Well, this is interesting. Apparently someone over at Constantin Films is feeling uber optimistic today as the company is already planning a prequel to their upcoming film The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, which is based on Cassandra Clare’s YA novel of the same name.
As you may or may not know, Clare has written another series of books titled Infernal Devices, which are related to The Mortal Instruments novels. These books will function as a prequel and are set in England during the Victorian Era. They will feature a different teen heroine too, this time focusing on an orphan named Tessa who is looking for her missing brother. For those unfamiliar with the series, check out the plot summary below:
This series takes place in Victorian England, ten years after the peace treaties between the demon-fighting Shadowhunters and Downworlders (vampires, fairies, werewolves, and warlocks) was signed. As Shadowhunters consider themselves superior or purer than Downworlders and demons, they may have few qualms about killing either. The first book in The Infernal Devices is entitled Clockwork Angel and begins the story of Tessa, an orphaned teenage girl who is looking for her brother, who has disappeared, and seeks her true identity.
Her search plunges her into a world she never knew existed, and reveals talents she never knew she had. She will have to learn to master them if she wants to find her brother, and must forge an alliance with Shadowhunters if she wants to survive in this dangerous world. Many of the family names of the Shadowhunters used in The Mortal Instruments are first introduced in this series. Another character in The Infernal Devices, Magnus Bane, the High Warlock of Brooklyn, also plays a part in this series set in Victorian England.
The film already has a writer in Stephanie Sanditz and now the hunt is on for a director. No word yet on who they have their eye on but when we hear more we’ll let you know.
Now, considering that The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones hasn’t even opened yet, and the last YA novel adaptation that we saw, Beautiful Creatures, bombed horribly, whoever went ahead and gave the greenlight to this prequel must be a brave individual. It either means that they have full faith in the upcoming film or they’re just a bit over confident.
I guess we’ll see on August 23rd when The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones hits theatres. What do you think though? Does this prequel news excite you?