Merlin Creator Addresses Problems With Potential Modern-Day Reboot

by

Jake Michie, one of the creators of Merlin, recently talked about the show’s ending. He acknowledged that the finale didn’t satisfy everyone and shared his worries about the possibility of revisiting the series with a reboot.

The series finale, titled “The Diamond of the Day,” was penned by Michie and Julian Jones, who also created the show Merlin. Instead of a cheerful resolution, King Arthur (Bradley James) succumbs to injuries from his fight with Mordred (Alexander Vlahos). The final scene of the popular BBC fantasy series revealed Merlin (Colin Morgan) living in the present day, hopeful for Arthur’s eventual return. This unexpectedly somber ending left many viewers disappointed.

One possible ending would be Arthur surviving, with the ban on magic lifted and Merlin’s secrets revealed. They could continue their playful arguments in a thriving Camelot, having defeated all enemies and accomplished everything they set out to do, successfully navigating and even cleverly changing fate.

In a recent interview on the Merlin fan podcast, Ladies of the Lake, Michie admitted that a happier ending might have satisfied more fans, and he’d considered it. However, he defended their choice to avoid a completely positive resolution. He explained that crafting the story was difficult because they had to blend his own vision with the long-standing myths surrounding Merlin.

Writing a fictional story based on myth and legend is tricky. You have to balance creative freedom with respecting the established stories and expectations. It’s a challenge to decide how much you can change those familiar parts and what kind of impression you want to leave on the reader.

When questioned about continuing Merlin past its fifth season, Michie explained that any continuation would require a complete overhaul of the show. He noted that the final episode hinted at Merlin being an immortal character, eternally awaiting Arthur’s return and prepared to guide him once more in a different time period. Though the team considered revisiting the series in a new setting and era, they ultimately decided against further adaptations.

According to Michie, viewers and the people who made the show both really loved the original actors, especially Morgan and James. He believes the show’s popularity was mainly thanks to their performances and the world he and Jones built together. While continuing the story of Merlin is possible, he worries it might not be a good idea and could diminish the impact of the original series.

The problem is, viewers have really grown attached to Colin and Bradley. While it might work to bring Colin back as Merlin in a different setting with new characters, I think the show’s success really came down to those specific characters and actors, and the dynamic they had at that particular time.

Read More

2025-12-25 04:10