Sci Fi TV Development: New Star Trek TV Series Heading to CBS Streaming Service, Plus a Greatest American Hero Reboot, Darkover TV Series, and More

News, updates, and (mostly viable) rumors relating to development of science fiction / fantasy television productions. If you have tips or more info on these or other productions, please pass them along in the comments.

The too-much-TV era continues to barrel forward with another slew of development announcements over the last couple of weeks, including one that sci fi fans have been waiting quite a long time for.

Star-Trek-EnterprisesStar Trek

Network: CBS / CBS All Access

Production Team: Alex Kurtzman (Executive Producer)

Status: Early Development

About: This series will bring Star Trek back to the small screen to continue and explore the universe that franchise has created.

Comments: There are no specific details yet about Star Trek‘s return to television including whether it will take place in the original timeline or the new one created by the recent feature films. Of interest, though, is the fact that the premiere will air on CBS in early 2017, but the ongoing series will then shift to that network’s streaming channel CBS All Access. So Trek fans will have to pay a monthly fee (currently around $6) to follow the show. Source: Variety

The Greatest American Hero

Network: FOX

Production Team: Rick Famuyiwa (Writer / Executive Producer), Phil Lord (Executive Producer), Chris Miller (Executive Producer), Tawnia McKiernan (Executive Producer)

Status: Early Development

About: This will reboot the 1980’s series of the same name about a man that receives from aliens a suit that gives him super powers.

Comments: FOX has given this a pilot production commitment. Phil Lord and Chris Miller tried to get this reboot in the air last year, but it did not go to series. This time around they have Tawnia McKiernan–the daughter of the original show’s creator Steven J. Cannell–onboard the production team. Source: The Wrap

X-Files Spinoff

Network: FOX

Production Team: Chris Carter (Creator / Executive Producer)

Starring: Robbie Amell, Lauren Ambrose

Status: Consideration

About: According to TV Line, the upcoming X-Files limited run series will introduce two new FBI agents played by Robbie Amell (The Flash) and Lauren Ambrose (Six Feet Under) and could work as a backdoor pilot for a continuation / spin-off following those characters. Source: TV Line

Comments: This is mostly just a rumor at this point and Chris Carter neither confirmed nor denied the possibility of a spin-off when asked about it at Comic Con. But if the new X-Files scores well in the ratings, you know that FOX will want more.

His Dark Materials

Network: BBC One

Production Team: Philip Pullman (Creator / Executive Producer), New Line Cinema (Studio)

Status:  Early Development

About: His Dark Materials is a three-book arc based around the adventures of Lyla Belacqua and Will Parry, two youngsters who explore parallel universes. Source: SFX Magazine

Comments: This series based on the books written by Philip Pullman is currently planned as an eight part TV series.

Neil Gaiman’s Likely Stories

Network: Sky Arts

Production Team: Neil Gaiman (Executive Producer), Sid Gentle Films (Production Company)

Status: Early Production

About: Each episode of this four part series will adapt a separate Neil Gaiman short storie. The specific stories have not been named yet. Source: The Guardian

Comments: Filming is set to begin in November and the series will debut at some point in 2016.

Midnight Texas

Network: NBC

Production Team: David Janollari (Executive Producer)

Status: Early Development

About: “It’s where humans and the supernatural co-exist, and where everyone has a secret,” says executive producer David Janollari (Six Feet Under).  Source: Entertainment Weekly

Comments: This series will be based on the Midnight, Texas books by True Blood author Charlaine Harris. NBC is looking at this as a possible entry to their Fall 2016 schedule.

darkover-tv-seriesDarkover

Network: Amazon

Production Team: Ilene Kahn Power (Executive Producer), Elizabeth Stanley (Executive Producer), IM Global (Production Company

Status: Early Development

About: This series will be based on the sci fi / fantasy Darkover series by Marion Bradley which takes place on the titular planet. Source: Deadline Hollywood

Comments: This is currently in the early development stages and Amazon is likely looking at a late 2016 / early 2017 bow.

Imperial City (Tentative Title)

Network: NBC

Production Team: Silvio Horta (Executive Producer), Aaron Kaplan (Executive Producer)

Production Team: Rupert Grint

Status: Early Development

About: [Rupert Grint] would star as Rupert, a low-level New York office drone obsessed with Imperial City, a comic book series his father created before his death. Rupert has spent his whole life believing he owned all nine issues. But when a mysterious comic book collector reveals the existence of a tenth issue, Rupert discovers that the world of Imperial City is real, and he is the one person who can save it. Source: Deadline Hollywood

Comments: NBC has given a put pilot commitment to this project meaning that they would pay a substantial penalty for passing on it. They will likely consider this for the 2016-17 season.

Dead Man Walking

Network: CBS

Production Team: Simon Barry (Writer / Executive Producer), Stephen Hegyes (Executive Producer), CBS Television Studios

Status: Early Development

About: The drama takes place in the near future, when a police detective who had been executed for murdering his wife takes a miracle drug and is brought back to life as a “second-class citizen” working as a private investigator while looking for his wife’s real killer. Source: Hollywood Reporter

Comments: This is based on the book of the same name written by Stefan Petrucha. Continuum‘s Simon Barry is developing the series which CBS will likely consider as a Fall 2016 entry.

Van Helsing

Network: Syfy

Production Team: Neil LaBute (Writer / Showrunner), Simon Barry (Executive Producer), Nomadic Pictures (Studio)

Status: Early Production

About: Centers on Vanessa Helsing, the daughter of famous vampire hunter and Dracula nemesis Abraham Van Helsing. She is resurrected five years in the future to find out that vampires have taken over the world and that she possesses unique power over them. She is humanity’s last hope to lead an offensive to take back what has been lost. Source: Deadline Hollywood

Comments: Syfy has picked up this show which is in the early stages of production and has Continuum‘s Simon Barry attached as executive producer. It will find its way to their schedule at some point in 2016.

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