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Keith Parkinson's art for the first book in Goodkind's series WIZARD'S FIRST RULE.
© Keith Parkinson

WIZARD'S First Rule Cleared for Raimi

By: Jarrod Sarafin
Date: Monday, March 17, 2008
Source: Variety

Sam Raimi's upcoming syndicated fantasy series "Wizard's First Rule" is set to premiere in all of the top 50 markets in the US, reports Variety.The ABC/Disney show, based on the "Sword of Truth" books by Terry Goodkind, is greenlit for 22 episodes and will begin production in May. Goodkind's popular novels, first published in the mid-nineties, span 11 volumes so far. The series will be shot in HD.

Plot Concept: The weekly hourlong action/fantasy series follows Richard Cypher, a young man who makes his living leading people through dangerous forests, as he investigates the murder of his father and finds himself opposing Darken Rahl, the son of an evil wizard.

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Comments/Responses

Dazzler • Mar 17, 2008, 04:40am •

Sounds good to me and in HD? I will set my DVR.

jfdavis • Mar 17, 2008, 04:54am •

The top 50 markets? I'm in the 70th! We have ABC, ABC Family and Disney. Does this mean it'll be syndicated?

fft5305 • Mar 17, 2008, 07:44am •

"Sam Raimi's upcoming syndicated fantasy series..."

kaybar • Mar 17, 2008, 08:54am •

yeah trust me jfdavis, this series will be plastered across the lineup moreso than even the old Kevin Sorbo Hercules when it comes out.

I still can't believe Disney would invest so much into this series, have they even read the books yet??? I'll be happier when I hear A GAME OF THRONES is ready to shoot for HBO.

Sanity • Mar 17, 2008, 09:35am •

This is going to be on NETWORK television??? I dunno, I guess I thought this was coming to Showtime or something. Looks like it's going to be PG now. That really cuts out/changes a LOT of material from this series, and they didn't have much good stuff to start with. I don't see this making it past it's second season. A shame really. This could have been a good series for the tube.

And kaybar, I definately can see this being a lot like that crappy Hercules show. I am SO glad A Song of Ice and Fire will be on HBO.

Redheaven • Mar 17, 2008, 10:42am •

Sounds good, hopefully it will be. I don't think there's ever been a fantasy tv series that was good. I'm lookin' forward to this.

smegforbrain • Mar 17, 2008, 11:26am •

I've never read the books, but I'll give it a chance. I recall a number of years back that there was talk of a Dragonriders of Pern series that never went anywhere.

So, I hope this turns out well, simply for the sake of fantasy in general.

kaybar • Mar 17, 2008, 12:33pm •

I did enjoy Merlin a few years back, but yeah quality made-for-tv fantasy has been, well non-existent.

Sanity HBO's been doin everything right so far with its original programming, and I'll take D.B. Weiss, David Benioff, and an R-rating any day over Sam Raimi. ASoIaF is gonna rock.

livewiremaxx • Mar 17, 2008, 01:01pm •

This will be a first for a fanstasy series on TV in a long while wont it?

Yes read the books, they are awesome.

mlaforcer • Mar 17, 2008, 02:01pm •

The books are crap, the tv show is going to be crap, it's just going to be one big crap fest, in short, a show that's all it can be, in the Feaces department...Having said that, subliminal typing has made me have to go pinch one off in the name of "Wizard's First Rule"...The end...
Stay tuned for part two of "Wizard's First Rule" Starring a gushing, splattering fluid of stink known only as, The Enema...

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