future medicine drama from HBO

[Temis the Vorta]

Sci fi in development at HBO.

Whaddya think sports fans? Is the idea of future medicine just a DOA concept for a TV show, since the medicine has to be so out-there that the relatability factor that is crucial to making doctor shows so popular becomes lost?

OTOH, ironically enough, this does not sound like Gray's Anatomy in Space...more like an Outbreak style thriller...and it's being developed by X-Files exec producer, Frank Spotnitz.

Nice to see HBO finally showing some interest in sci fi.

"Humanitas" is described as being set in a time when major advances in medicine have created dilemmas for doctors and fanned fears that a devastating pandemic is imminent.

....

HBO suggested it was interested in a show with a medical-thriller theme when Spotnitz met with execs there more than a year ago. That set him off on research about the cutting edge of medicine and the ethical and moral dilemmas raised by science's ever-advancing ability to manipulate genetics, which forms the heart of the show

He's also adapting for HBO a smallscreen rendition of Robert Silverberg's famed 1971 sci-fi novel "The World Inside." Book revolves around a grim vision of the future where overpopulation has run amok, and people live in carefully controlled urban centers where frustration and anger are eliminated, sex is rampant and fertility is the most prized human attribute.

 

[Harvey]

Both could be interesting. I'd love to see what Spotnitz can write on his own with HBO's level of creative freedom.

 

[bigdaddy]

Being on HBO both will become hits but due to costs will be canceled after 2 seasons.

 

[Harvey]

Based on what, Carnivale, a show that was prohibitively expensive and a nightmare for Home Box Office behind the scenes?

Neither of these concepts seem like they would be as expensive as a period piece with a troubled production history.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Mercy Point didn't last, so I don't know why this would...

Although The World Inside does sound cool, it doesn't seem like the small screen could do it justice...

 

[Alidar Jarok]

Being on HBO both will become hits but due to costs will be canceled after 2 seasons.

Well, I know Rome was that case, but they did go all out for that show. The Wire, on the other hand, lasted 5 seasons. I don't think the cost for this show would be exorbitant, since it seems to be set into the near future, not the distant future.

Anyway, the premise seems like it could be very compelling. This seems like something well-suited for HBO and will hopefully have a slowly developing storyline that builds up into something big. There could also just be some Crichton-esque morality pieces on doing scientific breakthroughs because we can without thinking if we should. I'm trying to figure out just how they're planning to do this. Will there be standalone episodes, one solid story, or a sort of hybrid? Hybrid seems likely given the X-Files connection, but I'm hoping for one single story (with character arc sideplots of medical personnel).