Prime Video's New Epic Sci-Fi Series Is Rewriting A 19-Year-Old Franchise

3 hours ago 7

Published Jul 15, 2026, 10:25 PM EDT

Dani Kessel Odom (they/them) is an autistic lead writer and TV critic who covers sci-fi shows like Doctor Who and Pluribus, fantasy shows like The Magicians and Percy Jackson, and horror of all kinds. They also cover Marvel and DC TV shows and movies, with a robust knowledge of comic books. Their TV reviews can be found on Rotten Tomatoes.

Dani is also part of ScreenRant's books team, using their fiction writing and literature studies as the backbone for their book analyses.

They have covered events, such as the Denver Fan Expo. Professionals in the field, such as Damien Leone and Lucy Hale, have shared their articles. Their review of Ponies was quoted in the show's TV trailer.

In university, they majored in English Writing with a minor in psychology. They have always had a passion for analyzing TV and movies, even taking filmography and scriptwriting classes in university. They also studied and participated in onstage and onscreen acting extensively from the ages of 7 to 18.

Aside from working at Screen Rant, Dani has worked as a freelance editor and writer over the past decade, often in a ghostwriting capacity.

Prime Video is bringing a beloved, 19-year-old franchise to the screen with a sci-fi TV show adaptation, but this will come with a significant change to the story. Streamers are competing to become the go-to for sci-fi TV shows, and Apple TV currently has a solid hold on that title. However, Prime Video hasn’t given up on the fight. They have a few past hits, such as The Expanse, The Boys, and The Man in the High Castle. The streamer has the ongoing hit post-apocalyptic video game adaptation Fallout, and they acquired the streaming rights to the new Ghost in the Shell anime.

However, some of their most exciting TV shows on the horizon are new adaptations of existing franchises. Next year, they’re releasing Blade Runner 2099. The Captive’s War could take over for The Expanse in the space opera subgenre. Victories Greater Than Death will be a great YA. Additionally, they have the highly anticipated yet extremely nerve-wracking adaptation of the sci-fi video game franchise Mass Effect.

The last one has been met with reasonable skepticism, as video game adaptations notoriously struggle. Despite success stories like Fallout and Sonic the Hedgehog, fans have endured famous failures like Halo and Borderlands. However, there's reason to be hopeful. Following in the footsteps of Fallout, Mass Effect is rewriting a key part of the video game, a move that will either be extremely successful or completely disastrous.

Prime Video's Mass Effect Series Won't Follow Shepard's Story

Mass Effect 3 key art with Commander Shepard in front of Reapers descending on a planet.

Considering Hollywood’s current aversion to risk, I think most people expected the Mass Effect TV show to bring the existing story to the screen. Shepard is the central character of the first three games. Everything’s already laid out. Players already care about the characters. However, that isn’t the case. Instead, Mass Effect boss Mike Gamble confirmed that the show would be an entirely new story, complete with a different protagonist (via IGN). He explained:

"The show will explore a brand-new story within the universe’s timeline, and will be set after the original trilogy. It won’t be a retread of Commander Shepard’s story — because after all … that’s YOUR story, isn’t it?"

It’s much riskier to make a new character and story, as there’s so much room for failure. That said, it also offers much greater potential for success. Additionally, it explains why Prime Video and the creative team are taking so long in the developmental phase without major updates. It took Fallout three years and nine months from announcing development to the show's release. Although the Mass Effect TV show has been discussed since 2021, it wasn't officially greenlit until November 2024.

Much like the Fallout show, they will need more time to craft a story that appeals to mainstream audiences and existing fans alike. They need to make sure every single detail fits into the existing lore and world. They’ll have to create a character that audiences will want to invest in. It’s better to have a good Mass Effect TV show later than a poorly done one sooner.

Does Mass Effect Work Without Shepard As The Protagonist?

The back of Mass Effect Andromeda's Ryder, looking at a ship crashing.

Although I think creating a new protagonist is the best choice for the Mass Effect TV show, I’m concerned about how fans will react to whatever character the series creates. BioWare already tried to tell a Mass Effect story without Shepard as the protagonist in Andromeda, and the response was extremely mixed. There’s a decent number of people who think Shepard is Mass Effect; the two are intrinsically linked in their minds. I’m not sure that fans in this group will be open to a new main character. Ryder was also torn apart for being the underdog thrust into a hero role rather than a militaristic badass like Shepard.

As of the time of writing, it's unknown whether Mass Effect 5 will focus on Shepard, Ryder, or a new character.

Perhaps the reaction will be different because it’s a new medium. Plus, with an original character, there’s no chance of Shepard getting ruined. However, there’s still a strong possibility the new character will face the same kind of scrutiny that Ryder did. I don’t see a world where they make everyone, or even the majority of the fandom, happy. The opinions are simply too divided. My hope is that viewers will go into it with an open mind, but there’s really no way to predict what will happen until we actually have the Mass Effect TV show in front of us.