Sci-Fi Storm

Syfy announced today that it is working with Scott Free Productions and Warner Horizon Television to adapt the Arthur C. Clarke novel 3001: The Final Odyssey into a miniseries. Stuart Beattie (Pirates of the Caribbean, Collateral) will write the adaptation and serve as executive producer along with Scott Free’s Ridley Scott and David W. Zucker. Clayton Krueger will serve as co-executive producer.

An epic story of a man lost in time, Arthur C. Clarke’s final “Odyssey” book resolves the tale that was begun in 2001: A Space Odyssey. Beginning with the discovery of Frank Poole’s frozen body, floating in space, 3001: The Final Odyssey offers an extraordinary range of complex characters with conflicting agendas, stunning visuals, and dark thematic meditations on the final fate of all Humankind.

Arthur C. Clarke’s “Odyssey” series spanned over 30 years, with the initial publication of “2001” in 1968, and the final “3001” 1997. The original film, directed by Stanley Kubrick, is an Academy Award winning classic, and “2010” was the only other of the novels to be filmed. The estates of both Kubrick and Clarke have offered their full support for “3001: The Final Odyssey.”

“I have always been a fan of Clarke’s extraordinary ‘Odyssey’ series, and certainly Kubrick’s adaptation of 2001. I am thrilled to be part of bringing that legacy to audiences and continuing the great cinematic tradition that this story and its creators deserve,” said Ridley Scott.

“Arthur C. Clarke is the father of modern science fiction,” said Syfy President Dave Howe. “We couldn’t be more excited to be working with Scott Free and Warner Horizon Television to bring to the screen, for the very first time, the final chapter of this extraordinary masterpiece.”

The announcement comes on the heels of Syfy announcing the greenlight of another Arthur C. Clarke novel, Childhood’s End, which begins production later this year.

On the heals of their 200th episode last week and the finale of the ninth season (by Syfy reckoning) just tonight, Syfy has announced it has picked up a 13-episode 10th season of the hit paranormal investigation series Ghost Hunters to air in 2015. At he same time they announced a fourth season of 13 episodes of fellow paranormal series Paranormal Witness.

“We couldn’t be more excited about entering a brand new decade of paranormal investigations with Jason Hawes, a refreshed TAPS team and Ghost Hunters,” said Heather Olander, SVP, alternative series development and production for Syfy. “We also eagerly anticipate the return of a revitalized and scarier than ever Paranormal Witness: True Terror, which features shocking firsthand accounts of truly frightening and skin-crawling supernatural experiences – including the real-life story of the hit movie, The Conjuring.”

To date, Season 9 of Ghost Hunters has averaged 1.7 million total viewers, 841,000 viewers in Adults 18-49 and 983,000 viewers in Adults 25-54 (all data Live +7). The two-hour, 200th reunion episode, which aired October 22, was watched by 1.3 million total viewers and was the #1 unscripted show of the night among Adults 18-49 and Adults 25-54 (all data Live +SD).

Season 3 of Paranormal Witness delivered 1.47 million total viewers, 782,000 Adults 18-49 and 833,000 Adults 25-54 (all data Live +7). The season, which aired in 2013, ranked as Syfy’s #3 most-watched unscripted series.

As a highlight of Syfy’s annual 31 Days of Halloween programming, the Ghost Hunters season finale (airing Tonight – Wednesday, October 29 at 9PM ET/PT) features a special Halloween investigation at the Cincinnati Music Hall in Ohio, where reported hauntings are as frequent as the performances. With paranormal activity said to spike at 3AM, the TAPS team is on high alert to see if they can capture evidence that shores up the claims of those who’ve experienced hauntings at the Hall.

The episode is also the final one for investigators Amy Bruni, Adam Berry and Britt Griffith.

Ghost Hunters is produced for Syfy by Craig Piligian’s Pilgrim Studios (Fast N’ Loud, Street Outlaws, The Ultimate Fighter). Piligian, Mike Nichols, Thomas Thayer and Alan David serve as executive producers.

Paranormal Witness: True Terror is produced by Raw TV (Locked Up Abroad and Gold Rush). Executive Producers are Mark Lewis and Bart Layton. Series Producer is Rebecca North.

A group of survivalists – led by Kim Coates (Sons of Anarchy) and Holly Deveaux (Hannibal) – emerge from their bunkers 10 years after an apocalyptic meteor strike, only to discover the world is overrun with crazed mutants, in the new Syfy Original Movie Mutant World, premiering Saturday, November 8 at 9PM (ET/PT).

Trying to survive through the terrible nights, they meet a mysterious traveler – singer Ashanti (song “Foolish”) – who claims a safe haven exists, but to reach it they first have to prepare for all-out war.

