Syfy Plans Adaptation of Philip K. Dick\'s \'Man in the High Castle\'

Nicole Olivieri Panter The author Philip K. Dick in 1980.

A world in which the Allies lost World War II may not sound like a pleasant place,  but it is the basis of one of Philip K. Dick‘s most celebrated works and, potentially, a mini-series for cable TV’s Syfy channel. Syfy said on Monday that it was developing a four-hour adaptation of “The Man in the High Castle,” Dick’s 1962 novel of mysticism, alternate history (and alternate histories within that alternate history) and an early meditation on what is or is not real from the future author of “A Scanner Darkl” and “Ubik.”

Syfy said in a news release that its adaptation of “The Man in the High Castle” would be done by Frank Spotnitz, a writer and producer of “The X-Files” and “Millennium,” who will also be  executive producer on the project with Ridley Scott, the director and producer whose films include “Blade Runner,” an adaptation of Dick’s novel “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep” The mini-series will be produced by Mr. Scott’s Scott Free Productions with Headline Pictures, Electric Shepherd Productions and FremantleMedia International. Mr. Spotnitz will write its first two hours and supervise the writing of the second two hours, Syfy said.

Isa Dick Hackett, a daughter of Philip K. Dick and a founder of Electric Shepherd Productions, said in a statement: “’The Man in the High Castle’ is one of the most highly regarded and influential novels my father wrote. It’s thrilling to be bringing it to life with such a talented, passionate team, and in a form! at that can do justice to the full scope of the material.”

No air date or casting information was immediately announced for “The Man in the High Castle,” but feel free to consult the I Ching while waiting for further developments.