George R.R. Martin's 'Nightflyers' TV Series to Address Whitewashing Controversy
After Syfy confirmed earlier this month that it's picking up an adaptation of George R.R. Martin's novella "Nightflyers," the author has revealed that the upcoming series will address the longstanding whitewashing complaint about the 1987 film adaptation of his work.
In a blog post, Martin recently outlined the history of "Nightflyers," which centers on a bunch of scientists who commission the Nightflyer starship to bring them to an alien starship that they hope to study. The main characters in the story are the leader of the expedition, Karoly d'Branin; Nightflyer's captain Royd Eris, and a genetically enhanced human named Melantha Jhirl.
Martin shared that in his original novella, he described Melantha as a woman whose "head is taller than anyone on board, a large-framed, large-breasted, long-legged, strong, muscles moving fluidly beneath shiny coal-black skin." However, the expanded version of the story that was published in a paperback collection in 1985 became controversial because the cover artist of the publication depicted the character as a white woman.
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The author went on to explain that he argued with the publisher and said Melantha was supposed to be a black woman. He said that despite his explanation, the publisher refused to change the cover, saying, "Well, if we put a black woman on the cover, no one will buy it." Hence, when the story was adapted as a film two years later, Melantha was played by a white actress.
In the upcoming "Nightflyers" series on Syfy, Melantha will be played by "True Blood" actress Jodie Turner-Smith, a black actress. According to Martin, he immediately reached out to the producers and writers of the series to ask them to make the depiction of the character right, and they did not disappoint.
"Nightflyers" is reportedly one of Syfy's biggest productions, drawing at least 500 people to make up its cast and crew. Earlier this month, it was reported that the series was already filming in Ireland.
