Sci-Fi Storm

Being Human returns to Syfy next Monday, January 16th at 9/8c, so here is a preview of the premiere episode!

In this sneak peek, we see Josh expressing to Aidan and Sally that he’d like everyone to try and act normal while girlfriend, Nora is around which means no more flying mugs and vampire talks about Mother. Nora enters to room and asks if Sally is present and mentions that she found an invite to her high school reunion in the trash. While Nora can’t hear Sally’s responses, she’s informed by Josh that she has reservations about going. Watch the all new sneak peek to see if Sally will ever change her mind on attending and catch the season premiere of Being Human on Monday, January 16th at 9/8c on Syfy!
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Not a lot of this is new compared to last June, but Rick McCallum, promoting the upcoming Red Tails movie, spoke with Scott Callura about the (legendary?) live-action Star Wars series that might be the most advanced pre-production ever for an unsold series. Some new things are the working title – Star Wars: Underworld, and the theme. Set between Episodes 3 and 4, while the Empire is taking over the Republic, rather than focus on the big picture it will be focusing on what is happening underneath – the world of criminals and gangs, “that are running…Wall Street…basically running the Unites States,” he joked. We think. Anyways, it has a more adult theme, which could put it in an interesting position where the franchise is currently popular among a younger set thanks to Star Wars: The Clone Wars.

They have 50 “unbelievable” scripts (apparently no additional scripts have been written), with each one-hour script being ‘bigger than any of the prequels were”. I dunno Rick, I’m not sure if that is setting us up for disappointment – or is more telling about the quality of the prequels…

Things are still on hold over the costs of each episode to produce. They are aiming for a $5 million/episode mark as the maximum, but they can’t do it for that now.
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In “The Darkest Hour Part II” sneak peek, we see Arthur speaking with his men and making plans to retreat back to Gaius to treat a dying Merlin, though his men urge him that if he does not get to the Isle of the Blessed then many more with die. Lancelot volunteers to take him alone and Arthur has a discerning look once he mentions he’ll make his was to Camelot through the Valley of the Fallen Kings but reluctantly agrees. Tune in to an all-new episode of Merlin Friday, January 13th, at 10/9c to witness Merlin’s journey back to Camelot and Arthur’s quest to defeat the Dorocha.
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Fox’s entertainment president Kevin Reilly spoke at the Television Critics Association’s Winter Press Tour, and he mentioned Terra Nova and Fringe specifically. No decisions have been made on either for renewal, but should come soon, but it is looking pretty bleak for Fringe.

First, on Terra Nova – Reilly admits they made money. “We made money on it, the studio made money on it, and it seems to have resonated with the family audience.” So why haven’t they renewed it already? “If we had more holes in our network, we’d be thrilled to lock that right in.” So it appears there isn’t much room and they might be looking at a bigger margin with something else. But also he said the show was hunting for an identity, trying to be too many things at once, and they are working on it.

Of Fringe, the news was far from hopeful. Although he shares the fan’s passion for the show, Reilly said, “We lose a lot of money on the show. At that rating on [Friday] night it’s almost impossible for us to make money.” Of course that won’t resonate with fans at all, who originally criticized the move to the Friday slot as an attempt to kill the show. “We are not in the business of losing money, so we’re trying to figure out if there a number at which we can continue with the series. We haven’t even sat down with the producers yet.” Another bad sign there…

NBC released a few details on pilots and pick-ups late Friday, and of the five pilots they mentioned, four of them have a science fiction/fantasy elements (some may have been announced earlier but are re-affirmed):

The Munsters: A re-invention of the classic TV series, from executive producers Brian Fuller (Heroes), Bryan Singer (House M.D., X-Men: First Class), and John Wirth (Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles). We first caught wind of this in November. Universal Television is producing.

