Development activity has started heating up again as Amazon and Netflix keep trying to outdo each other with epic genre series. If the Wheel of Time and Narnia announcements aren’t enough, there is still quite a bit of additional development news from the past couple of weeks as well.
Amazon has ordered Robert Jordan’s The Wheel Of Time To Series
Network: Amazon
Credits: Rafe Judkins (Writer, Showrunner, Executive Producer), Rick Selvage (Executive Producer), Larry Mondragon (Executive Producer), Harriet McDougal (Consulting Producer)
Starring: TBA
Description: “The Wheel of Time, which has sold over 90M books around the world, is set in a sprawling, epic world where magic exists, but only women can use it. The story follows Moiraine, a member of the shadowy and influential all-female organization called the ‘Aes Sedai’ as she embarks on a dangerous, world-spanning journey with five young men and women. Moiraine believes one of them might be the reincarnation of an incredibly powerful individual, whom prophecies say will either save humanity or destroy it.” Deadline Hollywood
Comments: Amazon has placed a series order for this, though no word yet on how many episodes or how many seasons they have committed to. Considering the number of books in the series and the length of each, this show could could carry on for years if it becomes a hit.
Netflix will adapt C.S. Lewis’ Narnia books
Network: Netflix
Credits: TBA
Starring: TBA
Description: “Netflix will develop new series and film projects based on C.S. Lewis’ beloved The Chronicles of Narnia series. Under the terms of a multi-year deal between Netflix and The C.S. Lewis Company, Netflix will develop classic stories from across the Narnia universe into series and films for its members worldwide. All series and films produced through the deal will be Netflix productions, with Mark Gordon of Entertainment One (eOne) alongside Douglas Gresham and Vincent Sieber serving as executive producers for series and as producers for features. In total the Narnia books have sold more than 100 million copies and been translated in more than 47 languages worldwide. The deal marks the first time that rights to the entire seven books of the Narnia universe have been held by the same company.” Press Release
Comments: There are not many details on this project yet, nor has the creative team been announced. Nor is it clear if these will be live-action or animated. But this could be the first time that all of the Narnia books get adapted and could potentially even carry on with new adventures.
Jon Favreau upcoming live-action Star Wars series will be titled The Mandalorian
Network: Disney Streaming
Credits: Jon Favreau (Executive Producer)
Starring: TBA
Description: “After the stories of Jango and Boba Fett, another warrior emerges in the Star Wars universe. The Mandalorian is set after the fall of the Empire and before the emergence of the First Order. We follow the travails of a lone gunfighter in the outer reaches of the galaxy far from the authority of the New Republic.” Instagram
Comments: Favreau released the brief synopsis through Instagram. The series will likely debut on the upcoming Disney Streaming channel in mid-to-late 2019.
Netflix has placed an order for an adaptation of the comic October Faction
Network: Netflix
Credits: Damian Kindler (Showrunner, Executive Producer), High Park Entertainment (Production Company)
Starring: TBA
Description: “It revolves around two world renowned monster hunters, Fred and Deloris Allen. The two return home to upstate New York with their children after the death of Fred’s father. But as they settle into a life of normality, Fred and Deloris must hide their secret monster-hunting identities from their kids, while dealing with the fact that their quiet New York town isn’t as peaceful as it might seem.” Syfy.com
Comments: This is based on the IDW comic of the same name written by Steve Niles and Netflix has placed a ten-episode first season order.
Netflix has picked up the Lost-like series I-Land
Network: Netflix
Credits: Lucy Teitler (Writer, Executive Producer), Neil LaBute (Showrunner, Executive Producer)
Starring: Kate Bosworth, Natalie Martinez, Alex Pettyfer
Description: “The show follows a group of individuals that wake up on a mysterious island with no recollection of who they are or how they got there. They all set off to find their way back home, but, as the Netflix release tells us, the group ‘soon discover this world is not as it seems. Faced with the island’s extreme psychological and physical challenges, they must rise to their better selves — or die as their worst ones.'” Syfy.com
Comments: Netflix has picked up the first season of this show which will consist of seven episodes.
ABC is developing the drama Completeness from The Exorcist‘s Adam Stein
Network: ABC
Credits: Adam Stein (Writer, Executive Producer), Michael Strahan (Executive Producer), ABC Studios (Studio)
Starring: TBA
Description: “Completeness is described as This Is Us meets Grey’s Anatomy meets Westworld (without robots). In our increasingly atomized world, a company sets out a shingle to provide its clients with what’s missing in their lives. Whatever you need — a friend, a mother, a grandson, a husband — the Complete Company’s versatile facilitators can become it for you. The resulting relationships are more real than you’d expect, and sometimes way more complicated.” Deadline Hollywood
Comments: The network will likely include this in the Spring 2019 Pilot Season to be considered for its Fall 2019 schedule.
Netflix has ordered the Manga-based Warrior Nun to series
Network: Netflix
Credits: Simon Barry (Writer, Showrunner, Executive Producer), Terri Hughes Burton (Executive Producer), Amy Berg (Consulting Producer)
Starring: TBA
Description: “Based on Ben Dunn’s manga comic, Warrior Nun Areala, the series will follow a 19-year-old woman who wakes up in a morgue with a second chance at life. Thanks to an ancient and powerful artifact now stuck in her back, she joins a secret and selective order of individuals, whose sole duty is to battle demons and other monsters on Earth.” Syfy.com
Comments: There is no word yet on the episode count for this show’s first season.
The Fall season is upon us and will be bringing over forty new and returning sci fi and fantasy television shows. You can see our full preview of the coming season at this link. And be sure to stay tuned to this site and the Cancelled Sci Fi Twitter Site throughout the season for the latest ratings results and status updates for your favorite shows.
