Sci Fi TV Development: FOX Wants to Believe in an X-Files Revival, The CW Eyes More DC Shows and Maybe Star Trek?

News, updates, and (mostly viable) rumors relating to development of science fiction / fantasy television productions. If you have tips or more info on these or other productions, please pass them along in the comments.

As I mentioned in my last post, there was not much in the way of development announcements over the holiday season.  But now with the TCAs (meetings with the Television Critics Association) underway, there is plenty of news flying around out there including a couple of potentially big revivals (though they seem like longshots):

New Development:

The X-Files – Apparently FOX wants to believe again as they mentioned the possibility of a revival of this classic series at the TCAs. The network’s CEO Gary Newman had this to say: “It’s true that we’ve had some conversations on X-Files. We’re hopeful of being able to bring that back at some point.” He did mention that the logistics would be tricky because they want David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson onboard as well as series creator Chris Carter, and all are currently busy with other shows. If the revival were to happen, it’s not clear whether it would be a limited series like the network has done with the 24 revival or if they would target it for an ongoing run. Personally, I believe that the former option would be the better one because the show did grow long in the tooth during its nine year run. But then it didn’t get the conclusion that fans really wanted and the second feature film was a disappointment, so there is still some material that can be mined from this property. At this point, it is wait and see on this one.

The Atom and The Vixen – The CW has a bonafide hit this season with Arrow spin-off The Flash and looks to be dipping into the DC well a couple more times.  There are initial talks about an Atom spin-off as the Ray Palmer character as already been introduced on Arrow.  And there are also talks about an animated series starring The Vixen that would exist in the same universe as these other characters.  Early plans were mentioned at  the TCAs, but nothing firm has moved forward yet.

Star Trek on The CW – Also at the TCAs, CW President Mark Pedowitz expressed an interest in doing a Star Trek series if the property “were to become available”.  There was no indication, though, that the network was actively pursuing a new Trek series and this was likely just wishful thinking on the part of Pedowitz.  But we can hope . . .

Carnival Row – This project from Guillermo del Toro that was previously planned as a feature film will be coming to Amazon Instant Video later this year.  According to Entertainment Weekly, the series “is set in a fantasy city inhabited by humans, fairies, elves and vampires. It centers on a detective who finds himself at the center of an investigation into the murder of these mythical creatures.”  Del Toro will direct the pilot in Spring and the streaming service will likely offer it for preview later in the year.

51st State – Syfy continues to move forward with aggressive genre development and announced this series at the TCAs.  Deadline Hollywood explains the premise of the show:

As 51st State unfolds, the United States, confronting a prison population stretched to the limit, purchases Greenland and converts it into a frontier prison colony with male and female convicts incarcerated together. Promised conditional freedom, the inmates are driven to the edge of their humanity when that promise is broken, along with others. Struggling to seize control and exact revenge, reluctant heroes emerge — but what exactly are they fighting for?

This would likely be targeted for late 2015 or early 2016.

Spin – Another development project that Syfy has in the works is a mini-series based on Robert Charles Wilson’s Hugo Award-winning novel.  According to Deadline Hollywood: “the book centers on a young scientist trying to save humanity from the impending apocalypse of a mysterious, impenetrable cloud that has enveloped the entire Earth, blacking out the stars.”  This one would also be looking at late 2015 or early 2016 to hit the network’s schedule.

Warrior – NBC has ordered a pilot for this fantasy series.  According to Deadline Hollywood, the show “is set in a grounded, contemporary multicultural and sometimes magical milieu where a damaged heroine works undercover with physical and spiritual guidance from a mysterious martial arts master to bring down an international crime lord.”  It will likely be considered as a an entry for the Fall 2015 season.

Updates:

Ash vs Evil Dead – This previously announced series from Starz is moving forward.  According to that network’s president, it should be hitting the small screen by the end of the year.  Ten thirty minute episodes have been ordered and fan favorite Bruce Campbell will be reprising his role as Ash.

Minority Report – FOX has ordered a pilot for this previously announced series.  It will act as a sequel to the big screen adaptation of Phillip K. Dick’s story and Journeyman‘s Kevin Falls will be coming aboard as showrunner.  The series will likely air in Fall 2015 if picked up.

Heroes Reborn – There has been little word on this long-gestating continuation of NBC’s Heroes, but the TCAs brought out the announcement that former Chuck star Zack Levi will be joining the series in a “key” role.  Production has not begun on the limited-run thirteen episode series yet, and it currently looks like it will not hit the air until Summer at the earliest or more likely in Fall 2015.