Prime Video’s Mass Effect TV series, adapted from the popular BioWare video games, is reportedly yet to be greenlit, and remains on the verge of a series order.
Per The Ankler, Prime Video’s Head of Global TV, Peter Friedlander, is currently in hands-on mode reshaping the streamer’s output, and its allegedly messy corporate structure. Friedlander has reportedly greenlit an array of new projects in this attempt, including a reboot of Robocop and an adaption of the acclaimed Sex Criminals.
Mass Effect is believed to be in a less certain position, as The Ankler reports that Friedlander has requested rewrites to make it ‘more appealing to non-gamers’.
Mass Effect adaptation – quick links
Prime Video’s Mass Effect adaptation
As announced by Prime Video, the upcoming Mass Effect adaptation aims to faithfully adapt the games, with a production synopsis hinting that it will follow the events of the first game in the series:
‘In Mass Effect, Commander Shepard, an elite human soldier, must stop a rogue Spectre agent, Saren, who has allied with a deadly race of synthetic-organic machines known as the Reapers.’
‘As Shepard uncovers a vast galactic conspiracy, they assemble a diverse team of aliens and humans aboard the starship Normandy. Together, they race against time to prevent Saren from unleashing the Reapers and wiping out all advanced civilisations.’
There was much debate around this synopsis at the time of its listing on Production Weekly, with game players concerned about direction and casting, and how any adaptation would solidify the multiple choices and pathways in the game, inevitably selecting a ‘canon’ or ‘correct’ version.
Regardless, with a production team including voices from BioWare, as well as producer Ari Arad (Iron Man, Uncharted), a script by Daniel Casey (F9) and Doug Jung (Chief of War, Mindhunter) on showrunning duty, there was hope about how the games would be handled.
The latest update on the project is slightly less reassuring.
Rumours of Mass Effect rewrites for non-gamers
The Ankler reports that the Mass Effect TV series is in the process of being rewritten at Friedlander’s request.
The Mass Effect TV series will be relatively expensive, as a result of its sci-fi subject matter and alien races. For this reason, Prime Video could be looking to widen the appeal to mainstream audiences, who may be more familiar with space-bound adventures like Star Trek.
It’s unclear what this means for the Mass Effect adaptation, and whether its subject matter or themes will be toned down for that ‘non-gamer’ audience. As players will note, the storytelling of the series isn’t particularly exclusive to games, beyond its multi-part choices.
Each Mass Effect game is grounded by the struggles of Commander Shepherd and their crew, and how they manage interspecies conflict throughout their journey across space.
Perhaps there are layers unseen in the original scripts – easter eggs and nods for the fans that are pure fan service, and therefore unnecessary. Perhaps it’s simply matter of Prime Video looking to justify the higher price of commissioning a series.
At this stage, however, Prime Video is yet to announce anything official about its plans to see Mass Effect to release.
