Matthew López, renowned for his successful film “Red, White & Royal Blue,” recently revealed his unfulfilled ambition to adapt Madeline Miller’s celebrated novel, “The Song of Achilles,” into a television series. Despite his extensive research and discussions with experts like Stephen Fry, the project was never greenlit. López shared his vision of a multi-season arc that would delve deeply into the love story between Achilles and Patroclus, highlighting historical queer narratives often erased from mainstream history.
López’s passion for the source material was evident as he emphasized the importance of portraying the transformation of young boys into men through the backdrop of the Trojan War. He acknowledged the challenges of casting, dismissing the idea of using his previous film’s actors, Nicholas Galitzine and Taylor Zakhar Perez, for roles that required younger portrayals. Instead, he envisioned a long-form narrative to truly capture the essence and growth of the characters.
Despite this setback, López remains hopeful about future projects, including a sequel to “Red, White & Royal Blue.” He stressed the necessity of falling in love with projects, even those that might never see the light of day, to effectively pitch them to potential backers. His approach to “The Song of Achilles” was to start envisioning the series in his mind, a process that, although incomplete, fuels his creative endeavors.
The shelving of “The Song of Achilles” adaptation is a significant loss for fans and the LGBTQ community, who yearn for more authentic representations of queer love stories in mainstream media. López’s dedication to bringing such narratives to life remains unwavering, promising that his future projects will continue to push boundaries and celebrate diverse stories.