Hobgoblin - Aronofsky and Chabon create pilot for HBO

[NecroMorrius]

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When he's not working Disney's John Carter of Mars script or penning Pulitzer Prize-winning novels, apparently Michael Chabon is pitching alternate-history series to HBO about the magicians that fought Hitler. Which sounds fantastic.

According to Variety HBO has picked up Chabon's new TV show called Hobgoblin, which is about "a motley group of conmen and magicians who use their skills at deception to battle Hitler and his forces during WWII."

Fingers crossed this includes Jasper Maskelyne and his "magic gang," who used their skills of illusion to confuse and befuddle German troops.

Darren Aronofsky and Michael Chabon working together. Doesn't that just give you chills? We're beyond excited about the recently announced news that Aronofsky will be directing the pilot of HBO series Hobgoblin, about magicians who fight Hitler!

The pilot is being written by Chabon and his wife, Ayelet Waldman. Variety announced the Chabon Aronofsky team up on the first episode, but is still being pretty vague about the details.

Last we heard, the series was about "a motley group of conmen and magicians who use their skills at deception to battle Hitler and his forces during WWII." But still no mention if Jasper Maskelyne (pictured above) and his "magic gang," are involved. He was a magician who use illusions to fool the Germans (such as using trickery to make tanks disappear etc). We certainly hope he's in the picture.

Sounds properly wacky.

[JohnC]

Had HBO done major shows based away from reality before Game of Thrones? Suddenly there's 3 with a sort of fantasy slant, even if some are a bit away from airing. I hope it all works out and they don't get stung.

[Radish]

They've also done (doing) True Blood, which involves vampires.

Like the sound of this, and it should hve the production quality to not look too cheesy.

[cassidy]

I'm pretty sure the rivers of London series has a shedload of backhistory planned that involves wizards and magic being a major part of WW1 &2. Ben aaronovitch must be gutted.

[NecroMorrius]

Had HBO done major shows based away from reality before Game of Thrones? Suddenly there's 3 with a sort of fantasy slant, even if some are a bit away from airing. I hope it all works out and they don't get stung.

Carnivale

[Yix]

Yep. Carnivale. All two series (out of a planned six) of it. Don't get too attach to this.

[sandman]

Is Carnivale any good then?

[Flams]

Had HBO done major shows based away from reality before Game of Thrones? Suddenly there's 3 with a sort of fantasy slant, even if some are a bit away from airing. I hope it all works out and they don't get stung.

Rather than being a fantasy show, won't this be based on the guys who actually did this during the war?

[JohnC]

What? There were people fighting Hitler with magic?

Oh, and the first post says it's alternate history.

[Flams]

Oh man, I need to learn to read.

There was a group of magicians who used illusions and deception to fool the nazis. Bugger me if I know who they were or what they were called

[Pete]

Yeah they worked in North Africa using lights and the like to baffle bombers and make fake cities. I can't remember the name either though.

[JohnC]

They were so good they made you forget. Spooky.

[noizu]