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.
Some more sci fi TV development news has hit the wire the last couple of weeks including new talks about a Star Wars live-action television series. ABC mentioned it at the Television Critics Association summer press tour, but the network execs were very vague and only confirmed that they “have had conversations”. Disney owns ABC and Star Wars, though, so it certainly seems like something could happen. Previously, the Star Wars: Underworld live-action series was in the works, but that was shelved when Disney purchased the franchise. In other updates, Syfy has passed on the previously announced pilot for Prototype, but the creators are shopping it around to other venues.
Following are more development announcements from the last couple of weeks:
Chronicles of Amber
Network: No Network Attached
Production Team: Robert Kirkman (Executive Producer), Dave Alpert (Executive Producer)
Status: Early Development
About: Based on the Chronicles of Amber book series by Roger Zelazny, the story “revolves around Corwin, who awakens on Earth with no memory but soon finds he is a prince of a royal family that has the ability to travel through different dimensions of reality (called “shadows”) and rules over the one true world/dimension known as Amber.” Source: THR
Comments: This project is early in development with no network attached, but with The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman involved, it should draw plenty of interest.
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Britannia
Network: Amazon / Sky
Production Team: Jez Butterworth (Writer / Executive Producer)
Starring: Kelly Reilly, David Morrissey, Zoë Wanamaker, Stanley Weber
Status: In Production
About: “The story is set in 43 A.D. and charts the Roman invasion of what would become Great Britain. The determined, yet terrified, Roman Imperial Army returns to crush the Celtic heart of Britannia, a mysterious land ruled by wild warrior women and powerful druids who can channel the forces of the underworld.” Source: Deadline
Comments: This historical fantasy series is already in production and now Amazon has jumped onboard to make it available in the States. It should bow early in 2017.
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Divergent
Network: Starz
Production Team: N/A
Status: Early Development
About: This series would adapt the third Divergent novel Ascendant (instead of it going to the big screen like the first two). It will stretch the book over one season and then offer up new tales in that universe if subsequent seasons follow. Source: Deadline Hollywood
Comments: Talks on this series with Starz and franchise owner Lionsgate are in the early stages and no production team or cast members have been firmed up at this point. If it moves forward, it would be late 2017 or early 2018 before anything hit the small screen.
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Wild Cards
Network: No Network Attached
Production Team: George R.R. Martin (Creator / Writer / Executive Producer), Melinda M. Snodgrass (Executive Producer), Universal Cable Productions (Production Company)
Status: In Development
About: This series would be based on Martin’s interconnected Wild Cards books. He describes the shared superhero universe on his blog: “The shared world of the Wild Cards diverged from our own on September 15, 1946 when an alien virus was released in the skies over Manhattan, and spread across an unsuspecting Earth. Of those infected, 90% died horribly, drawing the black queen, 9% were twisted and deformed into jokers, while a lucky 1% became blessed with extraordinary and unpredictable powers and became aces. The world was never the same.”
Comments: No network is attached at this point, but plenty will be interested in the latest project from the creator of Game of Thrones. Martin claims that he hopes “will be coming to your home screens in the next year or two”.
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Tommorrow, Today
Network: Starz
Production Team: Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson (Writer / Executive Producer), Anthony Cipriano (Executive Producer), Dan Kay (Executive Producer)
Status: In Development
About: “Tomorrow, Today is a superhero-themed series about a veteran from the south side of Chicago who, after being falsely imprisoned, becomes the personal experiment of a mad prison doctor trying to create the perfect man – and an unstoppable killing machine. Set free, but on the run, the veteran must reconcile with the world that has turned against him, and use his newfound abilities for good.” Source: Deadline Hollywood
Comments: Starz has this superhero series in development and will likely look at getting it on the schedule at some point in 2017.
