Sci Fi TV Development: The Dark Tower, The Purge, Merc City, Orson Scott Card’s Extinct, and More




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.

dark-tower-wizard-and-glassThe 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.

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.

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

the-purge-posterThe 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.

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.

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.

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.

alfred-hitchcock-presentsWelcome 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.

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.

 

Author: admin

2 thoughts on “Sci Fi TV Development: The Dark Tower, The Purge, Merc City, Orson Scott Card’s Extinct, and More

  1. There hasn’t been any more news on the TV adaptation of Asimov’s Foundation. Would love to see that show.

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