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.
Still not too many new development announcements as the studios are busy working on upcoming pilots. But there were a couple over the last couple of weeks along with some notable updates on previous announcements.
Updates:
X-Files Revival: The continuation of the classic Chris Carter series is getting close to receiving a greenlight from FOX. According to TV Wise, the network is looking at a shortened episode order that would likely be less than ten. These are “aimed to close out the lingering storylines left by the series proper”. Series Stars David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson, along with creator Chris Carter, are set to return, but working around their current schedules while also hammering out a storyline that all are happy with remain the biggest challenges. TV Wise expects FOX to make an announcement about the revival in advance of the May upfronts where the networks present their schedule for the 2015-16 season to the advertisers. UPDATE: FOX has ordered a six episode season of the revival.
Twin Peaks Revival: Series creator David Lynch put a damper on this one a couple of weeks ago when he claimed in an interview that revival has run into some “complications”. He want on to say that:
A lot of people in cinema don’t have final cut or total creative control, and it’s a giant absurdity and a sadness. It’s a nightmare when you don’t have the freedom to make it the way you want.
Showtime–the network that will air the nine episode limited series–later countered his comments by saying “Nothing is going on that’s any more than any preproduction process with David Lynch”. They also added that “everything is moving forward and everybody is crazy thrilled and excited”. So all of this would suggest that there are apparently some creative control issues and perhaps some debates on licensing. But hopefully this will still go forward as many of the original cast members are currently set to return.
Development:
The Disciples: Wes Craven is working on an adaptation of this upcoming sci fi / horror comic book series from Steve Niles and Christopher Mitten. According to Empire Online, the series
follows a team of interstellar private eyes trying to track down a young woman who has run off to join a cult on Ganymede, the largest moon of Jupiter. Suffice to say, things do not go well.
Universal Cable Productions is producing the series, but no network or timeline has been attached to it yet.
Let the Right One In: A&E is currently working on a television adaptation of this Swedish movie about a bullied boy who strikes up a friendship with a young vampire. Previously remade in the states as the feature film Let Me In, Teen Wolf showrunner Jeff Davis along with actor/writer Brandon Boyce are looking to revisit the story as an ongoing series. It is currently early in the development process and would likely not hit the schedule until 2016.
