“I’ve done this before. I think I’m good”: 2 Netflix Shows Almost Made The Spiderwick Chronicles Showrunner Turn Down the Series
The famous fantasy book series The Spiderwick Chronicles, by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black, has been adapted into an eight-episode series and fans could not be more delighted. Known for doing the stories justice, Aron Eli Coleite who created the show is probably one of the best in the business for book-to-screen adaptations.
Coleite being the one helming the project was an assurance to fans that the show will stay true to the source material. However, this almost didn’t happen. Initially, Coleite was not keen on making the show, and almost turned it down. This is not how things ended up happening.
Aron Eli Coleite Almost Didn’t Do The Spiderwick Chronicles
Book-to-screen adaptations always come with high stakes. Fans are already in love with the story and eager to see their beloved characters to life. The creators on the other hand have the challenge of not losing the essence of the story in the transition.
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Aron Eli Coleite took this responsibility on his shoulders for The Spiderwick Chronicles. The tale, about a woman moving back to her ancestral home with her kids where some magical creatures reside, has been loved for years. As for the reviews, Coleite has delivered yet again.
Renowned for creating shows such as Daybreak and Lock & Key, Coleite was not sure if he wanted to do another story so similar to his previous work. In an interview with Reactor Magazine, the creator revealed his initial reluctance. He said:
“I make a joke that I have a very specific niche, which is families who move to Victorian mansions and find out that magic exists. And when they initially approached me about Spiderwick, I was like, ‘I think I’ve done this before. I think I’m good.’”
Coleite had initially declined the offer. However, it wasn’t long before he changed his mind.
Aron Eli Coleite Felt Drawn To The Story
Aron Eli Coleite eventually changed his mind. And for that, fans are grateful. However, the filmmaker revealed that It did take a fair amount of convincing.
“Some very wise people at Paramount asked me to read it again. And my four-year anniversary of working on this project was last week. So when I reread it, this was very early on in the pandemic, and looking at Jared’s struggles with mental health, his being the “bad kid,” his anxiety, his depression, everything that’s in the DNA of the story really started speaking to me.”
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Coleite realized that this was a story that would highly resonate with the younger audience, as he could see his kids go through similar stuff. He saw the creation of this series as an opportunity to explore the mental health journeys of teenagers. The sincerity with which Coleite discusses the show is telling of his efforts, and it can be expected to be a treat.
Watch The Spiderwick Chronicles on The Roku Channel.
