Weekly Sci Fi TV Top 5: FOX Could Move NeXt to Fall, National Treasure TV Series in the Works at Disney+, and More

Sci Fi TV Top 5: Covering the top sci fi and fantasy TV stories of interest from the past week.  You can keep up with the sci fi and fantasy TV news headlines throughout the week at r/SciFiTV on Twitter and on Reddit. 

1. FOX May Move NeXt to Next Season

FOX’s AI series NeXt, from Manny Cotto (Star Trek: Enterprise, Odyssey 5), was originally set for a mid-season bow this year but has not arrived on the schedule yet. The show was impacted by the shutdowns, but all of the filming had been completed before production came to a halt. The network is now considering shifting the show to a Fall start because it will have a dearth of programming available due to the shutdowns. And that could be a good thing for the show. Even before the Coronavirus hit the entertainment industry, it was looking like NeXt would get pushed to a late Spring or early Summer start. That would have the show debuting at a low-viewership time of year and would hurt its chances of building up much of an audience. If it premieres in Fall, it could enjoy higher viewership, especially if there is not much else in the way of new programming. The network has not made a final decision yet, but currently has plenty of incentive to hold onto this one until Fall.

2. Disney+ Goes in Search of National Treasure

The National Treasure film series is getting a reboot with a live-action TV series that will run on the Disney+ streaming service. The movies follow treasure hunter Benjamin Gates who searches for treasures and secrets from U.S. history while evading government operatives that want these to remain hidden. Nicholas Cage plays Gates in the movies, though he will likely not reprise the role in the series. A third movie in the film series is also currently in the works. Jerry Bruckheimer will be attached to the TV series as producer.

3. Renewal and Cancellation Announcements: MacGyver Renewed for 5th Season, Project Blue Book Cancelled

We are headed towards season-end and now is when the networks typically finalize their schedules for the upcoming season which is followed by renewal and cancellation announcements.  As expected, the CBS spy fi series MacGyver has been renewed for a fifth season after its fourth year was cut short by the production shutdowns.  More on that at this link.  History Channel decided not to bring back its UFO-investigation drama Project Blue Book as that network appears to be shying away from scripted series.  More on that at this link.  Expect more renewal and cancellation announcements this week and throughout May and stay tuned to this site and the Cancelled Sci Fi Twitter Site for breaking news and updates.

4. Disney+ Goes Just Beyond

Disney+ has placed an eight-episode order for a horror-comedy anthology series based on the Just Beyond graphic novels by R.L. Stine. Seth Grahame-Smith will be writing the scripts and describes the show as “a genre anthology series that families could enjoy together” and that appeals to both kids and adults. Disney+ is currently targeting a Fall 2021 debut for the series.

5. Production Notes: The Walking Dead World Beyond Shifts to Fall Start

AMC’s TWD spin-off series The Walking Dead: World Beyond has wrapped up its post-production, which was delayed due to the shutdowns, and is now scheduled for a Fall debut. It was originally set to debut this past April.  Robert Rodriguez will be joining The Mandalorian in its second season as director. Jurnee Smollett and Topher Grace have joined the cast of the Twilight Zone Season 2.

THE SCHED: Snowpiercer Arrives at TNT

The long-delayed Snowpiercer TV series has its debut next week on Sunday at 9 PM EST on TNT.  That show is based on the 2013 dystopian film of the same name by Bong Joon-Ho.  Also, The Flash will be wrapping up its sixth season on The CW on Tuesday, and Batwoman will have its season finale on Sunday. There are more shows on the way in May, and you can see the full schedule of sci fi and fantasy shows at this link and you can keep up with the weekly listings at this link.

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