The Seeker (film)

Lore & Background

The film centers on Will Stanton, who on his 14th birthday learns he is the last of the Old Ones, warriors serving the Light. He must locate six Signs to gain power over the Dark, personified by the Rider (Christopher Eccleston). Will travels through time, discovers a lost twin brother named Tom, and ultimately learns that he himself is the sixth Sign. The Rider is banished, and Tom is reunited with the family.

Production began in February 2007 in Romania. The screenplay by John Hodge updated the story from the 1960s/1970s to a contemporary setting, aged the protagonist from 11 to 14, and made Will American to emphasize his outsider status. New subplots included sibling conflicts and a crush on a local girl, Maggie Barnes. The film was released by 20th Century Fox under the Fox-Walden joint venture.

Reader's Guide

The Seeker was panned by critics and fans of the book series and flopped at the box office, grossing $31.8 million against a $45 million budget. Its loose adherence to the source material and changes to the protagonist's age and nationality drew criticism. The film is notable as part of Walden Media's early joint venture with 20th Century Fox. Despite its commercial failure, it remains an example of a mid-2000s fantasy adaptation that attempted to modernize a classic children's novel for a broader audience.

Did You Know?

• The film is a loose adaptation of the second book in Susan Cooper's The Dark Is Rising Sequence.
• Will Stanton was rewritten as an American to make him an outsider in the English setting.
• The character of The Walker was removed from the theatrical cut.
• Filming took place in Romania starting February 26, 2007.