Quite a number of new development announcements came in this week including five new anime series on the way from Netflix as well as several other big announcements. Here is the rundown of this week’s news.
Diego Luna will star in Star Wars: Rogue One Prequel Series
Network: Disney+
Credits: TBA
Starring: Diego Luna
Description: “The series will follow rebel spy Cassian Andor during the early days of the Rebellion and ahead of the events of Rogue One.” THR
Comments: There is no word yet on the creative talent that will be attached to the show. This will be the second live-action Star Wars series heading to the Disney streaming service and will be joining Jon Favreau’s previously announced The Mandalorian.
The CW is working on a reboot of The 4400
Network: CW
Credits: Taylor Elmore (Writer / Showrunner / Executive Producer), Craig Sweeny (Writer / Executive Producer), CBS Television Studios (Studio)
Starring: TBA
Description: “In the series, over the course of recent history, four thousand four hundred young adults in their reproductive prime have gone missing all over the world. Some disappearances happened as recently as a few weeks ago, while others date as far back as the day the Soviets launched the Sputnik satellite in 1957. One day in 2019, all 4,400 show up at the sites of their original abductions. None of them have aged a day and none have any memory of where they’ve been. The so called ‘4400’ must grapple with their return to a changed and hostile world and also contend with the reality that they’ve come back altered in ways that none of them yet understand. Variety
Comments: Fans of the original show have been campaigning for a revival since it was cancelled by USA after four seasons in 2007. This looks like it will be a complete reboot which is likely not what those fans are hoping for. The CW will likely be considering this one during pilot season as an addition to their 2019-20 schedule.
Netflix will continue the story of Pacific Rim as an anime
Network: Netflix
Credits: Craig Kyle (Showrunner / Executive Producer), Greg Johnson (Showrunner / Executive Producer), Legendary Entertainment (Production Company)
Starring: TBA
Description: “Resuming the epic battle of Kaiju and Jeagers, the original anime series will expand upon the story of the first two live-action movies and follow an idealistic teenage boy and his naive younger sister. They are forced to pilot an abandoned Jaeger across a hostile landscape in a desperate attempt to find their missing parents.” Variety
Comments: This is one of several recently announced anime series coming to the streaming service.
The CW is adapting Vertigo’s Survivor’s Club
Network: CW
Credits: Jared Frieder (Writer / Executive Producer), Len Goldstein (Executive Producer), Warner Bros. TV (Studio)
Starring: TBA
Description: “In a world where horror franchise monsters are real, twins Jason and Jennifer barely survived a demonic childhood possession that claimed their mother’s life and fractured their bond. Ten years later, when a new evil force awakens, the siblings join forces with other teen survivors to combat the literal and metaphorical monsters that haunt them.” Deadline Hollywood
Comments: This is based on the DC Vertigo comic of the same name by Lauren Beukes, Dale Halverson and Ryan Kelly. The network will be considering this for their 2019-20 season.
Grant Morrison’s The Invisibles is headed to the small screen
Network: TBA
Credits: Grant Morrison (Creator / Executive Producer), Universal Cable Productions (Studio)
Starring: TBA
Description: “Set in 2020, the series follows an elite international cell of occult freedom fighters dedicated to the creation of a better world for everyone by any means necessary.” Variety
Comments: Morrison has signed a deal with Universal Cable Productions for television development and this will be one of his first projects (he is already working on the second season of Happy!). No U.S. network is set for the show yet, but consider USA or Syfy to be among the top candidates because they are all under the NBC/Universal umbrella.
Altered Carbon will get a spin-off anime movie on Netflix
Network: Netflix
Credits: Dai Sato (Writer), Tsukasa Kondo (Writer), Anima (Studio)
Starring: TBA
Description: This will be an anime feature film that will “will explore new elements of the story mythology” already established in the parent live-action series. Variety
Comments: This is one of several recently announced anime projects coming to the streaming service.
The sci fi / fantasy series Yasuke is in the works at Netflix
Network: Netflix
Credits: LeSean Thomas (Creator / Executive Producer), MAPPA (Studio)
Starring: Lakeith Stanfield
Description: “The storyline features a retired ronin who must take up his sword when he is charged with the task of transporting a mysterious child whom dark forces want to eliminate. It is based on a historical samurai of African origin who fought with Oda Nobunaga. Variety
Comments: This is one of several recently announced anime series coming to the streaming service.
Netflix has ordered the anime Trese based on Philippine mythology
Network: Netflix
Credits: Shanty Harmayn (Executive Producer), Tanya Yuson (Executive Producer), BASE Entertainment (Studio)
Starring: TBA
Description: “Trese is set in a Manila where the mythical creatures of Philippine folklore live in hiding among humans. Based on the Philippine graphic novel of the same name, by Budjette Tan and Kajo Baldissimo, the story sees a woman who finds herself going head to head with a criminal underworld composed of malevolent supernatural beings.” Variety
Comments: This is one of several recently announced anime series coming to the streaming service.
A War of the Worlds TV series is in the works with Greg Kinnear attached
Network: TBA
Credits: Fox Networks Group (Production Company)
Starring: Greg Kinnear
Description: “Set in the present day, it will be a reimagined telling of HG Wells’ alien invasion story.” Deadline Hollywood
Comments: This European production will air on Canal+ in France and FOX networks in Europe and Africa. A U.S. network has not been attached to it yet. The BBC is also currently working on a War of the Worlds series that will be set in the same timeline as the original book.
Post-apocalyptic anime Cagaster of an Insect Cage coming to Netflix
Network: Netflix
Credits: Koichi Chigira (Director), Gonzo (Studio)
Starring: TBA
Description: “Cagaster of an Insect Cage is set in a post-apocalyptic world where the mysterious Cagaster disease turns people into giant murderous insects. The series’ story follows the struggle of a young couple to stay alive.” Variety
Comments: This is one of several recently announced anime series coming to the streaming service.
The Fall season is in full swing now with close to fifty new and returning sci fi and fantasy television shows. You can see the rundown of the Fall season at this link. And be sure to stay tuned to this site and the Cancelled Sci Fi Twitter Site throughout the season for the latest ratings results and status updates for your favorite shows.
