. I’m picturing the drama and flair ofThe Hunger Games’ Effie Trinket, with some more mysterious stoicism and regal glamour.
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Aveyard and writerBeth Schwartzare also attached as co-writers and showrunners. Schwartz previously served as the showrunner forArrow’s seventh and eighth season on the CW, as well as contributing as a consulting producer toLegends of Tomorrow. This bodes well for the adaptation ofRed Queen, as Schwartz has proven that she can successfully helm shows that are adapted from a previous source material and that are targeted towards younger audiences.
Peacock is smart to nab up this potentially lucrative IP, especially since the rights to popular YA series are becoming more and more in demand. Netflix just released their adaptation ofLeigh Bardugo’sShadow and Boneto critical and commercial success, as well astheir trilogy adaptation ofR.L. Stine’sFear Streetnovelslater this summer. Additionally, Hulu has entered the YA fantasy battle withtheir upcoming adaptation ofSarah J. Maas’sA Court of Thorns and RosesfromOutlandershowrunnerRonald D. Moore.
Red Queenwill also mark Banks' first foray back into directing since her reboot ofCharlie’s AngelswithKristen Stewartin 2019. While she has not directed for television before, she has served as executive producer on a number of shows, including Hulu’s critical darlingShrill. She is also attached to play the fashion icon and science lover Ms. Frizzle inthe live-action adaptation ofThe Magic School Bus. She is currently filmingCall Jane,a historical drama about abortionfromCarolscreenwriterPhyllis Nagy, as well as a slew of other projects under her Brownstone Productions banner.
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