Return To Roswell

The CW is considering returning to Roswell, the cult-favorite series based on the Roswell High books that aired for three seasons on The WB and UPN (the two networks that eventually merged to become The CW). The network has a reboot of the series in development that will focus heavily on immigration themes. Deadline Hollywood gives the following description:

The new ‘Roswell’ reflects the realities of its location in a state bordering Mexico. After reluctantly returning to her tourist-trap hometown of Roswell, NM, the daughter of undocumented immigrants discovers a shocking truth about her teenage crush who is now a police officer: He’s an alien who has kept his unearthly abilities hidden his entire life. She protects his secret as the two reconnect and begin to investigate his origins, but when a violent attack and long-standing government cover-up point to a greater alien presence on Earth, the politics of fear and hatred threaten to expose him and destroy their deepening romance.

Carina Adly MacKenzie (The Originals) is writing and executive producing the project and the network will likely be considering this for their 2018-19 schedule.

Amazing Stories Reboot Heads To Apple With Bryan Fuller

Apple is jumping into the scripted series arena with reportedly a one billion dollar war chest and has picked up the reboot of Steven Spielberg’s Amazing Stories that was already in the works. The original 80’s series delivered Twilight Zone-ish stories with lavish production and named directors, but underwhelmed audiences and was cancelled after two seasons. The reboot will continue the anthology theme and Bryan Fuller (Hannibal, American Gods) is currently attached as writer and executive producer. This is one of around ten shows that Apple is looking to produce in 2018 and could have its debut late in that year.

Gillian Anderson Leaving The X-Files After Season 11

The X-Files revival returns this coming January (after leaving us on a huge cliffhanger for two years), but series star Gillian Anderson has indicated that she does not plan to stay with the show beyond its upcoming season. Asked in an interview at the New York Comic Con whether she would be continuing with the show, Anderson said: “No, no, I think this will be it for me”. When asked why she did the current season she said:

Because it felt like it wasn’t over. It didn’t feel like we necessarily deliver everything the fans were expecting of us last time, and so it was that.

The previous season suggested that FOX could be setting up X-Files: The Next Generation and they may continue to move in that direction. And we can only hope that they will provide some resolution for Dana Scully’s story arc if Anderson truly will not be returning to the show.

Stargate: Origins Casts Series Lead

The upcoming Stargate Origins series has brought Australian actress Ellie Gall onboard to play the lead roll of Catherine Langford. Syfy Wire gives the following description of the series:

The period-set series follows young Catherine and the “early history” surrounding the Stargate. All we know is that Catherine will undergo an “unexpected adventure” to unlock the mystery of what lies beyond the Stargate as she tries to save the world from “unimaginable darkness.”

Other actors cast for the show include Connor Trinneer, Salome Azizi, Philip Alexander, and Michelle Jubilee Gonzalez. The series will stream on the Stargate Command streaming service which currently has all three of the live-action series plus the movies. It is set to debut later this year.

Sci-Fi TV Status Report: The CW Debut Numbers Look Decent

On Tuesday, The CW’s The Flash had a 1.1 rating based on the overnights for the 18-49 demographic with 2.8 million total viewers for its Season 4 premiere. That is down a bit from its premiere numbers last year, but about even with its season average and I expect that one to race into a fifth season. Legends of Tomorrow had a 0.6 rating with 1.7 million total viewers for its third season premiere which is right in line with its second season numbers and okay for The CW. On Thursday, both Supernatural and Arrow had decent enough premieres pulling a 0.7 rating / 2.1 million total viewers and 0.6 rating / 1.6 million total viewers respectively. Both of those remain quite safe on the fifth place network at those levels. For those interested, on Wednesday Riverdale had a series high 0.8 rating with 2.3 million total viewers for its Season 2 premiere, getting it off to a good second year start.

Over on USA, Mr. Robot returned Wednesday for its third season pulling a 0.30 rating with 681K total viewers. That is down from its second season numbers, but probably still good enough to get this critically acclaimed and Emmy winning series a fourth season. Over on Spike, The Shannara Chronicles had its debut (moving over from MTV in its second season) and only managed a 0.10 rating with 314K total viewers. That is a tenuous start for that rather expensive series, especially considering that Spike cancelled The Mist in Summer after averaging a 0.14 rating.

On FOX on Thursday, The Orville improved slightly to a 1.0 rating with 3.4 million total viewers (according to the preliminary numbers) and it could survive if it holds around that level for the rest of its freshman season. Gotham slipped to a 0.8 rating with 2.7 million total viewers, but a fifth season of that show will depend on what sort of deal Warner Bros manages to work out with FOX. NBC’s The Good Place held at a 1.2 rating with 4.0 million total viewers and it appears to be in a good place ratings-wise for now.

Be sure to follow the Cancelled Sci Fi Twitter Site for the latest ratings results as well as breaking news on cancellations and renewals.

The Walking Dead Returns For Its 8th Season

The Fall premieres slow down this coming week, though one of the most anticipated shows has its debut. AMC’s The Walking Dead may not be resolving a major cliffhanger like its seventh season premiere did, but plenty of fans are waiting for the show’s return on Sunday, October 22nd. Also this week, Disney XD’s Star Wars: Rebels returns for its fourth and final season on Monday. Hulu’s horror series Freakish is back for its second season on Wednesday. And Syfy’s Superstition has its debut on Friday (which was pushed back from its original October 6th launch date). You can see keep up with the weekly listings of sci fi and fantasy shows here and you can see the full Fall schedule here.

News Bites: Man In The High Castle S3 Moves To 2018 And More

Amazon’s The Man in the High Castle, based on the Phillip K. Dick book of the same name, will be returning for its third season in early 2018, not late 2017 as originally indicated. You can see a sneak peak of the upcoming season above.

Robert Kirkman announced a cross-over between The Walking Dead and Fear the Walking Dead at the New York Comic-Con. But which show and character(s) would be involved has not been revealed.

TNT’s The Librarians will be returning for its fourth season in December and moving to a new night. It will air on Wednesdays at 8 PM EST and will debut on December 20th. You can see the fourth season teaser here.

The entire run of Matt Groening’s animated sci fi comedy Futurama will be coming to Hulu next week on October 16th. 140 episodes plus four films will be available for streaming.

• Prior Post: Joss Whedon Returns To The Buffyverse, Star Trek: Discovery Gets More Fall Eps And More
• See a list of past columns at this link