Paramount’s Game of Thrones Replacement Canceled, Killing The Next Major Fantasy Universe

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Since the end of Game of Thrones, fans have been searching for another fantasy series to love. Many shows have tried to fill the void, but none have matched the excitement, intensity, and intricate storytelling of the HBO hit. Sadly, one of the most anticipated new series seems to have been quietly canceled, which is a big disappointment for fans of the genre.

Tim Miller Confirms His ‘Best Served Cold’ Fantasy is No Longer Happening

Deadpool Director & Star Rebecca Ferguson Were Perfect Fit for The Series

Back in 2023, news broke that a movie adaptation of Best Served Cold was in the works. Tim Miller, the director of Deadpool, was set to direct for Skydance. The film, based on the Joe Abercrombie novel, would star Rebecca Ferguson (Dune, Mission: Impossible) as a mercenary seeking revenge in a fantasy version of pre-industrial Europe. Miller described the project as a blend of Kill Bill and Game of Thrones, generating a lot of excitement among fans.

However, the Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike quickly halted progress on projects, even before Skydance and Paramount officially merged, leaving everything uncertain. Because no projects were officially cancelled, fans held onto hope. Sadly, in a recent interview with Corridor Digital for their VFX Artists React series (available to subscribers only), Miller shared a very discouraging update about the development of Best Served Cold.

I’m ambitious and want to tackle large-scale projects. It’s not about the title of ‘director’ for me; I enjoy the creative control and intense focus that come with leading a significant undertaking. However, I’ve had several films fall through recently, despite being close to happening.

I worked on the project to adapt Joe Abercrombie’s ‘Best Served Cold’ at Skydance. Rebecca Ferguson was ideally cast, but unfortunately, the adaptation didn’t move forward.

Despite the lack of new information, Miller remains deeply interested in adapting Abercrombie’s The First Law trilogy. He excitedly pointed out actor Steven Pacey’s appearance in Love, Death & Robots, confessing to a long-standing admiration sparked by Pacey’s audiobook performances. Miller still refers to the books as those he hopes to adapt “one day,” but his use of past tense when discussing his first attempt at an adaptation suggests that project may no longer be active.

Best Served Cold Could’ve Launched The Entire ‘First Law’ Fantasy Universe

The Fictional World is One of Author Joe Abercrombie’s Greatest Creations

Custom image by Yailin Chacon

The news is particularly disheartening because Best Served Cold wasn’t a standalone book; it kicked off a trilogy set in the same world as Abercrombie’s The First Law Trilogy – the series that built his popular and interconnected universe. Though it doesn’t fit neatly into typical fantasy like Game of Thrones, the world allows for a rich mix of dwindling magic, demons, political intrigue, and intense action, a combination that’s attracted a large fanbase ever since Abercrombie introduced it with The Blade Itself in 2006.

Ferguson found herself facing Monza Murcatto, a formidable mercenary leader. A ruthless Grand Duke had tried to eliminate both Monza and her brother to secure his rule, but she survived. Now, driven by revenge, Monza is climbing back to power, threatening the stability of entire city-states. If you enjoy the world-building of The Witcher combined with the action of John Wick, and are looking for a show that could rival Game of Thrones, you’ll understand the demand for an adaptation of this story. The creative team of Miller and Ferguson were also highly respected.

Custom Image by Amanda Mullen

As a critic, I was really intrigued when Skydance and Paramount merged, thinking Joe Abercrombie’s The First Law could be their next big thing – a truly epic franchise. Imagine Best Served Cold kicking things off, either in theaters or on Paramount+, and then a whole universe of prequels, sequels, and spin-offs blossoming from Abercrombie’s fantastic, brutal world. But honestly, hearing that Tim Miller – while a fan, admittedly – is driving the adaptation feels… disappointing. It seems like they’re stripping away the creative spark needed to really do this world justice, and it’s a huge missed opportunity for the studio, if the rumors are true.

In Hollywood, anything is possible, so it’s reasonable to think of Joe Miller as a likely candidate to work on any future Abercrombie fantasy series – except for James Cameron’s project based on The Devils, which is set in a different world from The First Law. However, for now, fans should probably accept Miller’s statement and view Best Served Cold as a great fantasy idea that unfortunately won’t be made.

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2026-01-20 01:38