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.
Things went quiet for a while with development announcements but have really picked up the last week or some with some pretty big projects now in the pipeline. Here is the rundown of recent announcements:
Stranger in a Strange Land
Network: Syfy
Production Team: Brad Fischer (Executive Producer), James Vanderbilt (Executive Producer), Scott Rudin (Executive Producer)
Status: In Development
About: “The book centers on Valentine Michael Smith, a human who comes to Earth in early adulthood after being born on Mars and raised by Martians. The novel explores his interaction with — and eventual transformation of — terrestrial culture. It predicted many of the movements and messages of the 1960s — from free love and hippie communes to organized attempts at world peace.” Source: THR.com
Comments: NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment chairman Bonnie Hammer has referred to this as “a world-class television event”, which likely means that they will approach this as a mini-series like Syfy’s 2015 adaptation of Arthur C. Clarke’s Childhood’s End instead of an ongoing series. This will likely hit the schedule in late 2017 or early 2018.
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The Building
Network: FOX
Production Team: Christopher Leone (Creator / Writer / Executive Producer), Neil Gaiman (Executive Producer), Albert Kim (Executive Producer)
Status: In Development
About: “The Building involves a large skyscraper that moves between alternate realities and a group of young urban explorers who are in the building and suddenly find themselves on an Earth wherein Reagan was not elected and Russia dropped the bomb. They then figure out they have a limited amount of time to figure out where they are and rescue members of their team before the building shifts again to another reality. They soon realize that this Earth is also different from where they started and getting back may be impossible.” Source: Deadline Hollywood
Comments: This is based on the movie Parallels by Christopher Leone which is currently streaming on Netflix. FOX will likely be considering this series for the 2017-18 schedule.
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Dr. Mirage
Network: The CW
Production Team: Gary Dauberman (Writer / Executive Producer), DMG Entertainment (Production Company)
Status: In Development
About: “Dr. Mirage centers on a female paranormal investigator who can communicate with dead souls except the one she most wants to reach — the love of her life.” Source: Deadline Hollywood
Comments: This is based on the Valiant comic book character and The CW will likely be considering this for their 2017-18 schedule.
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The Inhumans
Network: ABC
Production Team: TBD
Status: In Development
About: This series will focus on Black Bolt and the royal family of Inhumans. Eight episodes have been ordered with the first two to debut in IMAX theaters before the show airs on television. Source: THR
Comments: This is not a spin-off from Agents of SHIELD which already features several Inhuman characters and appears to be in lieu of the movie featuring the characters. ABC has this series set to air in Fall 2017.
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The Passsage
Network: FOX
Production Team: Liz Heldens (Writer / Executive Producer), Matt Reeves (Executive Producer), Scott Free (Production Company)
Status: In Development, Pilot Ordered
About: “The Passage begins as a character-driven government conspiracy thriller and morphs into a post-apocalyptic saga with vampires. The series spans over a century and focuses on a young girl named Amy who must save the human race.” Source: Deadline Hollywood
Comments: This is based on the Justin Cronin fantasy book trilogy and FOX will be considering this for the 2017-18 schedule.
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Criminal Magic
Network: The CW
Production Team: Graham Norris (Writer / Executive Producer), Rob Thomas (Executive Producer)
Status: In Development
About: “Criminal Magic is described as The Departed-meets-The Vampire Diaries. Set in present-day Los Angeles, it revolves around two warring street gangs who fight the cops and each other to corner the market on the most lucrative contraband of all: magic. A young woman hiding spectacular magical powers and an undercover cop must try to survive this glamorous world of speakeasies, crime and danger.” Source: Deadline Hollywood
Comments: This is based on the novel A Criminal Magic by Lee Kelly and The CW will be considering this for their 2017-18 schedule.
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Snowpiercer
Network: TNT
Production Team: Bong Joon Ho (Executive Producer), Dooho Choi (Executive Producer), Josh Friedman (Executive Producer)
Status: In Development, Pilot Ordered
About: “The potential series will be based on the 2013 film that was written and directed by Bong Joon Ho in his first English-language production. The movie, which starred Chris Evans and Tilda Swinton is set seven years after the world has become a frozen wasteland, and the remnants of humanity inhabit a gigantic, perpetually moving train that circles the globe. Class warfare, social injustice and the politics of survival are questioned.” Source: THR.com
Comments: This series has been in the works for over a year and now has a home with TNT. The Sarah Connor Chronicles‘ Josh Friedman is onboard as executive producer and the network will be considering this for their 2017 schedule.