Isabel: Based Le Monde du Charlotte, a French Canadian series, is a comedy about a pretty typical middle-class family, with middle-class issues – except their young girl turns out to be magical as well. Marcia Gay Harden (Damages) has recently joined the cast, likely as the mother, while Isabel will be played by relatively-new Sophia Schloss (Grimm). Howard Busgang and Tom Nursall (Single White Spenny) are the writers and exec producers, with Todd Holland (Malcolm in the Middle) directing/exec producing, and Karey Burke (Free Agents), Aaron Kaplan (Terra Nova) and original series producer Jocelyn Deschenes all joining as executive producers. Universal Television, Kapital Entertainment and Sphere Media are producing.

Beautiful People: An ensemble “what if” drama set “10 minutes in the future” (shades of Max Headroom?) “where families of mechanical human beings exist to service the human population — until some of the mechanicals begin to “awaken.”” Sounds a little like a Cylon backstory? Anyways, they describe it as “low tech, high drama” which might keep the special effects budget down. James Murray (Primeval, Chaos) will play an attorney fighting for android rights, while Patrick Heusinger (Black Swan) plays an android who suddenly finds emotions. Michael McDonald (Cougar Town) is the writer/executive producer; Robert M. Sertner (Revenge) will exec produce and Stephen Hopkins (Californication) will direct. Universal Television and ABC Studios is producing.

Save Me: A religious-tinged single-camera comedy about a woman who believes she has begun channeling God after suffering an accident, comes from Sony Television and Original Films. John Scot Shepherd (Life or Something Like It) is writing/exec producing, with Scott Winant (Breaking Bad) directing/exec producing, plus executive producers Neal Moritz and Vivian Cannon (The Big C).

Hot on the heels of the earlier announcement, another British actor is scored for Star Trek 2: Benedict Cumberbatch, who’s been pretty hot lately. After starring in the British mini-series Sherlock (with more episodes currently airing in the UK), he scored roles in The War Horse and Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, and is playing two rules in the upcoming The Hobbit films – the voice of the Necromancer and Smaug the Dragon.

Deadline reports that Cumberbatch will be playing a lead role, but nothing more. Could he be a villain? Khan?

Syfy plans to make a mess of the Earth this month with a pair of Saturday original movies.

In Collision Earth, premiering Saturday, January 14 at 9PM (ET/PT), a solar flare knocks Mercury out of its orbit and onto a collision course with Earth. With global devastation quickly approaching, the secret military initiative, “Project 7,” must be activated to save the world from disaster. Collision Earth stars Kirk Acevedo (Fringe) and Diane Farr (Californication), and is a production of Cinetel Films.

In Swamp Volcano, premiering Saturday, January 28 at 9PM (ET/PT), oil rig drillers in the Gulf of Mexico accidentally hit an underground lava flow, causing a massive volcano to form in Miami. Now a vulcanologist and her sister attempt to blow the whistle on an illegal oil drilling scheme before it sets off the eruption that will destroy civilization. Swamp Volcano stars Rachel Hunter (The Benchwarmers) and Brad Dourif (Lord of the Rings) and is a production of Bullet Films.

In a cross-franchise, cross-ocean move, Noel Clarke, who played the recurring role of Rose Tyler’s boyfriend Mickey Smith on Doctor Who, is joining the cast of Star Trek 2 in an unnamed role, but the character is described as “a family man with a wife and young daughter.”

Clarke joins fellow British actors Alice Eve (She’s Out of My League) and Simon Pegg (returning as Scotty).

Star Trek 2 is scheduled for release on May 17th, 2013.

Ghost Hunters returns for an 8th season on Syfy January 18th, and we’ve got a special 9 minute preview of the upcoming season and a look back at some memorable moments!
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Merlin returns next Friday, January 6th on Syfy! In this preview, qw Merlin struggling with his magic and finds himself being attacked by a mysterious skeletal ghost though luckily, one of Arthur’s men was able to ward it off by waving fire before him. Quickly, Arthur and his men come running behind and urges everyone to retreat to a safer place. Next, we see the mayhem back at the castle and we witness the ghost taking the life of a guard leaving Guenevere fearful and terrified. Tune-in to the Season Premiere of Merlin on Friday, January 6th to find out of Merlin can regain his powers to destroy the evil demon.
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