Rebecca Ferguson’s epic fantasy movie is stuck in development limbo, and Hollywood needs to let this one happen. With Game of Thrones starting a boom of epic fantasy, studios have looked to existing movie IP like The Chronicles of Narnia and The Lord of the Rings to revisit material, but they’ve also sought out untouched fantasy novels, looking to bring fresh stories to life in hopes of capturing some of HBO’s prolific glory. In 2023, Deadline reported that an adaptation of Best Served Cold was in the works, with Deadpool director Tim Miller and Rebecca Ferguson attached to the project.
For those who aren’t familiar, Best Served Cold is a fantasy revenge story written by epic fantasy author Joe Abercrombie. For fans of Game of Thrones who have sought to read something similar, chances are someone has recommended Abercrombie, as his novels draw numerous similarities to George R.R. Martin’s beloved world: morally gray, complex characters navigating a harsh, violent world and strenuous political situations. And the best part for those who aren’t the biggest readers is that each volume is significantly shorter than Martin’s A Song of Ice & Fire novels.
Rebecca Ferguson’s ‘Best Served Cold’ Is The Fantasy Project We Deserve
As someone who has read Best Served Cold, I can’t stress enough that this book is the perfect story for a dark, R-rated Hollywood fantasy movie, and Rebecca Ferguson starring would be immaculate. The novel takes place in Joe Abercrombie’s First Law universe, but is a standalone story that can be understood without prior knowledge or having read any of the other books. It takes place after the First Law trilogy, though it largely takes place in a separate area of Abercrombie’s “Circle of the World,” a war-ravaged, cynical political landscape plagued by greed, that’s inspired by early modern Europe.
Rebecca Ferguson would be playing Monza Murcatto, a mercenary leader and general whose success has made her one of the most influential figures in the city-state of Talins; too influential, in fact, as Grand Duke Orso decides he must eliminate her and her brother, paranoid that they might use that influence to seize his power over the region. So, the novel begins as he has Monza and her brother thrown down a mountain, killing him and almost killing her, leaving her with just enough life to gather allies and seek revenge, capturing a tone that director Tim Miller described as a cross between Kill Bill and Game of Thrones.
Joe Abercrombie’s novels are known for their dark humor and incredible wit, a similar energy to scenes in Game of Thrones shared by the likes of Tyrion and Bronn, but also their profound exploration of humanity. I’ve personally begun to describe them as naturalistic fantasy, as no other contemporary fantasy author is writing such honest characters; they make the Circle of the World feel candid and authentic in a way that’s unparalleled in the genre. But, to the point of Kill Bill, he’s also not one to shy away from violence, depicting truly brutal, visceral action that perfectly captures the feeling of medieval combat.
Why ‘Best Served Cold’ Isn’t Being Made
Some of the most misleading headlines are when a film is declared as being “In Development.” While I have no idea what stage Best Served Cold reached before being stalled by the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes in 2023, it likely wasn’t very far, and the strikes caused Hollywood studios to panic about the expenses going toward high-budget epic fantasy adaptations. This is far from the only fantasy project to be shelved in recent years, not to mention the cancellation of shows like The Wheel of Time and numerous other Netflix fantasy titles. The genre is in a difficult position all around, but there’s still hope for this movie.
Shortly after the publication of Joe Abercrombie’s most recent novel, The Devils, it was revealed that an adaptation is already in the works with none other than legendary filmmaker James Cameron, who picked up the rights to the book and plans to co-write it with Abercrombie. It’s hard to think of a better director to have on one’s side than the man behind Titanic, Avatar, Aliens, The Terminator, and Cameron isn’t just a fan of The Devils; he’s also a fan of The First Law.
Even if James Cameron’s version of The Devils isn’t an Avatar-level hit, there’s still plenty of room for it to be a success, which can lead to more Joe Abercrombie adaptations. Whether Cameron is involved or not, one successful author adaptation will lead the studio that owns his other book rights to take action. I still hope the Rebecca Ferguson-led Best Served Cold film is possible, with or without Tim Miller, as it could be the perfect gateway to an exciting new world for fantasy and movie fans to sink their teeth into.
