Sci-Fi Channel Upcoming Original Programming - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Cynthetiq · 04-06-2004, 05:11 PM

Quote:

http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=print_story&articleid=VR1117902900&categoryid=14

Posted: Mon., Apr. 5, 2004, 6:00pm PT

Sci Fi's original recipe

Cabler looks to other forms of science fiction, younger auds

By JOHN DEMPSEY

NEW YORK -- Furthering its evolution from niche cabler to broad-appeal outlet, the Sci Fi Channel has embarked on its most ambitious slate of original series, miniseries and made-fors.
Latest projects, announced at a luncheon Monday in New York, will be developed by production companies owned by Nicolas Cage, Ridley Scott, Joel Schumacher, Clive Barker and the team of Vin Diesel and David Twohy.

But the news that rabid sci-fi junkies will jump on is that the network has put its series "Farscape" -- canceled two years ago to massive fan protest -- back into production for a final four-hour wrap-up. The Jim Henson Co., Robert Halmi Jr. and Rockne O'Bannon will produce "Farscape: Peacekeeper War."

Speaking of her programming development, Sci Fi Channel prexy Bonnie Hammer said: "We're going well beyond standard space operas into many other forms of science fiction, and we're also targeting a younger audience with some of our projects."

Seven series are on Sci Fi's drawing boards:

"Dresden Files" (working title), based on novels by Jim Butcher, from Cage's Saturn Films and Lions Gate TV, which have pitched it as "The Rockford Files" meets "Harry Potter." Eric Dresden, a detective, has the powers of a wizard, and his clients include strange people ranging from goblins to vampires.

Untitled Schumacher Project, which follows a team of alien soldiers and scientists assigned to study humans in preparation for a takeover of the Earth. One of the alien females falls in love with a male human. April Smith ("Chicago Hope") is Schumacher's co-executive producer.

"Witchhunter Robin," a live-action version of the Japanese anime series about a group of cops assigned to stop witches who are abusing their powers. One of the female cops is a witch herself.

"Eureka," billed as "Northern Exposure" meets "The Twilight Zone." It's about the sheriff of a small community made up mostly of geniuses whose government job is to "unleash scientific and technological creations still unknown to the outside world."

"Motel Man," a futuristic mystery thriller about a detective who discovers supernatural objects like a comb that can stop time and has to confront people who want to use them for malevolent purposes.

"Kyra," a spinoff of the Universal theatrical movie "Pitch Black" and its forthcoming $120 million sequel "Chronicles of Riddick," starring Diesel and written and directed by Twohy.

Untitled Ridley Scott Project, about a race of wolf-like creatures who can transform themselves into human beings. One of the female creatures falls in love with a news producer who stumbles onto their secret.
Although she's confident they'll join the slate, Hammer said Sci Fi still hasn't signed the final contracts for the last two projects.

In addition to the "Farscape" finale, Sci Fi has signed Clive Barker to produce "History of the Devil," a six-hour limited series whose premise is that Satan is bored with being the bad guy so he hires a kickass defense attorney "to litigate his way back into heaven." Lions Gate TV will produce.

Three four-hour projects are also in the works:

"Blackwater," a Southern gothic tale about a witch who marries into a wealthy family and starts destroying its enemies. Mandalay Entertainment, the Orphanage and Sony Pictures TV are producing.

"Ringworld," from Larry Niven's books about four explorers who crash into an artificial world and discover alien beings.

"Winney," a political satire about a cartoon character who becomes so popular he may end up on the ballot for president of the U.S. Larry Wilson, who created "Beetlejuice," is the writer and co-executive producer.

Some of this stuff looks REALLY compelling, some looks silly. I'd love to see what they do with RINGWORLD.

onodrim · 04-06-2004, 06:02 PM

Yeah, wow. I've been always been a fan of the SciFi channel, even when it was just cheesy scifi movies.

Now they've got what looks to be some really intriguing and quality programming for a fantasy / scifi geek like myself. I can't wait.

bltzkriegmcanon · 04-06-2004, 06:17 PM

If they do Witch Hunter Robin right, it could be awesome as shit.

diergray · 04-06-2004, 06:47 PM

Motel Man sounds very similiar to the old Friday the 13th series where they tried to recover cursed objects.

Lotronex · 04-06-2004, 07:14 PM

Can't wait for ringworld, been waiting a while for that to be make into a movie.
Dresden Files doesn't sound too bad either.
The only thing that worries me is that there was no mention of a Dune sequel, come on SciFi, 3 more books=atleast one more hit.

And I can't wait for the Farscape action.
also, an I-Man mini would be nice every once in a while, Fawkes kicked ass.

mirevolver · 04-06-2004, 08:08 PM

Ringworld sounds interesting. I also can't wait to see the Sci-fi channel launch its SG-1 spinoff, Stargate: Atlantis.

Though I am disappointed about no news on Dune. They've already done miniseries on the first three books. It would be nice if they wrap up the series. (Though I can understand they're reluctance for the fourth book, after all most of that book is just Leto talking.)

