No Equal Entertainment and Frantic Films have optioned the adaptation rights to Brian McClellan’s Powder Mage fantasy novels.

Canadian writer-producer Joseph Mallozzi (Stargate, Dark Matter) is attached as showrunner to the one-hour drama series and is set to pen the pilot. The adaptation will begin with McClellan’s first novel, Promise of Blood (2013).

Mallozzi serves as an executive producer on the project alongside McClellan, No Equal Entertainment’s J.B. Sugar and Frantic Films’ Jamie Brown.

Of note, the series marks the first time Brown and Sugar have worked together. As well, prior to this, Sugar served as a director on one of Mallozzi’s past credits, sci-fi series Dark Matter.

Set in a fictional world where magic collides with 18th century technology as well as political and social revolution, the story follows powder mages, individuals who possess magical abilities to control gunpowder, and will be framed by the fight for survival as mythical gods return to battle for a world that’s changed in their absence.

“What struck me about talking with J.B. and Joe wasn’t just their professionalism, but their fandom. They love the books, and that’s the biggest compliment an author can get. I’m absolutely thrilled that such a talented group will work to adapt Powder Mage to TV. I’m a huge admirer of Joe’s work, and I can’t wait to see what he does to bring this series to life,” said McClellan in a statement.

First published in 2013, the Powder Mage books have been translated into 18 languages and secured 700,000 sales in English alone, according to a press release.

Image: Brian McClellan