The Magicians became a best-selling novel in 2009 after gaining a reputation as "Harry Potter with sex and drugs." Now, Lev Grossman's fantasy world — which replaces Butterbeers and Quidditch with drug-fueled cheating and disillusioned depression — is headed to the small screen: Fox announced Thursday that it will adapt The Magicians into a drama series to air next year. The novel centers around Quentin Coldwater, a college student at a Hogwarts-like magic school in upstate New York who later plows through drugs in Manhattan before finding his way into the Narnia-like fantasy land of Fillory. Will The Magicians be a Potter-like success — or TV's next fantasy flop?
The writers have real potential: The project's writers are responsible for summer 2011's only two superhero films worth watching, Thor and X-Men: First Class, says Angie Han at Slash Film. Encouragingly, they're versed in television, too, having scripted critically-praised sci-fi series like Fringe and Andromeda. "The pair clearly know a thing or two about mixing out-there elements with more traditional drama, which bodes well for The Magicians."
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