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.
There are no signs yet of the bubble bursting on the Too-Much-TV era as production continues to move full steam ahead. The previously reported A Midsummer Nightmare has received a pilot order from Lifetime and below are eight more projects in the works to join everything else currently in the pipeline.
Brave New World
Network: Syfy
Production Team: Grant Morrison (Writer / Executive Producer), Bryan Taylor (Writer / Executive Producer)
Status: In Development
About: This will be an adaptation of Aldous Huxley’s infamous dystopian novel. Source: Deadline Hollywood
Comments: This will be a mini-series adaptation of the book, but it is not clear if it is intended as a possible launching point for an ongoing series or a stand alone project like Syfy’s adaptation of Arthur C. Clarke’s Childhood’s End. Brave New World was previously adapted for television in 1980 and in 1998.
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Happy!
Network: Syfy
Production Team: Grant Morrison (Writer / Executive Producer), Bryan Taylor (Writer / Executive Producer)
Status: In Development
About: “This grimy crime black comedy features Nick Sax, a corrupt, intoxicated, ex-cop turned hit-man adrift in a twilight world of casual murder, soulless sex and betrayal. After a hit goes wrong, Nick finds a bullet in his side, the cops and the mob on his tail and a monstrous killer in a Santa suit on the loose. But his world is about to be changed forever by Happy, a tiny (imaginary) blue winged horse with a relentlessly positive attitude.” Source: Deadline Hollywood
Comments: This is based on the Grant Morrison graphic novel and comes from the same duo working on Syfy’s adaptation of Brave New World. The network will likely be considering this for their schedule at some point in 2017.
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Handmaid’s Tale
Network: Hulu
Production Team: Bruce Miller (Writer / Executive Producer), Warren Littlefield (Writer / Executive Producer), Daniel Wilson (Writer / Executive Producer)
Status: In Production
Starring: Elisabeth Moss, Joseph Fiennes
About: “The series tells the story of life in the dystopia of Gilead, a totalitarian society in what was formerly part of the United States. Facing environmental disasters and a plunging birthrate, Gilead is ruled by a twisted fundamentalism that treats women as property of the state. As one of the few remaining fertile women, Offred (Moss) is a Handmaid in the Commander’s household, one of the caste of women forced into sexual servitude as a last desperate attempt to repopulate a devastated world. In this terrifying society where one wrong word could end her life, Offred navigates between Commanders, their cruel Wives, domestic Marthas, and her fellow Handmaids – where anyone could be a spy for Gilead – all with one goal: to survive and find the daughter that was taken from her.” Source: Deadline Hollywood
Comments: Hulu has placed a straight to series order for this project based on the Margaret Atwood book of the same name which was previously adapted to the big screen in 1990. It is unclear if this is intended as an ongoing series or a mini-series like the network’s adaptation of Stephen King’s 11/22/63.
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Lost Boys
Network: The CW
Production Team: Rob Thomas (Writer / Executive Producer), Gulfstream TV (Production Company)
Status: In Development
About: “Envisioned for a seven-season, anthology-style run, the series will tell a story spanning 70 years, each season chronicling a decade. Season 1 will be set in San Francisco during the Summer of Love, 1967. Each season, the humans, the setting, the antagonist and the story all change — only the vampires, our Lost Boys, who like the Peter Pan characters never grow up, remain the same.” Source: Deadline Hollywood
Comments: This comes from Rob Thomas (Veronica Mars, iZombie) and is based on the Lost Boys movie. The CW will be looking at adding this to their schedule at some point in 2017.
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Rise
Network: The CW
Production Team: Julie Plec (Creator / Executive Producer), Chad Fiveash (Writer/ Executive Producer), James Stoteraux (Writer/ Executive Producer)
Status: In Development
About: “The drama is set in the aftermath of a terrorist attack, when martial law has been declared, and will follow a disparate group of people who start to uncover that the attack may have been a cover-up. Source: The Wrap
Comments: This sound very similar to Plec’s Containment from the 2015-16 season which was kicked to the curb by The CW before it even debuted (more on that at this link). Maybe they will give this one more of a chance and will look at getting in on the schedule at some point in 2017.
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Motherland
Network: Freeform
Production Team: Eliot Laurence (Writer / Executive Produer), Adam McKay (Executive Produer), Will Ferrell (Executive Produer)
Status: In Development
About: “Motherland is described as an epic military fantasy set in an alternate America where witches ended their persecution 300 years ago by cutting a deal with the U.S. government to fight for their country. The project is set in contemporary times where young women conscript at 18 and receive basic training in combat magic at a base called Fort Salem. The show follows three young women from basic into early deployment. In this world, the traditional roles of gender and power are flipped. Women are on the front lines fighting looming terrorist threats that are familiar to our world, but their tactics and weapons are supernatural.” Source: Deadline Hollywood
Comments: Freeform will be looking to add this to their 2017 schedule at some point.
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Runaways
Network: Hulu
Production Team: Josh Schwartz (Writer / Executive Producer), Stephanie Savage (Writer / Executive Producer)
Status: In Development
About: “Every teenager thinks their parents are evil. What if you found out they actually were? “Marvel’s Runaways” is the story of six diverse teenagers who can barely stand each other but who must unite against a common foe–their parents.” Source: Marvel.com
Comments: Looks like Hulu has decided to get into the superhero game and will likely make this available for streaming at some point in 2017.
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Singularity
Network: FX
Production Team: Sonny Lee (Creator / Executive Producer), Seth Rogen, (Executive Producer), Evan Goldberg (Executive Producer)
Status: Pilot Ordered
About: “The comedy is set in a future when artificial intelligence greatly surpasses human intelligence, resulting in profound changes to our society. The comedy is said to be similar in tone to Rogen and Goldberg’s disaster movie This Is the End. Source: Deadline Hollywood
Comments: FX will be looking at this comedy as a possible add to their schedule in 2017.
