Sci-Fi Storm

If you’ve followed me these 12 years, there are two series I’ve really wanted to see remade – Space: 1999, which is in the works with Jace Hall (and my main requirement there is they keep the production design of the base, Eagles, etc.), and Blake’s 7, which was recently being shopped to U.S. networks by Georgiaville Television.

Now Syfy has stepped up and will develop the remake with a script-to-series commitment (if they like the script, it will get a 13-episode green light). Joe Pokaski (CSI, Heroes) is writing the script, and Martin Campbell (Casino Royale, Green Lantern) will direct.

I can’t wait to grill the Syfy executives on this one…

The Hunger Games continues to impress – the [asin=B0084IG7KC]Blu-ray/DVD release[/asin] was this past weekend, and there were plenty of midnight release parties – typically something reserved for blockbuster franchises after they have proven themselves. But it seems that it was warranted – it is estimated that 3.8 million discs were sold on the weekend. Plus the digital downloads were also the highest ever for the studio.

That should give Lionsgate plenty of momentum going forward with the production of the sequel, Catching Fire, eagerly awaited by fans with a November 22nd, 2013 (Thanksgiving weekend) release date.

Ron Howard’s ambitious multi-platform project to being Stephen King’s The Dark Tower to life – originally conceived as a trilogy of movies AND two TV series – is looking for studio backing again. After Universal balked on the project a year ago, Warner Bros stepped in – but now it seems even WB has passed on it, despite getting an updated script from Akiva Goldsman and buzz about Russell Crowe interested in a lead role.

But another funding source may be in the hunt, with Media Rights Capital interested. MRC recently funded the Seth MacFarlane hit comedy Ted, and also the upcoming Elysium starring Matt Damon and Jodi Foster and directed by Neill Blomkamp (District 9). So for now, the project lives on.