'Terra Nova' dinosaur series on Fox from Spielberg

[jefferiestubes8]

no this has nothing to do with the ENT episode Terra Nova from 2001 of the same name.

Steven Spielberg is playing around with dinosaurs again. His new television show, which he's calling Terra Nova, puts him in the directors chair,

But this project promises to have such "elaborate FX" that rumor has it, "there's been talk of greenlighting it directly to series production rather than a pilot because it would be too expensive to shut down and start up again during the downtime between pilot and episodic production."

http://io9.com/5475042/spielberg-is-creating-a-time-traveling-dino+drama
via Variety

 

[FluffyUnbound]

I wonder what the focus of this show would be - as awesome as it is, when you get right down to it, in Jurassic Park the characters are just surrogate sightseers, moving around so the audience can see everything they're supposed to see. The Crichton "technology and chaos theory" plot is dealt with perfunctorily. And the problem is that it's hard to build a show around, "Please walk around so I can show the audience cool dinosaurs."

 

[drasche]

I wonder if the dinosaurs will look like lizards or giant birds, given the recent discoveries in that field.

 

[Gojira]

I wonder if the dinosaurs will look like lizards or giant birds, given the recent discoveries in that field.

I wonder that myself. Do you think Speilberg would gives us a 20th anniversary addition of JP with updated raptors that are more bird like? I doubt it but that would be cool.

 

[Dick Whitman]

Spielberg track record with television is that he is not that hands on in these things. In numerous books about him its been suggested its limited their success. It would have been natural for him to host Amazing Stories. Also he never even appeared in that reality show for young directors he produced.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

no this has nothing to do with the ENT episode Terra Nova from 2001 of the same name.

Not the first thing that crossed my mind...

Steven Spielberg is playing around with dinosaurs again. His new television show, which he's calling Terra Nova, puts him in the directors chair,

But this project promises to have such "elaborate FX" that rumor has it, "there's been talk of greenlighting it directly to series production rather than a pilot because it would be too expensive to shut down and start up again during the downtime between pilot and episodic production."

http://io9.com/5475042/spielberg-is-creating-a-time-traveling-dino+drama
via Variety

The series is too big to fail! Will this require a network bailout?

 

[tharpdevenport]

I wonder if the dinosaurs will look like lizards or giant birds, given the recent discoveries in that field.

consider that there are many species of one animal now, just like there was back then, and color variation and hair or lack thereof, is common.



I only hope this is set in the Jurassic Park universe, that way there's no need for explinations and bull, just get to the point, 'cause the common viewers would already know the backdrop. And it leaves open the potential for any of the actors from the films to pop in for cameos.

 

[Vendikarr]

The Variety article says Fox is trying to get Spielberg interested in their series. The I09 article makes it sound like it's Spielberg bringing the show to Fox.

I'm not a big fan of I09, they always tend to distort or sensationalize their stuff.

 

[Mysterion]

No, the re-issue of jurrasic Park will have the velociraptors CGI'ed to look like walkie-talkies. Because that's not as violent.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

And the problem is that it's hard to build a show around, "Please walk around so I can show the audience cool dinosaurs."

Why not base it on the problems of running a dino-zoo as a business? Sure, it may seem like a license to print money but it's gotta be pretty crazy if you really tried it. The business would the central organizing principle of the drama like the oil biz was in Dallas - posing some of the dilemmas that the characters face - plus all the interpersonal stuff we'd expect from any show.

 

[Trent Roman]

^ Don't know if just a business show would really catch my interest (I'm not familiar with Dallas), but perhaps if it was dirty business...

