A large batch of Discworld news has just surfaced online. Sir Terry Pratchett is not only working on a new book, but has made some more movie deals.

Snuff, currently estimated to be released this October, will be a new Discworld novel featuring Commander Vimes as the protagonist. It sounds like an early draft has been completed and delivered to the copy editor.

A Sky movie adaptation of Unseen Academicals is also in the works, and should begin filming sometime soon.

Perhaps the most interesting news is that Pratchett has signed a deal with Prime Focus Productions to create a TV series centered around the Ankh-Morpork City Watch. There are few details, but Pratchett agreed to offer the “rights to create brand new storylines for the iconic characters of Pratchett’s phenomenally successful Discworld series.” So we can assume that said series will include additional storylines not found in the books.

The main focus of the series will be set in the bustling, highly mercantile, largely untrustworthy and always vibrant city of Ankh Morpork and will follow the day-to-day activities of the men, women, trolls, dwarves, vampires and several other species who daily pound its ancient cobbles (and, of course, Igor in the forensics department). […] These richly developed and highly compelling characters will feature in a ‘crime of the week’ episodic storyline. As each weekly adventure unfolds, viewers will be taken on a ride through Pratchett’s genius imagination, with the author overseeing the creation of the series…

More information is available in the March installment of the Discworld Monthly Extra.