The Kingkiller Chronicle Adaptation: Avoiding the Pitfalls That Doomed Game of Thrones

Summary

The unfinished nature of The Kingkiller Chronicle books presents a major challenge for any potential adaptation, as there is still a significant amount of story left to cover.

The rushed ending of Game of Thrones season 8 was a consequence of the show surpassing the books, and a Kingkiller Chronicle adaptation lacking a clear blueprint might encounter similar problems. However, the delays in adapting The Kingkiller Chronicle could prove advantageous, as it would provide the opportunity to wait for the books to be completed and enable a comprehensive adaptation of the entire trilogy with a clear understanding of the story.

If and when a movie or TV show adaptation of The Kingkiller Chronicle books materializes, it will encounter a similar obstacle that negatively impacted the eighth season of Game of Thrones. The notion of adapting Patrick Rothfuss' fantasy book series has been discussed since 2013, with plans for both a movie and a TV show being considered at different times. Renowned figures like Lin-Manuel Miranda and Sam Raimi have even been involved at various stages, but unfortunately no progress has been made thus far.

Part of this challenge lies in the narrative structure of The Kingkiller Chronicle, which involves a story within a story. However, another possible reason for the delay could be the lengthy wait for the release of the third and final book in the trilogy, The Doors of Stone. Despite the second book, The Wise Man's Fear, being published in 2011, the third book has yet to be released. Consequently, if an adaptation does eventually come to fruition (which it should, given the story's considerable potential), it will confront the same issue that impeded the conclusion of Game of Thrones.

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The Kingkiller Chronicle Books Are Unfinished (The Same Problem That Hurt Game Of Thrones)

Not only are The Kingkiller Chronicle books incomplete, but there are still numerous untold elements that would hinder any potential adaptation. The final installment, The Doors of Stone, needs to unravel the mystery of how Kvothe transformed into Kote and reveal the true identity of the King in the story. The journey within the narrative is undoubtedly enjoyable, yet for a narrative structure that has been steadily building towards a specific point, the resolution is equally crucial. An adaptation that lacks knowledge of the story's ultimate destination will, at best, be limited and, at worst, fail to provide a satisfying conclusion.

Game of Thrones season 8 suffered a similar fate as The Kingkiller Chronicle, as both faced delays in their next installments. The noticeable shift in Game of Thrones after surpassing the books resulted in a faster-paced and more plot-driven narrative, losing some of its previous greatness. This led to a controversial rushed ending in season 8.

Unlike the earlier seasons, the showrunners of Game of Thrones, David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, did not have a detailed blueprint to follow for the final seasons. They had a general idea of how it would end, like Bran Stark becoming King, but had to rely on their own invention and creativity. This transition from adaptation to invention posed new challenges, different from what they originally signed up for, which they had excelled at in the earlier seasons. This highlights the fact that even if a Kingkiller Chronicle movie or show were to begin now with an outline from Rothfuss, it may not be sufficient to create a satisfactory ending.

The Kingkiller Chronicle Adaptation Could Benefit From So Many Delays

The delayed release of The Kingkiller Chronicle adaptation has a potential benefit in that it may not happen until the books are completed. The lack of a definitive ending makes it challenging to adapt the books, thus waiting for the conclusion could be advantageous. This delay suggests that the adaptation may not materialize until The Doors of Stone is finished. This waiting period allows for a comprehensive adaptation of the trilogy, incorporating the entire story.

Currently, there is no specified timeline for the completion of The Doors of Stone. Similarly, there is no set timeline for The Kingkiller Chronicle adaptation. However, if the adaptation does occur, having the complete source material to draw from, as demonstrated by the success of Game of Thrones, would undoubtedly make the process significantly easier.