The sprawling space opera comicSagaexplores themes of love, war, familial bonds, and finding one’s place among the stars. And according toSaga’s creator, it’s one series that was never intended for live-action adaptation, especially when it comes to a television show.
Saga’s writer recently sat down with ScreenRant at San Diego Comic Con to discuss the series’ impact, as well as its future in comics. During the Q&A, it was revealed thatSagawon’t be getting a proper live-action adaptation simply because it was only ever “made to be a comic.”
Saga Was Specifically Made for Comics, And Won’t Get a TV Adaptation
Created bywriter Brian K. Vaughanand illustrated by Fiona Staples,Sagabegan in 2012 and has published 72 issues of its planned 100-issue-plus run. Taking breaks and even a years-long hiatus at one point,Sagasomehow becoming a comic property without a TV show seems a missed opportunity. But according to Vaughan, that’s actually a good thing:
Brian K. Vaughan: “We get offers all the time, but Saga was made to be a comic. I’ve adapted others’ work and had mine adapted—there are always compromises. Comics give us total creative freedom. We’d consider an adaptation only if someone truly “cracked it,” but we’re not in a rush.”
ScreenRant: Do you still see comics as the final form?
Brian K. Vaughan: “Absolutely. Comics aren’t a stepping stone—they’re the destination. I love film and TV, but comics are often the superior medium. That’s why Saga exists as it does.”
Vaughan’s decisionnotto pursue a television series is a reasonable one. Having previously adapted others’ work as well as his own, Vaughan has plenty of experience in the compromises that need to be made. Especially ones which could risk ruining whatSagahas accomplished so successfully in comics. It’s clear that Vaughan thinks comics suitSaga’s sprawling storyjust fine.
Why Saga Wouldn’t Work If Adapted for Film or Television
Limited only by the imagination of the writer and the skills of the artist, comic book storytelling has no bounds. And as fans well know, the journey of Alana, Marko, Hazel, and their assortedSagacolleagues and rivalswould need a lot of attention, care, and budget to work properly in a show.
A story that would likely need to be condensed and scaled back, what with all the Star Wars-level sci-fi action and character designs going on,Sagacould feasibly be split into multiple seasons. But unless the filmmakers were in it for the long haul like HBO’s upcomingHarry Potterseries, it’s unlikelySagawould ever get the treatment it deserves.
Yet the same can’t be said when it comes to video games. A medium whereSagacould flourish as a third-person action/adventure game recounting the wartime events of when Marko and Alana first met, or a Telltale Games-like project that puts players intoSaga’s fully realized world, it’s here whereSagacan be adapted in a truly uncompromising way.
Sagahas a ways to go before its planned end, so for now, keeping the comic series going is the only thing onBrian K. Vaughan’s mind. And while it’s trueSagamay never get a television show, fans should never say never on the off chance that some future filmmakers find a way to adapt its story properly.
