A roundup of sci fi and fantasy television development news from the past couple of weeks.
Apple orders TV series based on Isaac Asimov’s classic Foundations books
Network: Apple
Credits: David S. Goyer (Showrunner, Executive Producer) Josh Friedman (Showrunner, Executive Producer)
Starring: TBA
Description: The series will revolve around the thousand year saga of the Foundation, a band of exiles who discover that the only way to save the Galactic Empire from destruction is to defy it. Variety
Comments: A small screen adaptation of Asimov’s classic space saga has been on the drawing board for a while, most recently at HBO with Christopher Nolan attached. Apple has placed an official order for the series, so hopefully that is a good sign and this attempt will successfully avoid getting mired in Development Hell. If it moves forward, expect this to not make it to the small screen until 2020 at the earliest due to the scope of the project.
Bi-Racial Bewitched reboot is in the works
Network: ABC
Credits: Kenya Barris (Writer / Executive Producer), Yamara Taylor (Executive Producer), ABC Studios (Studio), Sony Television (Studio
Starring: TBA
Description: A half-hour single camera comedy, the new Bewitched will be reimagined as a story featuring a bi-racial couple. The original “Bewitched” aired on ABC from 1964 to 1972. It starred Elizabeth Montgomery, a witch with magical powers who marries an ordinary mortal man. Variety
Comments: Reboot fever continues with this modern re-working of the 60’s sitcom classic. ABC has given a a pilot production commitment to this project and will consider adding this to their schedule at some point in 2019.
FOX 21 Developing Vampyr TV Series Based on the Video Game
Network: TBA
Credits: McG (Director / Executive Producer), Mary Viola (Executive Producer), Fox 21 Television (Studio)
Starring: TBA
Description: Set in 1918 London, Vampyr revolves around a morally righteous doctor who mysteriously turns into a vampire and is now torn between his solemn commitment to save lives and his insatiable urge to feed. With a deadly virus spreading that only he can cure, the doctor must decide who to kill in his tight-knit community to stay alive long enough to save everyone from certain death. Deadline Hollywood
Comments: This series is based on the video game from France’s Dontnod Entertainment. No network is attached at the moment, but this should draw plenty of interest.
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Patrick Stewart will reprise his role as Jean-Luc Picard in an upcoming new series
Network: CBS All Access
Credits: Alex Kurtzman (Executive Producer), James Duff (Executive Producer), Akiva Goldsman (Executive Producer)
Starring: Patrick Stewart
Description: According to Variety, “the series is said to tell the story of the next chapter of Picard’s life”. Variety
Comments: Previous news had indicated Stewart would be voicing Picard in an animated series, so it is unclear if this will be a different live-action series. Expect more developments on this in the coming months.
Robert Orci is working on animated Galaga Series
Network: TBA
Credits: Robert Orci (Executive Producer), ShadowMachine (Studio), The Nuttery Entertainment (Studio)
Starring: TBA
Description: This will be an animated series based on the early-80’s Space Invaders-like arcade game. Deadline Hollywood
Comments: There are not too many details on this project at the moment, but a twelve-episode first season is currently on the drawing board.
More Sci Fi TV Development News:
Joel Kinnaman, Michael Dorman and Sarah Jones have been added to the cast of Ronald D. Moore’s as-yet-unnamed space race series he is working on for Apple.
Amazon’s Galaxy Quest TV series in currently in a “hold pattern” according to Paul Scheer.
Netflix has announced that a second Death Note movie, based on the Anime series, is in the works.
