Sci Fi TV Development: Blair Witch Series in the Works
Lionsgate has a Blair Witch TV Series in the works, though there are not many specifics about it available at the moment. One of the original directors Eduardo Sanchez had this to say about a TV series in an interview last year:
Well, you know. I can’t really discuss. I think that the idea of a Blair Witch anthology has always been very – just a really interesting thing. You’re close. You’re in the ballpark. You know, and I think it might be one of those things that might be – you know? The more you think about it, you’re like “That might be the perfect… a TV show. You know?” So, we’ll see what happens, but I think that’s the next big thing for Blair Witch. Probably TV.
Lionsgate is developing this as a digital series for Studio L and I would expect it to debut later this year or early next.
Amazon has yet another major genre series in the works as it is developing Iain Banks’ Culture novels beginning with Consider Phlebas. That series centers around the Utopian society known as Culture which is populated by humans, aliens, and AI. Deadline Hollywood gives the following rundown of Consider Phlebas:
The story centers on Horza, a rogue agent tasked by the Idirans with the impossible mission of recovering a missing Culture ‘Mind,’ an artificial intelligence many thousands of times smarter than any human—something that could hold the key to wiping out the Culture altogether. What unfolds, with Banks’ trademark irreverent humor, ultimately asks the poignant question of how we can use technology to preserve our humanity, not surrender it.
Considering the scope of the streaming service will almost certainly be looking at 2019 for it to debut.
Devil Dinosaur Finally Gets Its TV Series
Back in the late 70’s when Jack Kirby was working at Marvel, word broke that DC had an animated version of his post-apocalyptic Kamandi series in development (which sadly never happened) and Kirby was asked to come up with a similar cartoon for his current publisher. He presented them with Devil Dinosaur which ended up never hitting the tube, but but it did make its way to a short-lived comic book. It was not well-received upon initial publication, but has since become somewhat of a cult series with the characters showing up regularly in other Marvel comics. It recently received a reboot as Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur in 2015 and that series will finally bring the crimson raptor to television. Here is Marvel’s rundown of the show:
Based on the hit comic book series, the animated project follows the adventures of nine-year-old super-genius Lunella Lafayette, an African-America girl who teams up with her crimson-colored dinosaur and uses her smarts to save the day.
This one will likely show up Disney’s streaming service either later this year or early next.
Casting News: Lauren Cohen Takes Lead Role in Pilot and More
Lauren Cohen is not under contract for the upcoming ninth season of The Walking Dead, though negotiations have been ongoing. In the meantime, she has accepted the lead role in the ABC dramedy pilot Whisky Cavalier in which she will play an FBI agent. If that pilot gets picked up, Cohen could possibly remain on both shows or she could face a grim fate on TWD. In other casting news, Netflix’s The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina has cast Lord of the Rings alum Miranda Otto as Zelda Spellman. And The CW has cast Jeanine Mason as the lead in its Roswell reboot (and brought Julie Plec onboard as executive producer).
Netflix Will Be Lost in Space in April
Netflix dropped the first teaser for its upcoming reboot of Lost in Space and announced April 13th as its debut date. That series, about the Robinson family getting lost in space aboard the Jupiter 2, will star Toby Stevens and Molly Parker as John and Maureen Robinson, Maxwell Jenkins as Will Robinson, and Parker Posey as Dr. Smith. Also on the way in April is the second season of FX’s series Legion. That one has its debut on April 3rd. You can get a preview of the sci fi and fantasy shows that will debut April and later at this link.
Sci Fi TV Schedule: Gotham and Once Upon A Time Return Next Week Along with a Full Slate
The Olympics wrap up on Sunday which means that most of the sci fi and fantasy shows that have been in hiding the last couple of weeks will be back with new episodes. And that includes FOX’s Gotham and ABC’s Once Upon A Time which have been on break since Fall. Both of those shows will resume their seasons during the week on Thursday and Friday respectively. In addition to that, The CW’s iZombie has its fourth season debut on Monday at 9 PM EST and the new TBS animated series Final Space bows at 10:30 PM EST that same night. The only shows without new episodes next week are Supergirl (on hiatus until April), Riverdale (repeat), and the FOX Sunday comedies (on hiatus until March 11). You can keep up with the weekly listings of sci fi and fantasy shows at this link and you can see the full Mid-Season schedule at this link.
More Sci Fi TV News
Doctor Who has unveiled a new logo for the show’s upcoming eleventh season that will air in Fall 2018.
Joss Whedon will be returning to the Buffy the Vampire Slayer comic book series produced by Dark Horse with the upcoming Season 12: The Reckoning.
Jonah Hex, played by Johnathon Schaech, will be returning to The CW’s Legends of Tomorrow with that show’s Season 3 finale which will air on April 9th.
The Dark Tower TV series is apparently heading to Amazon, though there is still little in the way of details on it.
Syfy has announced July 25th as the premiere date for Sharknado 6 (no subtitle yet) and released the following synopsis:
All is lost, or is it? Fin unlocks the time-traveling power of the SHARKNADOS in order to save the world and resurrect his family. In his quest, Fin fights Nazis, dinosaurs, knights, and even takes a ride on Noah’s Ark. This time, it’s not how to stop the sharknados, it’s when.
Last Week’s Post: Star Trek TNG Could Have Been Very Different, Midnight Texas Gets Renewed, and More Read