Asuka{eve} · 04-06-2004, 08:25 PM

holy crap!!! I wanna watch!

Rodney · 04-07-2004, 09:26 PM

Most of the series sound unexceptional, and I predict that they will mainly hit with a giant thud. SciFi's only truly successful original hit was Farscape, and they didn't have enough faith in it to finish it off. And Farscape worked become it had some original ideas, or at least an original approach to some traditional ideas. And they spent a few bucks on it, too. These upcoming projects all sound pretty derivative, designed principally for cheap production, not quality.

The only other original SciFi series I liked was "The Chronicle," and while it had its ups and downs it hit a high point just before they cancelled it. Vampire Elvises, time-traveling Swedish gangsters from the future hiding out in Ikea stores -- what's not to like?

Fremen · 04-07-2004, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mirevolver
I also can't wait to see the Sci-fi channel launch its SG-1 spinoff, Stargate: Atlantis.

That's the one I'm most anxious to see.

Johnny Rotten · 04-07-2004, 10:41 PM

While Sci-Fi is finally starting to get some A-list production people, they're still trudging along with B-listers in front of the camera. Much more encouraging, but we'll have to see if it pans out. Hopefully it will, and more people will get involved.

04-06-2004, 06:02 PM	#2 (permalink)
onodrim Cosmically Curious Location: Chicago, IL	Yeah, wow. I've been always been a fan of the SciFi channel, even when it was just cheesy scifi movies. Now they've got what looks to be some really intriguing and quality programming for a fantasy / scifi geek like myself. I can't wait. __________________ "The world is so exquisite with so much love and moral depth, that there is no reason to deceive ourselves with pretty stories for which there’s little good evidence. Far better it seems to me, in our vulnerability, is to look death in the eye and to be grateful every day for the brief but magnificent opportunity that life provides" -Carl Sagan

04-06-2004, 06:17 PM	#3 (permalink)
bltzkriegmcanon Holy Knight of The Alliance Location: Stormwind, The Eastern Kingdoms, Azeroth	If they do Witch Hunter Robin right, it could be awesome as shit. __________________ What do you say to one last showdown? - Ocelot, Metal Gear Solid 3 The password is "Who are the Patriots?" and "La-Li-Lu-Le-Lo." "La-Li-Lu-Le-Lo." Gotcha. - The Colonel and Snake, Metal Gear Solid 3

04-06-2004, 06:47 PM	#4 (permalink)
diergray Psycho	Motel Man sounds very similiar to the old Friday the 13th series where they tried to recover cursed objects. __________________ "Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out.” ~ James Bryant Conant

04-06-2004, 07:14 PM	#5 (permalink)
Lotronex Tilted	Can't wait for ringworld, been waiting a while for that to be make into a movie. Dresden Files doesn't sound too bad either. The only thing that worries me is that there was no mention of a Dune sequel, come on SciFi, 3 more books=atleast one more hit. And I can't wait for the Farscape action. also, an I-Man mini would be nice every once in a while, Fawkes kicked ass. Last edited by Lotronex; 04-06-2004 at 07:21 PM..

04-06-2004, 08:08 PM	#6 (permalink)
mirevolver Inspired by the mind's eye. Location: Between the darkness and the light.	Ringworld sounds interesting. I also can't wait to see the Sci-fi channel launch its SG-1 spinoff, Stargate: Atlantis. Though I am disappointed about no news on Dune. They've already done miniseries on the first three books. It would be nice if they wrap up the series. (Though I can understand they're reluctance for the fourth book, after all most of that book is just Leto talking.) __________________ Aside from my great plans to become the future dictator of the moon, I have little interest in political discussions.

04-06-2004, 08:25 PM	#7 (permalink)
Asuka{eve} Addict Location: Oh God, the rain!	holy crap!!! I wanna watch!

04-07-2004, 09:26 PM	#8 (permalink)
Rodney Observant Ruminant Location: Rich Wannabe Hippie Town	Most of the series sound unexceptional, and I predict that they will mainly hit with a giant thud. SciFi's only truly successful original hit was Farscape, and they didn't have enough faith in it to finish it off. And Farscape worked become it had some original ideas, or at least an original approach to some traditional ideas. And they spent a few bucks on it, too. These upcoming projects all sound pretty derivative, designed principally for cheap production, not quality. The only other original SciFi series I liked was "The Chronicle," and while it had its ups and downs it hit a high point just before they cancelled it. Vampire Elvises, time-traveling Swedish gangsters from the future hiding out in Ikea stores -- what's not to like?

04-07-2004, 10:41 PM	#10 (permalink)
Johnny Rotten lost and found Location: Berkeley	While Sci-Fi is finally starting to get some A-list production people, they're still trudging along with B-listers in front of the camera. Much more encouraging, but we'll have to see if it pans out. Hopefully it will, and more people will get involved. __________________ "The idea that money doesn't buy you happiness is a lie put about by the rich, to stop the poor from killing them." -- Michael Caine