“Outcasts” scifi BBC America 8-part series

[jefferiestubes8]

“Outcasts” is set in 2040 on a recently discovered planet that houses the surviving population from Earth. The series begins on the day the last known transporter from Earth arrives.

BBC America is co-producing the high-concept drama “Outcasts” with Kudos Film & Television (“Life on Mars,” “Hustle”) and the BBC.

Created by Ben Richards (“MI-5”), the series stars Eric Mabius (“Ugly Betty”), Liam Cunningham (“Clash of the Titans”) and Hermione Norris (“Wire in the Blood”). Also featured are Jamie Bamber (“Battlestar Galactica”), Daniel Mays (“The Bank Job”) and Amy Mason (“Torchwood”).

Eight hourlong episodes are in production in South Africa.

http://www.thewrap.com/television/column-post/bret-michaels-back-and-vh1s-got-him-17460

This idea sounds similar to the CW pilot
"Plymouth Rock" series on CW for 2010

 

[jefferiestubes8]

soft-sci fi? & concept info

The concept: Earth is no longer habitable so a group of survivors are relocating to a planet called Carpathia (the name of the ship that arrived to rescue the Titanic passengers). The story revolves around whether the survivors bring with them the political, ecological and social dynamics that destroyed Earth, and whether the native inhabitants of Carpathia are friendly to the "invaders."

The series is in production in South Africa for debut on the channel late this year.

TCA: BBC America Goes 'Soft-Sci' With 'Outcasts'

also thanks for this Temis the Vorta:
Why Outcasts is Star Trek + BSG (it's more than just Jamie Bamber)
http://blastr.com/2010/08/why-outcasts-is-star-trek-bsg-its-more-than-just-jamie-bamber.php

originally mentioned in this other thread:
Outcasts (Autumn BBC)

 

[Temis the Vorta]

The story revolves around whether the survivors bring with them the political, ecological and social dynamics that destroyed Earth,

Urk. This is gonna be a naggy politically correct drag, isn't it?

I want a) spaceships b) space c) FUN! Wake me up when somebody delivers.

 

[Mistral]

Interested. Keep me posted.

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

Sounds like politically correct nuBBC fare (and perhaps an Earth 2 rip-off). Not holding out much hope for this one.

 

[jefferiestubes8]

Re: “Outcasts” cast

cast:

Julius Berger (Eric Mabius) was Vice President of the Evacuation Program on Earth, instrumental in leading the evacuation to Carpathia. Berger is en route to the new planet on board transporter CT9, expecting the power and status he enjoyed on Earth.

President Richard Tate (Liam Cunningham) runs Carpathia and is dedicated to keeping the human species alive. He is a fair and respected leader who is determined to run the planet in a democratic way, yet he has made some tough decisions in the past which may prove divisive.

Stella Isen (Hermione Norris) is President Tate’s second in command. She is Head of Protection and Security (PAS), the faculty that aims to maintain order on the new planet. She has sacrificed everything to save humanity, and desperately misses those she left behind on Earth.

Cass Cromwell (Daniel Mays) is a PAS Officer who is unpredictable and fiercely loyal to Tate. His loyalty may have led him to take actions he now regrets, and there are hints his past may be very different to his life now on Carpathia – but he is proud of his new home and keen to maintain it.

Fleur Morgan (Amy Manson) is a young, bright and idealistic PAS Officer, who works closely with Cass Cromwell. She has found her stride on Carpathia and fights hard to protect what they’ve worked for. She has a great working relationship with Cass. Will it develop into something more?

Mitchell Hoban (Jamie Bamber) is Head of the Expeditionaries. Progressive and ambitious, he is frustrated at the established order and has his own ideas as to how the planet should be run.

Jack Holt (Ashley Walters) is second in command of the Expeditionaries, a group of courageous men who explore their new planet and bring back vital information about its landscape and conditions. Jack is tough, armed and potentially dangerous.

Rudi (Langley Kirkwood) is leader of the Advanced Cultivars, a group of genetically modified humans and one of Carpathia’s darkest secrets. Angered at the way they have been treated, Rudi is capable of exacting revenge on the people of Forthaven.

Lily Isen (Jeanne Kietzmann) is Stella’s daughter, who Stella had to leave behind on Earth when she came to Carpathia. Lost and troubled, Jeanne seeks answers.

http://www.daemonstv.com/2010/08/12/outcasts-bbc-america-with-jamie-bamber-and-eric-mabius/

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Jamie Bamber? Does this mean he's not on Law & Order: UK anymore?

 

[Bob The Skutter]

Jamie Bamber? Does this mean he's not on Law & Order: UK anymore?

No, he's still in Law & Order UK, 12 more episodes have been made already as far as I'm aware, and will probably be split in two again so there'll be plenty of down time between series.

 

[jefferiestubes8]

18 June on BBCAmerica

8 episodes.

