Many SCI FI Channel announcements
by Doc on Mar.19, 2008, under Television
The SCI FI Channel held a press event in NY last night, and out of it came several announcements. Rather than regurgitate all the press releases, I will try and summarize them here. I’ll leave out the reality show stuff (since I tend not to cover it), and Caprica will get its own article. Read More for the rest.
First up, Sir Richard Branson (founder and chairman of Virgin Group) has joined the channel’s Visions for Tomorrow Advisory Board. The board is described as “a multi-platform, pro-social campaign using the power of science fiction to inspire individuals, organizations, corporations and policymakers to meet the growing challenges of the future and advance the idea that individuals can affect positive change.” More details are available at the web site. Interestingly, no SF writers seem to be on the board…
New scripted shows include:
True Believer: (2-hour backdoor pilot) Based on an original concept from Rosario Dawson, David Atchinson (Dawson?s co-author on the Image Comics book Occult Crimes Task Force), Matthew Spradlin and Tom Feister, True Believer is a quirky, contemporary dramedy about a 20-something comic book nerd who hires a washed-up real-life Superhero to be his crime-fighting sidekick and teach him the ropes. Together, this unlikely duo set out to save the World.
Dawson will serve as Executive Producer with Atchinson and Spradlin aboard to write. Feister will consult on the project.
The Stranded: (2 hour pilot) Based on the SCI FI/Virgin Comics title. Five seemingly everyday people must face the terrifying
question: what if your entire life ? your childhood, your family, your memories ? was a lie? For the stranded, Sisera, Endo, Drum, Tamree, and Cullen, it?s true. Each of them is from another world called Standfire, and now their past is returning to try and kill them.
Deputized: (2 hour pilot) Written by Joe Gazzam, Deputized is a dramedy in which an ?average Joe? suddenly finds himself possessing special abilities after being accidentally fitted with an alien exoskeleton that cannot be removed. As a result, he is enlisted to serve on the inter-galactic police force that patrols the universe.
Alice: (6 hour miniseries) Writer/Director Nick Willing, Executive Producers Robert Halmi, Sr. and Robert Halmi, Jr. (RHI Entertainment) who, with SCI FI, created the most watched program in the Channel?s history (Tin Man), are re-teaming to develop a modern
day re-telling of the classic Alice in Wonderland.
Lastly, SCIFI.COM will be greatly expanded, adding orginal entertainment items and social gaming and networking. Included are a new Game Center for SF-themed casual games; a “Cylon or Human” social game – pick sides, develop an identity, and battle the other side; an original web series called Starcrossed, sort of a The Larry Sanders Show/GalaxyQuest mix being written by Stargate Atlantis star David Hewlitt; a new video player offering full length episodes of the channel’s original series; more Galactica webisodes; and, on April 4th at noon, an exclusive early showing of the Season 4 premiere of Battlestar Galactica.