Sci Fi TV Top 5: Covering the top sci fi and fantasy TV stories of interest from the past week. You can keep up with the sci fi and fantasy TV news headlines throughout the week at r/SciFiTV on Twitter and on Reddit.
1. Star Trek TNG Characters Could Venture to the Lower Decks
The adult animated sci fi comedy Star Trek: Lower Decks is currently in the works at CBS All Access and it will focus on the characters not typically seen during the main shows. Creator Mike McMahan has indicated that characters from Star Trek: The Next Generation could appear in animated versions on the show:
There are a lot of recognizable characters in the galaxy at that point. Next Gen is my favorite era. And as a huge Trek fan, I would definitely want to try to use some of them so that I could not only build out the world, but also work with some of my heroes. But I can’t get more specific than that. You’ll have to wait and see.
Several of the TNG actors reprised their roles on Star Trek: Picard, so it would not be surprising to hear them voice their characters in the animated series. Star Trek: Lower Decks is currently targetting a late-2020 premiere.
2. Television Adaptation of Skullkickers Is in the Works
The stock for animated TV shows is high these days as they are less impacted by the production delays that we saw recently due to the Coronavirus. Copernicus Animation Studios is taking advantage of this and developing an adult animated series based on the Image Comics sword and sorcery series Skullkickers. Following is the description of the series from the press release:
SKULLKICKERS is a sarcastic send-up of sword & sorcery stories about a trio of mercenaries who kill monsters and cause mayhem in their quest for money, fame and adventure. The series was first published by Image Comics in 2010 and has built a loyal following over the past decade alongside surging interest in fantasy-based entertainment.
The comic book series is written by Jim Zub with art by Edwin Huang and Chris Stevens. No network is attached at this point, but the production should draw plenty of interest in the current environment.
3. Renewal Announcements: Solar Opposites and Manifest Get Third Season Nods
Hulu has extended its sci fi comedy Solar Opposites to a third season. It was renewed in advance of its premiere for a second year and it has been one of the streamer’s top-performing originals. NBC has given a third season renewal to its missing-plane drama Manifest. Fans have been eagerly awaiting that announcement which was delayed later than usual due to the complications around the Coronavirus-related shutdowns. That series performed well for the network in its second season, particularly in delayed viewing. The Shudder streaming service has ordered scripts for a third season of its horror anthology Creepshow. That one has been renewed for a second season and a third season announcement should be coming soon.
4. Syfy Looking to Expand its TZGZ Animated Block
Syfy has given the greenlight to three new pilots that could join its TZGC adult animated block that airs late nights on Saturdays. Following is Deadline Hollywood‘s rundown of the shows:
Chronicles Of Frank follows an overzealous squirrel that kidnaps an exterminator from the Bronx, transporting him to a magical realm where he must conquer the forces of evil and maybe win back his girlfriend.
In a galaxy far, far away there’s an epic war of the worlds where countless alien species will fight to the death – and The Black Hole is about the crappy dive bar where they drink.
Heavy is the belly that wears the suit in The Pole, a twisted, edgy comedy about the struggle for power on the North Pole. From Yeti Farm Creative, The Pole has been ordered for a 15-minute pilot.
TZGZ begins at 11:30 PM EST on Saturdays and is anchored by Futurama repeats.
5. Scheduling Notes: Manifest Set for a Fall Return on NBC
As mentioned above, NBC’s Manifest has been renewed for a third season and the network plans for that to start in Fall. Due to the production shutdowns, it is unlikely the show will return in September, the usual time for the start of the Fall season. But it could begin airing new episodes as soon as October as long as there are no further delays. The second season of Disney+’s The Mandalorian is still on track for a Fall premiere with October targetted as the month it will return. The CW has moved the British import series Dead Pixels from its Fall to schedule to Sundays in late Summer. It will premiere August 18th.
THE SCHED: Premeires for Twilight Zone Season 2 and More
This coming week will be the busiest one we have seen in a while for sci fi TV Premieres. On Thursday, The Twilight Zone returns for its second season on CBS All Access and will release one episode per week. Also on Thursday, Doom Patrol has its second season premiere on HBO Max (jumping over from DCU). That one will also release one episode per week. Then on Friday, Netflix’s Dark returns for its third and final season with all episodes available that day. You can see the full Summer schedule of sci fi and fantasy shows at this link and you can keep up with the Weekly Listings at this link.
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