Sci-Fi Storm

The BBC has announced the start of production on Russell T. Davies’ new series for CBBC, Wizards Vs Aliens, at BBC’s Roath Lock Studios in Cardiff and on location around the area.

Wizards Vs Aliens brings magic and sci-fi together to tell an epic tale. Aliens are intent of devouring all the magic on Earth – one 16-year-old boy stands in their way.

Tom Clarke is a seemingly ordinary boy who loves football. He lives with his dad Michael and grandmother Ursula in an ordinary house in an ordinary street – but there’s something different about Tom. He has an astonishing secret – his family are Wizards! When the alien Nekross arrive on Earth hungry for magic, there’s big, big trouble in store for all wizardkind.

With the help of his friend and science super-brain Benny, Tom must stop them – but will these two unlikely heroes succeed, or will the Nekross devour all the magic on Earth with disastrous results for the whole planet?

Starring newcomers Scott Haran as Tom Clarke and Percelle Ascott as Benny Sherwood, the series also features Annette Badland (Doctor Who, The Sparticles Mystery) Michael Higgs (Eastenders) Jefferson Hall (Doctors, Emma) and Gwendoline Christie (Game of Thrones). Don Gilet (Eastenders, Doctor Who) and Nina Sosanya (Teachers, Love Actually) make guest appearances as Benny’s parents.

Wizards Vs Aliens (12 x 30 minutes), produced by BBC Cymru Wales in association with FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME), will be broadcast on CBBC in Autumn 2012. The executive producers are Russell T Davies, Bethan Jones and Gina Cronk for the BBC, and Bob Higgins and Sander Schwartz for FME. The producer is Brian Minchin and co-producer Phil Ford.

No word on outlets in North America at this time, but if The Sarah Jane Adventures is an indication, if it even gets a North American outlet, it will likely lag behind the UK airing significantly.

Fringe fans can finally breathe again. It will be back for one final season of 13 episodes.

Fox Broadcasting’s President of Entertainment Kevin Reilly announced today, “Fringe is a remarkably creative series that has set the bar as one of television’s most imaginative dramas. Bringing it back for a final 13 allows us to provide the climactic conclusion that its passionate and loyal fans deserve. The amazing work the producers, writers and the incredibly talented cast and crew have delivered the last four seasons has literally been out of this world. Although the end is bittersweet, it’s going to be a very exciting final chapter.”

J.J. Abrams, who is the executive producer and co-creator, said: “We are thrilled and beyond grateful that Fox – and our fans – have made the impossible possible: Fringe will continue into a fifth season that will allow the series to conclude in a wild and thrilling way. All of us at Bad Robot are forever indebted to our viewers and the amazingly supportive Fox network for allowing the adventures of Fringe Division to not only continue, but to resolve in a way that perfectly fits the show.”

Here are some preview videos for tomorrow night’s all-new episode of Grimm: In addition to dealing with the Reapers, Nick stresses about explaining Monroe to Juliette as he explores the tools from Aunt Marie’s trailer. Tune in to NBC tomorrow night at 9/8c
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Syfy announced today that Defiance, it’s most ambitious “transmedia” project so far – a scripted series that crosses over with a massively-multiplayer online game – began production in Toronto, Ontario.

DefianceTM, the revolutionary transmedia event launching in Spring 2013, has commenced production on the series pilot in Toronto, ON. An unprecedented partnership between Syfy and Trion Worlds, Defiance is the first-ever convergence of television and Massive Multiplayer Online gaming, featuring an interconnected world and storylines that will co-exist on both platforms.
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…or is it a shot from an upcoming episode? Well, we’re not sure it is either, but a Doctor Who fan, @HolyFrell, tweeted a pic to showrunner Steven Moffat showing the Beatles in a jam session, and there is a familar looking person in the foreground…

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Has the 11th Doctor already crossed paths with the Beatles? Well…probably not. But it does look an awful lot like Matt Smith there…

Moffat replied that “Clearly we’re going to make that episode!!”

Syfy, in advance of their upfront presentation tonight in NYC, unveiled a list of both unscripted and scripted programming that is currently in development – their largest development slate ever. Here are all the details I have:
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After yesterday’s episode of twists and sadness, the Eureka storyline continues with an all-new episode on Monday, with a surprise: In search to locate his missing friends, Carter makes nice with an unlikely ally. But in this clip, Zane starts to see through the illusion. Tune in next Monday at 9/8c to see what happens…
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Fancy the idea of taking up arms against some of your favorite heroes from SF film and television? Or fancy a blaster fight with a squad of Stormtroopers led by General Motti? (Hey, at least that last one should be easy…we know how well Stormtroopers shoot!)

Well, you might have your chance at Comicpalooza, in Houston May 25-27!

“The next best thing to being a sci-fi or action hero has to be shooting a sci-fi or action hero with a gun. Or maybe being shot by one,” says John Simons, founder and Chairman of Comicpalooza, the Texas International Comic Con. At least that’s the premise that led to the Badass Celebrity Smackdown, in which fans attending Comicpalooza May 25-27 will get their chance to pit themselves against stars of some of the biggest sci-fi and action franchises in Hollywood while helping US veterans at the same time.
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Defiance continues to get cast added…Deadline reports that actresses Mia Kirshner and Fionnula Flanagan have join the cast.

Kirshner (The Vampire Diaries, The L Word) has been cast as Kenya, the “self-assured, dauntless town madam whose unvarying devotion to the town of Defiance has inexorably woven her into many of its complicated affairs.”

Flanagan (Lost, The Others) will play Nikki, the “popular ex-mayor of the town whose intrinsic expertise from her years on the job have made her a trusted mentor to her successor, Amanda (Julie Benz).”

Production is expected to start shortly in Toronto. For more information about the TV/massively-multiplayer online game crossover, see our original announcement.

I learned of this directly from writer/director/producer Kenneth D. Barker: On the Shoulders of Giants is an independently produced British 1950s-style retro sci-fi film to be released this summer that he calls a “subtle homage to Forbidden Planet.” Check out the full description and trailer below.
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