If You Like BBC America's 'The Watch': 7 More Fantasy Stories Adapted for TV

(Photo: BBC America)

BBC America's The Watch premiered New Year's Day, with the first two episodes now available for streaming. (and the premiere available free!) The Watch is inspired by Sir Terry Pratchett's Discworld series, revolving around the City Watch of Ankh-Morpork. The story follows this unlikely group of misfits as they find themselves responsible for saving the world

You can look for stars including Richard Dormer, Lara Rossi, Wendell PierceAnna Chancellor and more.

If you're liking The Watch, you may want to take a gander at these other fantasy stories brought from the page to the TV screen:

1. Good Omens

Speaking of Pratchett, let's kick off this list with a collaboration between Pratchett and Neil Gaiman. Their story of angels and demons was made into a TV series in 2019, starring David Tennant and Michael Sheen. We see Tennant as the demon Crowley and Sheen as the angel Aziraphale.

Typically, the two are at odds, but with the world at risk, they join forces to fight against the Antichrist and a forthcoming Armageddon.

2. The Witcher

Also in 2019, Henry Cavill stepped into the role of Geralt of Rivia, a character created by author Andrzej Sapkowski. A witcher is a hunter, who develops supernatural powers to seek out beasts and monsters.

The TV adaptation is based on The Last Wish and Sword of Destiny novels, taking place in a medieval-like world called "the continent." Cavill stars opposite Freya Allan, who portrays Princess Ciri.

3. His Dark Materials

 

Phillip Pullman's The Golden Compass was made into a TV series in 2019. The story is based in an alternate universe and follows a young girl named Lyra Belacqua (Dafne Keen). She's in search of her friend Roger (Ben Walker), who has gone missing. She heads to the far North to find him, similar to that of the Arctic in our world but featuring "armoured polar bears," among other dangers.

We also see James McAvoy as Lord Asriel, who works to defend the children, and Luther's Ruth Wilson as Melissa Coulter, his politically ruthless ex-lover.

4. True Blood

In 2008, True Blood hit TV screens, based on Charlaine Harris' The Southern Vampire Mysteries. The series revolves around humans and vampires living amongst each other, even though there is some discourse at times. As the series rolls out, we're introduced to other supernatural characters, like witches, werewolves and fairies.

Anna Paquin takes on the lead as Sookie Stackhouse, a waitress who can hear people's thoughts. She stars opposite Stephen Moyer, who plays vampire Bill Compton. The two are love interests on-screen and in real life, now married.

5. Game of Thrones

The TV adaptation of Game of Thrones, based on the A Song of Ice and Fire novels by George R.R. Martin, captured audiences' attention worldwide in 2011. The series kicked off with nine families battling over control of Westeros.

The series ran for eight seasons, with the first starring Sean Bean, Lena Headey, Richard Madden, Maisie Williams and Kit Harington, just to name a handful of familiar faces.

6. A Series of Unfortunate Events

Neil Patrick Harris stars as Count Olaf in 2017's TV adaptation of author Lemony Snicket's (proper name, Daniel Handler) A Series of Unfortunate Events. Season one covered the first four books in the 13 novel series, where Count Olaf becomes the guardian of three orphaned children, Violet (Malina Weissman), Klaus (Louis Hynes) and Sunny Baudelaire (Presley Smith). He may sound like a selfless Samaritan, but really he has his eye on their inheritance.

The second season picks up with book five and takes us through to the ninth novel. Season three adapts the final set of books.

7. A Discovery of Witches

Also on BBC America, A Discovery of Witches is based on the acclaimed All Souls novels by Deborah Harkness. In season one, we see Matthew Goode as vampire Matthew Claremont, opposite Teresa Palmer as witch Diana Bishop. While it's against the rules for supernaturals to intermix romantically, these two do so anyway. You can also look for Anglo fan favorite Alex Kingston as Diana's aunt, Sarah Bishop.

If you're caught up on season one, you can look for season two premiering this Saturday on AMC+.

What's your go-to fantasy series?