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.
Not only are development announcements not slowing down, they appear to be in overdrive at this point with eight that I have seen over the past couple of weeks. Add onto that the fact the HBO is mulling a Game of Thrones spin-off, and it appears that the Too-Much-TV-Era continues full speed ahead for sci fi & fantasy shows.
The Dark Tower: Wizard and Glass
Network: No Network Attached Yet
Production Team: Nikolaj Arcel (Director / Executive Producer), Anders Thomas Jensen (Writer / Executive Producer)
Status: Early Development
About: This will be based on the fourth of Stephen King’s Dark Tower books Wizard and Glass and will be tied to the big screen adaptation of the of first book in the series. Source: BirthMoviesDeath.com
Comments: This series is early in the development stage and no network has been attached yet. We have heard previously of Dark Tower TV adaptations in the works and none has surfaced yet, so don’t bank on this one hitting the small screen real soon.
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Merc City
Network: No Network Attached
Production Team: Vin Diesel (Executive Producer), UniversalTV (Studio)
Status: Early Development
About: This will be a spin-off from the Riddick movies that will follow the bounty hunters introduced in that universe. Source: Blastr.com
Comments: This is another one that is early in the development stage and has no network attached. Since UniversalTV is producing it, the show could land at Syfy, NBC, or USA seeing as the studio is affiliated with those networks.
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Girl 10
Network: FOX
Production Team: Ken Woodruff (Writer / Executive Producer), Jessica Alba (Executive Producer)
Status: In Development
About: “Girl 10 is set in the very near future and revolves around Elle, one of only 10 synthetic humans in existence who is being investigated for murder while trying to stop an evil cabal from weaponizing the technology behind artificial intelligence.” Source: THR.com
Comments: FOX has handed out a script commitment on this project and if it moves forward it will be one of the pilots they consider for the 2017-18 schedule
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The Purge
Network: No Network Attached
Production Team: James DeMonaco (Executive Producer)
Status: Early Development
About: This would be a spin-off of The Purge movies and would possibly follow a season-long anthology format. Source: CBR.com
Comments: Still another show very early in the development phase with no network attached.
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Paranormal Event Response Unit
Network: TVNZ 2
Production Team: Taika Waititi (Co-Creator / Executive Producer), Jemaine Clement (Co-Creator / Executive Producer)
Status: In Production
About: This spin-off from What We Do in the Shadows “will follow the two cops that appeared in the hit 2014 mockumentary as they attempt to keep residents of the New Zealand capital safe from supernatural beings.” Source: THR.com
Comments: This series is moving forward for a six episode series set to air in New Zealand. No word yet on whether any U.S. network is looking at importing it for a run in the States.
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Spaced Out
Network: NBC
Production Team: Adam Sztykiel (Creator / Executive Producer), Bill Lawrence (Executive Producer)
Status: Pilot Ordered
About: This will be a workplace comedy set in the world of commercial space travel. Source: Deadline Hollywood
Comments: NBC has ordered a pilot for this series and will likely be considering it for their 2017-18 schedule.
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The Last Policeman
Network: NBC
Production Team: Ben H. Winters (Creator / Writer / Executive Producer), Neal Moritz (Executive Producer)
Status: Pilot Ordered
About: Based on Winters’ novel of the same name, the story “follows a detective in New Hampshire during the final years of civilization as a catastrophe-level asteroid hurtles toward the planet. Despite the social, political and economic effects of preparing for impact, he keeps his head down and hope alive by solving cases amidst the ever-increasing chaos.” Source: Deadline Hollywood
Comments: NBC picked this up in a highly competitive situation and will pay a stiff penalty if it does not go to series. The network will be considering this for their 2017-18 season schedule.
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Welcome Hitchcock
Network: No Network Attached
Production Team: Chris Columbus (Executive Producer), Michael Barnathan (Executive Producer), Universal Cable Productions (Production Company)
Status: In Development
About: “Welcome to Hitchcock promises to follow the legendary director’s unique style of storytelling. In that spirit, the series will focus on one single mystery or crime that stretches throughout the entire season.” Source: CBR.com
Comments: This one may not be considered a sci fi series, but should be of interest to genre fans because Hitchcock’s name is attached.
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Extinct
Network: BYUtv
Production Team: Orson Scott Card (Creator / Executive Producer), Aaron Johnston (Writer / Executive Producer
Starring: Chad Michael Collins, Victoria Atkin, Jaclyn Hales, Yorke Fryer, Jack Depew
Status: In Production
About: “Extinct takes place 400 years after the extinction of the human race and follows a small group of humans who are revived by an alien civilization. Over the course of the season, the series carries the colony of revived humans through struggles with the aliens who extinguished humankind centuries before, while trying to understand and get along with the mysterious aliens who revived them.” Source: Variety
Comments: This seems like a rather ambitious project for a college funded television channel, but it is already moving forward with its ten episode first season set to bow in 2017.
There hasn’t been any more news on the TV adaptation of Asimov’s Foundation. Would love to see that show.
Apparently HBO still has designs on adapting the books to series, but executive producer Jonathan Nolan is currently busy with Westworld: http://www.idigitaltimes.com/foundation-tv-show-whatever-happened-hbos-foundation-series-adaptation-546011
It’s also possible that HBO is waiting for Game of Thrones to wrap up, thus freeing up some of the funding needed. Because Foundation will certainly be expensive to produce just like GoT.