Mutant World is a production of Nomadic Pictures (Fargo, Hell on Wheels, Broken Trail) and is executive produced by Chad Oakes and Mike Frislev, who founded Nomadic Pictures in 1995. As co-chairmen of Nomadic, they have produced, financed and/or co-financed over fifty-seven film and television projects.

As we broke on Twitter on Monday afternoon, Syfy’s hit make-up effects competition Face Off, with the prosthetics not even dry yet on the 7th season (the finale airs next Tuesday), will return for Season 8 on Tuesday, January 13th at 9/8c, but with a slightly new format, and the theme of “Return of the Champions”.

In a twist on the show’s traditional format, three former champions, Rayce Bird (Season 2), Anthony Kosar (Season 4) and Laura Tyler (Season 5), will return in the premiere and select teams of five new artists who they will coach throughout the season.

Season 8 will also feature the full-time return of fan-favorite and Academy Award-winning judge, Ve Neill, who recently wrapped work on The Hunger Games franchise.

After an exciting and high-stakes season of competition highlighted by themes of life and death, three artists remain in the fight for the title of Season 7 Face Off champion – Cig Neutron of Los Angeles, CA by way of New Castle, IN; Drew Talbot of Pittsburgh, PA by way of Wood River, IL; and Dina Cimarusti of Chicago, IL. For their final challenge, they will each create a pair of knights, one representing life and one representing death that will have to withstand the trials of battle. The Season 7 finale of Face Off airs Tuesday, October 28 at 9PM ET/PT on Syfy.

Syfy today announced it has acquired the new original series Dark Matter, which will be produced by Prodigy Pictures (Lost Girl, XIII) and created by Joseph Mallozzi and Paul Mullie (Stargate franchise).

The 13 one-hour episodes will be based on the graphic novel [asin=B00A7H2CHK]Dark Matter[/asin] by Mallozzi and Mullie, published by Dark Horse Comics, and will air on Syfy in 2015.

Executive producers are Jay Firestone, Joseph Mallozzi, Paul Mullie and Vanessa Piazza. The series will be distributed internationally by Endemol Worldwide Distribution.

In Dark Matter, the crew of a derelict spaceship is awakened from stasis with no memories of who they are or how they got on board. Facing threats at every turn, they have to work together to survive a voyage charged with vengeance, betrayal and hidden secrets.

In making the announcement, Chris Regina, Senior Vice President, Programming, Syfy, said: “Dark Matter is a refreshing and entertaining space opera that blends an intriguing premise with fast-paced suspense. It will be a terrific addition to our prime time schedule next year.”

Said Jay Firestone, Prodigy Pictures: “We’re thrilled to be working with Joe and Paul, who have created a series that revolves around compelling characters that will keep its viewers guessing what’s coming up next.”

Said Cathy Payne, Chief Executive, Endemol Worldwide Distribution: “We are excited to be involved with Dark Matter and look forward to launching this internationally in 2015, concurrently with Syfy.”

Dark Matter joins Syfy’s international co-productions Z Nation and Olympus (which premieres in 2015) along with popular acquired series such as Lost Girl, Spartacus and Bitten.

About Prodigy Pictures
Founded in 2006 by Jay Firestone and later joined by executive producer Vanessa Piazza, Prodigy Pictures leads the way in the production of quality television, film, and cross-platform media. Prodigy is responsible for the critically-acclaimed television series Lost Girl, which has electrified viewers around the world and amassed a cult-like following. Lost Girl just wrapped production on its final season. Prodigy’s other credits include indie horror The Dark Stranger and the original television miniseries XIII as well as XIII: The Series.

Ascension, Syfy’s upcoming event series, will air on three consecutive nights in December, starting on Monday, December 15th, at 9/8c.

Created and written by executive producer and showrunner Philip Levens (Smallville), Ascension is an ambitious original drama following a covert U.S. space mission launched in the 1960’s that sent hundreds of men, women and children on a century-long voyage aboard the starship Ascension to populate a new world. Half way into their journey, as they approach the point of no return, the mysterious murder of a young woman causes the ship’s population to question the true nature of their mission.

The series stars Brandon P. Bell (Hollywood Heights) as the confident and capable First Officer Aaron Gault, Brian Van Holt (Cougar Town, The Bridge) as the eponymous ship’s Captain William Denninger, and Tricia Helfer (Battlestar Galactica) as Viondra Denninger, the captain’s beautiful, manipulative and dangerous wife (who also serves as the ship’s Chief Steward).

Joining Bell, Van Holt and Helfer are Tiffany Lonsdale as Chief Astronomer Emily Vanderhaus, Andrea Roth as the ship’s head doctor Juliet Bryce, Jacqueline Byers as her daughter, Nora Bryce, and P.J. Boudousqué as Nora’s love interest, James Toback.

