Netflix has decided not to proceed with the planned adaptation of Rick Riordan’s Kane Chronicles book series into a trilogy of feature-length movies.
Riordan, also well-known for his Percy Jackson and the Olympians books and adaptations, confirmed this decision while addressing a fan inquiry.
“Right now, Kane Chronicles is in ‘turnaround,’ which means Netflix has decided not to move forward, and their option has lapsed after trying for two years to develop a script they liked,” he wrote, responding to a fan on Goodreads. “Now it depends on whether another studio would like to step in, assume the preproduction costs, and move forward.”
Riordan initially unveiled his plans to create a The Kane Chronicles film trilogy in 2020. The first movie planned, adapted from the 2010 novel The Red Pyramid, was set to involve Star Trek: Prodigy writer Diandra Pendleton-Thompson.
In a 2022 blog post, Riordan mentioned his excitement for the project and anticipated an early draft of the script. However, work on the project slowed down from there.
The Red Pyramid, alongside its sequels, 2011’s The Throne of Fire and The Serpent’s Shadow, follows the life and times of Carter and Sadie Kane, teenage descendants of Egyptian pharaohs Narmer and Ramses the Great.
Meanwhile, at the typewriter, Riordan recently began a series of spinoff novels titled Demigods and Magicians, which introduces characters from The Kane Chronicles and those from his Percy Jackson series.
With Netflix plans turning cold, Riordan can at least admire the first season of his Percy Jackson TV series on Disney+, which concluded on January 30th to a rustle of critical applause. Disney + executive Bob Iger hailed the series as a triumph before revealing plans for a Season 2 renewal.
Watch the trailer for Percy Jackson below.