The series takes viewers into a new world as it explores survival, sex, politics and the drive for power in a new post-Earth era. Shot in South Africa and created by Ben Richards (MI-5)

(the day following the final episode), the BBC confirmed that Outcasts had been cancelled, and that there would be no second series.[24]


USA BBC America 18 June 2011 900PM

I am still looking forward to seeing this show seeing as it is scifi that in the trailer actually has characters on a spaceship.

official BBCA press listing
http://press.bbcamerica.com/program.jsp?id=16157

and here is the trailer in 1080p:
Outcasts - Series Trailer - BBC One

and a 1:30 length trailer:
http://videos.bbcamerica.com/category/970265095001/Outcasts/956097845001/Outcasts/
a scene inside the command area. high tech. good production values.

I've resisted reading the thread about the discussion of the season for no spoilers.

Who else is waiting for this on BBCAmerica ?

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Meh, sounds like a flooperoonie. Plus the story's never had the chance to go anywhere. Pass.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

Started off a bit slow, and flopped, was cancelled, which is a shame because it ended up being a decent show with a lot of potential.

 

[ITL]

It had promise and some good ideas, but dragged it's heels and didn't really go anywhere. Overall it gets a big fat "meh" from me.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

It had promise and some good ideas, but dragged it's heels and didn't really go anywhere. Overall it gets a big fat "meh" from me.

How dare you, sir. It was a the best show to be made ever...

Nah, I can see why it wasn't well received, it certainly had it's problems. But I think it was actually pretty good once it got past the first few episodes.

 

[Starkers]

Ironically I think it was just the first episode that was the poor one, but it had a lot to set up. I can accept people who watched the whole thing and didn't like it, but for some reason a whole tranche of fandom just seemed to give up on it and lay into it after just one episode. It's like writing the entire of Nu Who off just because "Rose" (episode not character) was a bit shit!

 

[saturn5]

It rather reminded me of Firefly but without the class, it really was a massive flop in the UK

 

[Bob The Skutter]

Ironically I think it was just the first episode that was the poor one, but it had a lot to set up. I can accept people who watched the whole thing and didn't like it, but for some reason a whole tranche of fandom just seemed to give up on it and lay into it after just one episode. It's like writing the entire of Nu Who off just because "Rose" (episode not character) was a bit shit!

I still think the "It's not sci-fi because it's about people" shite that they pulled before it started airing.

 

[Starkers]

Ironically I think it was just the first episode that was the poor one, but it had a lot to set up. I can accept people who watched the whole thing and didn't like it, but for some reason a whole tranche of fandom just seemed to give up on it and lay into it after just one episode. It's like writing the entire of Nu Who off just because "Rose" (episode not character) was a bit shit!

I still think the "It's not sci-fi because it's about people" shite that they pulled before it started airing.

Yeah that didn't help, but fandom shouldn't write a show off for those reasons.

It was flawed, quite ropy in places, but the central core of the story was very good, it was exceptionally well cast and you could see where the budget went, I think in some ways it was just too ambitious, and also maybe needed a bit more work before they actually started filming.

But it tried to be grown up, which people took against it for (much as with SGU, only BSG is allowed to be dark and gritty apparently) and despite people complaining because there were many science fiction elements in the first episode, a whole heap of interesting story lines were in place by the end, but for whatever reason a lot of people didn't have the patience to wait.

 

[Angel4576]

I'd say it was a 7/10 series.

Certainly had potential, and some of the strands of the story were intruiging.

Sadly, there were certain other elements that were very predictable.

It's a shame that they didn't get another series to hone the story further, but ultimately, given its performance cancellation was always going to be a formality.

 

[FordSVT]

It had promise and some good ideas, but dragged it's heels and didn't really go anywhere. Overall it gets a big fat "meh" from me.

How dare you, sir. It was a the best show to be made ever...

Nah, I can see why it wasn't well received, it certainly had it's problems. But I think it was actually pretty good once it got past the first few episodes.

Yeah, I hear that a lot when series get cancelled, and it's just not excusable anymore. There is so much media out there, if a story isn't interesting enough, and the production isn't good enough to grab me within the first episode or two, it probably doesn't deserve my time. I've never heard of a great movie or a classic book that was excellent "except for the first few chapters/40minutes ".

That doesn't mean there isn't room for average works of entertainment, but even an average series or movie should be able to get me interested from the beginning.

 

[Starkers]

I do understand that, but I can think of plenty of shows over the years that had less than steller beginings. TNG, Babylon 5, DS9 to name three biggies, but I love em all now. It's hard for an opening episode, especially in sci-fi, because you've got to set so much up. That's not to say I haven't given up on shows, but I've always given them a few episodes assuming the premise is interesting enough.

As for the first 40 minutes thing...I can still remember finding the opening 20 minutes of Die Hard boring as hell the first time I saw it, and I've read plenty of novels that its taken me time to get into but which have turned out wonderful.