sf/f TV development news - 2013

[Temis the Vorta]

Highlander quasi-knockoff at NBC.

Bloodline, which reflects Graziano’s love of pulp, graphic novels and ancient mythology, is a contemporary pulp action thriller which follows the story of Bird Benson, a young woman abandoned at birth by an ancient line of mercenaries, brigands and killers. Bird must learn to defeat her own mother in armed combat if she ever wants to lead a normal life.

[Kegg]

I see he worked on Terra Nova and Awake both of which had some promise, and it's not the worst idea for a TV show (although I note the description doesn't actually contain any specific supernatural elements, so there's a possibiltiy the program isn't SFF).

[Temis the Vorta]

I figured if the guy is interested in mythology, it's inevitable...

[sojourner]

That doesn't sound anything like Highlander to me.

[Sindatur]

sojourner wrote:

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That doesn't sound anything like Highlander to me.

It sounds like it might fulfill the "There can be only One", but, yea no indication of Immortality or Supernaturalness.

[JD]

Yeah, I'm not seeing it either based on that description.

[Temis the Vorta]

It reminded me more of Highlander than anything else, and it definitely reminds me of something...ancient secret society...single combat...maybe Buffy?

But mainly I was just counting on you guys to help bump the thread.

[Temis the Vorta]

CBS orders Stephen King adaptation, Under the Dome.

A big depature for CBS, if it goes to series. I wonder if their ratings drop this season has finally motivqted them to stop relying on their aging cop show audience. That can't last forever...

The show was originally being developed for Showtime.

In a departure from its signature drama procedurals, CBS has given a 13-episode straight-to-series order to Steven Spielberg and Stephen King’s Under the Dome, a drama based on King’s bestselling 2009 novel, which will be produced by Spielberg’s Amblin Television. The series will air next summer which will mark CBS’ biggest effort with original scripted fare in the off-season in years with Under The Dome and Unforgettable. Under the Dome tells the story of a small New England town that is suddenly and inexplicably sealed off from the rest of the world by an enormous transparent dome. The town’s inhabitants must deal with surviving the post-apocalyptic conditions while searching for answers to what this barrier is, where it came from and if and when it will go away.

[Borgminister]

Sounds like a potential yawner, just like the deteriorating Revolution...

[sojourner]

I actually think Revolution has improved since it premiered. That's not saying much, but it's gotten good enough that I'll continue to watch it for now.

[AviTrek]

Temis the Vorta wrote:

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CBS orders Stephen King adaptation, Under the Dome.

A big depature for CBS, if it goes to series. I wonder if their ratings drop this season has finally motivqted them to stop relying on their aging cop show audience. That can't last forever...

The show was originally being developed for Showtime.

Its already been ordered straight to series. The real question is how will it do? Of course if this bombs over the summer, then it will further discourage CBS from future sci if productions.

[Temis the Vorta]

Yeah, this is a huge risk for CBS, they have high standards for ratings, and the premise is an odd one for their usual audience to buy into, but the way things are going, maybe their standards will deteriorate before this premieres?

CW planning Wonder Woman series?

UPDATE: No reason for panic, Wonder Woman fans. While the warrior princess character is listed on the breakdown as Iris, not Diana, I’ve confirmed that, as writer Allan Heinberg hinted on Twitter after I posted the story, that is just a code name the producers used to avoid attention. So much for that…

...

On the breakdown I’ve obtained, her name is Iris (not Diana). “Iris comes from a remote, secluded country and until now has spent most of her life as a soldier and a leader on the battlefield. Because of relentless brutality of her life at home, Iris looks at our world with absolute awe and astonishment. She’s delighted *and just as often horrified * by the aspects of everyday life that we take for granted: skyscrapers, traffic, ice cream. It’s all new and fascinating and sometimes slightly troubling *to her. Iris is completely unschooled in our world, our culture, our customs. And she’s completely inexperienced at interpersonal relationships. She has no social filter, does not suffer fools, and tends to do and say exactly what’s on her mind at all times. She’s bluntly, refreshingly honest. She can tell when you’re lying to her. And she doesn’t have time or patience for politics or tact because she’s too busy trying to experience everything our world has to offer. There are too many sights to see *and things to learn *and people to care for. Hers is a true, noble, and generous heart. And she will fight and die for the people she loves. Iris is a fierce warrior with the innocent heart of a romantic *and she will fight to the death to make the world safe for innocents and true romantics everywhere.”

Avoid attention? Yeah right. It's WINO I tell ya!

[Enterprise is Great]

ABC Orders Paranormal Investigation Drama Series ‘Weird Desk’ For Next
Summer

he network has given a
13-episode straight-to-series order to mystery supernatural/UFO drama Weird Desk for next summer. The show hails from Christina Jennings’ Canadian production company Shaftesbury, which has an U.S. division.

Written by Carl Binder (Stargate) and David Titcher (The Librarian), Weird Desk is in the vein of The X Files. Based on the alleged real-life mysteries from this world and beyond, it centers on the workings of a clandestine organization rumored to be named “Weird Desk.” Working above the levels of top secret and above the office of the President, the unit is the destination for mysterious intelligence rerouted from the CIA and NSA. Tasked with investigating and solving occurrences of the paranormal, supernatural and sometimes extra-terrestrial, “Weird Desk” is led by Morgan, an obstinate, socially inept and brilliant man who would now be dead if it weren’t for his special forces trained partner, Rosetta.

[DarthTom]

^^^ Good lord, have some writers/producers/network executives lost any sense of originality? Why don't they name the characters Murey and Stephine too?

[Christopher]

DarthTom wrote:

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^^^ Good lord, have some writers/producers/network executives lost any sense of originality?

Every story or format has been done before. Originality is in the execution -- in the characters, the style, the quality of the writing, etc.

That said, this tidbit isn't enough to get me interested in the show. But of course they're not going to reveal any details at this stage.