sf/f TV development news - 2013

[stj]

As they say, times change. Dracula had a much more powerful subtext for the Renfield character, for instance. If you really wanted to try to adapt Dracula for a modern audience, you might have Renfield suffering from AIDS dementia. Syphilitic paresia was the original subtext.

In Victorian times, Dracula attacking Mina Harker in the Harker bedroom was enough, but a modern version should probably show Dracula naked (the clothes don't come through the door when he does the misty thing?) And so on and so forth.

Harker's decision to join Mina as a vampire was equivalent to forgiving an unfaithful wife who contracted syphilis. (I gather this is a kind of wishful projection on Bram Stoker's part?) The incredibly inept Coppola version of course made sure to make Harker unfaithful first, for some reason. Assuming they bothered with reasons, that is.

The thing is, the kinds of transgressiveness that propelled the horror in the 1890s simply are not going to resonate the same way now. Nonetheless vampires are about kinky sex. Hence the barely concealed admiration.

[Temis the Vorta]

A bit more info on AMC's Area 51.

Produced by Gale Ann Hurd, basically an insiders version of The X-Files or Dark Skies set in the 1950-60s. Sounds good so far...

[CorporalCaptain]

^ Yay (so far)!

[Samaritan]

http://www.deadline.com/2012/07/abc-...med-tv-series/

A TV Series Set In Marvel’s Avengers World?

...the project is in a nascent stage, described as “a kernel of an idea,”

http://www.ksitetv.com/general-tv-ne...rs-world/15414

The article mentions that it “may not include characters from the Joss Whedon blockbuster” but that it would be set in the same world. One of the ideas suggested is a “high-concept cop show.” (Power Man and Iron Fist?)

Why not?

[Temis the Vorta]

I vote for a TV show based on Doctor Strange or the Sub-Mariner! Blow that budget thru the roof!

Or, how about giving us more of Captain America in WWII? Part superhero series, part period drama set in the 40s, part war story.

[DWF]

Temis the Vorta wrote:

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I vote for a TV show based on Doctor Strange or the Sub-Mariner! Blow that budget thru the roof!

Why would it blow the budget though the roof? CBS did a relatively cheap Dr. Strange pilot in the late '70s and Man From Atlantis was pretty close to Namor. With tody's visual effects they can do alot more for less money than they did in the '70s. Smallville was able to do things with Clark's powers that we still have to yet on the big screen.

[Greg Cox]

I still think "Deadman" is ideal for TV. It's "Ghost" meets "The Fugitive" meets "Quantum Leap."

Each week Boston Brand jumps into somebody else's body (and life) while trying to track down his own killer . . . .

(You'd probably want to ditch the bright red circus costume, though.)

[Enterprise is Great]

CW Eyes 'Hunger Games'-Esque Japanese Feature 'Battle Royale'

The youth-focused network is exploring rights to the 2000 Japanese feature film Battle Royale, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.

The controversial movie, which like Hunger Games, is set in a dystopian future in which high school students are forced to fight one another to the death and are based on Koushun Takumi's novel of the same name.

[Samaritan]

Enterprise is Great wrote:

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CW Eyes 'Hunger Games'-Esque Japanese Feature 'Battle Royale'

Weren't they trying to do this with 'The Selection'?

http://www.thewrap.com/tv/article/cw...36932?page=0,1

[Goji]

As a fan of the original movie and novel, seeing it described in that way feels a bit like if you said "Jaws" is "Deep Blue Sea-esque". Not that the CW could handle the subject matter even if it was ridiculously toned down.

[Caliburn24]

I think you could set up an interesting and reasonably priced show following some lower-level SHIELD operatives as they poke around in the Marvel movie universe policing up Hydra or Chitauri weapons and keeping other dangerous artifacts and technology out of the wrong hands. Maybe set up the backstories of some lesser known heroes and villains.

Marvel Studios wanting to get involved in television is really pretty cool.

[FreezeC77]

I find it hilariously awesome that Hunger Games ripped off Battle Royale and now to bring it to TV they're going to use Battle Royale to cash in on the fame of Hunger Games.

[Bob The Skutter]

Why do people always think something had to have ripped off something else? DS9 ripped off B5, Deep Impact ripped off Armageddon, Hunger Games ripped off Battle Royale. It is possible for 2 people to have similar ideas that are unconnected to each other.

[Christopher]

Caliburn24 wrote:

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I think you could set up an interesting and reasonably priced show following some lower-level SHIELD operatives as they poke around in the Marvel movie universe policing up Hydra or Chitauri weapons and keeping other dangerous artifacts and technology out of the wrong hands. Maybe set up the backstories of some lesser known heroes and villains.

I've often thought Phil Coulson, Agent of SHIELD would be a natural for a TV series. But I guess that's off the table now.

[DWF]

Christopher wrote:

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I've often thought Phil Coulson, Agent of SHIELD would be a natural for a TV series. But I guess that's off the table now.

Maybe, maybe not. Still they could always bring Clay Quartermain back.