The new Park is built on the mainland, in Central America (already linked in the franchise). It was allowed to come about and continue to operate in part thanks to corrupt government officials, and the parc money is once again destabilizing local politics in some made-up republic only twenty years out from their last coup. Local people are torn; they simultaneously resent the presence of the parc, the specialized labour force which was imported in, and all the tourists and social ills they bring, even as they realize the influx of money and low-skill jobs it has brought about. Perhaps safety standards are not up to snuff when it comes to cheap, local labour? Location allows parc bosses to bribe inspectors and cut corners; in particular, they can, in secret, breed the more dangerous animals on the United Nations' Do-Not-Clone list for 'special' paying clients. Maybe also a ban on hunting dinosaurs, which the 'special' clients can circumvent? Bring in some outsiders, too; perhaps an antholopogist/environmentalist concerned about the impact of the parc (oddly bird-like footprints turning up where they shouldn't, as they inevitably must), maybe more radical PETA-type activists looking to free the dinosaurs from bondage (and hunting) and generally causing trouble. And, of course, espionnage--both from rival corporations seeking to end InGen's dino monopoly (an opportunity to bring in Biosyn from the books/tie-in to the first film and Dennis Nedry) and governments interested in the military applications that dropping a couple of raptors or a rex into enemy territory could yeild. And, of course, the dinos themselves, and everything that comes from a zoo/amusement parc populated by animals we have no experience with.

...when is this show starting?

Fictitiously yours, Trent Roman

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Yeah, I'd put the environmental and ethical issues of the business up against the astounding profit potential. Greed trumps morality, it's an old story and surprisingly durable. The dinos are just for eye candy. You could tell this story with a gumball manufacturing company.

PS, Dallas was mainly a soap about interconnected, squabbling families. The oil biz played the role of giving them lots of money and power and something to fight over - same role the dinos would play. But a drama about business as business would be boring. It's gotta be about crazy-ass, larger than life people driven by something, whether they are crusading PETA types or greedy corporate bastards.

Holy crap! Remember the implication from the movie that the Velociraptors were highly intelligent and socially organized? What if they were about the same intelligence as, say, dolphins? Could they actually become characters in their own right? That would be fun, to see a sci fi series about an "alien species" that might not have human intelligence as we define it, but has something that makes them more than just background scenery and occasional threats. How would we deal with animals who in intellect and social development are more than "just animals"?

 

[hyzmarca]

I'm of the poinion that if you're going to make a serious dramatic TV show about dinosaurs then those dinosaurs should fight crime.

Hence this should be a show about an elite squad of police officers who are partnered with cyberneticly-enhanced velociraptors in much the same way that modern K9 units have elite cops who are partnered with dogs.

 

[Dick Whitman]

That's absurd.

Ok put the words Law & Order or CSI in the title and it will be a huge hit!

 

[Sisko_is_my_captain]

How about the velociraptors won't eat anything except LIVE PEOPLE!! so the Park owners are secretly feeding them illegal immigrants and street people so they can turn a buck.

 

[melancholymecha]

That would be fun, to see a sci fi series about an "alien species" that might not have human intelligence as we define it, but has something that makes them more than just background scenery and occasional threats. How would we deal with animals who in intellect and social development are more than "just animals"?

I would love something like that. I loved the bit at the end of JP 3(which many seem to hate) where the lead raptor scolds his hasty subordinate who appears to want to waste Sam Neil & pals, & instead he instructs the pack to take the eggs & let the humans go... a bit silly... maybe... but I liked it.

something tells me this could be a very aweome show... but b/c its Fox it will not end well(or last long).

 

[Samurai8472]

So Spielberg saw Primeval ?

 

[RoJoHen]

And the problem is that it's hard to build a show around, "Please walk around so I can show the audience cool dinosaurs."

Why not base it on the problems of running a dino-zoo as a business? Sure, it may seem like a license to print money but it's gotta be pretty crazy if you really tried it. The business would the central organizing principle of the drama like the oil biz was in Dallas - posing some of the dilemmas that the characters face - plus all the interpersonal stuff we'd expect from any show.

You would probably need some sort of highly-evolved velociraptor on the team...with glasses and a doctor coat.

 

[Trent Roman]

You would probably need some sort of highly-evolved velociraptor on the team...with glasses and a doctor coat.

We could call him Dr. Ree...

Fictitiously yours, Trent Roman

 

[Mark_Nguyen]

Wasn't there a dinosaur cop show on a few years back? With Jack from 30 Rock? And Jack from The Hunt For Red October?

Mark