Ascension is produced by Lionsgate Television and Sea to Sky Studios in association with Blumhouse Productions. Jason Blum (Stranded, The River, film franchises Paranormal Activity and The Purge) is an executive producer on the project along with Ivan Fecan, Tim Gamble and Brett Burlock on behalf of Sea to Sky Studios. The event series will be co-financed and distributed by Universal Cable Productions and Lionsgate Television.

Syfy announced today it is partnering with Matt Damon and Ben Affleck’s Pearl Street Films and CBS Television Studios to develop Incorporated, a futuristic espionage thriller set in a world where corporations have seemingly unlimited power. This will be the story of one man’s efforts to beat the system.

David and Alex Pastor (Selfless, The Last Days) will write the pilot. Ted Humphrey (The Good Wife) will serve as executive producer/showrunner, with Damon, Affleck and Jennifer Todd also executive producing. Pearl Street Film’s Margaret Chernin will serve as associate producer.
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Universal Cable Productions (UCP) continues to gain momentum adding star power to a growing roster of A-list producing talent. The studio has signed a first-look deal with Chris Bender, JC Spink and Jake Weiner’s BenderSpink (The Hangover, We’re The Millers, The Ring). As part of the deal, BenderSpink will develop and produce scripted programming with UCP for NBCUniversal and external networks.

“BenderSpink has not only great comedic taste, but also a keen eye for the kind of genre that audiences crave,” said Dawn Olmstead, Executive Vice President of Development, UCP. “We’re excited to bring their vision to life and have a laugh while rolling up our sleeves.”

BenderSpink will expand UCP’s comedy and science fiction footprint by developing scripted content that leverages Chris Bender, JC Spink and Jake Weiner’s successful feature film hallmark. Among their first collaborations already in development at Syfy is the Kickstarter-funded sensation Five Ghosts by Frank Barbiere and Chris Mooneyham. This stylish, pulpy adventure tells the story of a 1930s-era treasure hunter possessed by five literary ghosts (Merlin, Robin Hood, Sherlock Holmes, Musashi, and Dracula) whose unique abilities he can draw on during his adventures. Evan Daugherty (Snow White and the Huntsmen), BenderSpink (The Hangover), Jake Wagner, Matt Pizzolo and Brett Gurewitz have signed on to produce.

“We’ve been anxious to build our television business and form the kind of successful partnership we have in features with New Line Cinema,” said Chris Bender, Co-Founder of BenderSpink. “We really clicked with the gang at UCP and their sensibility and are excited to have the opportunity to make great television together.”

BenderSpink joins UCP’s leading producer line-up, including Gale Anne Hurd’s Valhalla Entertainment, Doug Liman’s Hypnotic, Jessica Biel’s Iron Ocean Films and Steve Carell’s Carousel Television.

About BenderSpink

BenderSpink was established by partners Chris Bender and J.C. Spink in November of 1998 with American Pie in post-production and 14 writer clients signed to their management company. Jake Weiner joined the company in 2001 as head of production and became a partner in 2006. The film production arm of BenderSpink has had a successful first look deal with New Line Cinema for over 15 years, and they recently signed a first look deal in television with Universal Cable Productions. Jake Wagner, Ryan Revel, and Daniel Vang round out the management arm. BenderSpink has developed or produced projects that have grown into seven franchises in various genres, which include Final Destination, American Pie, The Ring, Cats & Dogs, The Butterfly Effect, The Hangover, and Ride Along. The company most recently produced the comedies The Incredible Burt Wonderstone, We’re The Millers, and Horrible Bosses 2, and are currently in production on Vacation and Criminal.

Syfy has announced that they have given a 13 episode third season order for Defiance, as well as a 13 episode second season for Dominion. Both series are produced by Universal Cable Productions and are slated to return with all-new episodes in 2015.

Kevin Murphy (Desperate Housewives, Caprica, Hellcats) will resume his role as executive producer and showrunner of Defiance while Vaun Wilmott (Sons of Anarchy) will continue to fill the same posts for Dominion.

Season to date, Dominion and Defiance are the top two cable programs in the Thursday 8-10pm time period among P25-54s. With most current Live+7 data, both series are averaging 2.7 million total viewers, 1.2 million viewers 18-49 and 1.4 million viewers 25-54. Drawing an especially engaged social audience, Dominion was the most social drama on Thursdays across all of TV in tweets (15.4K) and tweets per unique (8.0).

Set in the near future, Defiance features an exotically transformed planet Earth, its landscapes permanently altered following the sudden – and tumultuous – arrival of seven unique alien races. In this somewhat unknown and unpredictable landscape, the richly diverse, newly-formed civilization of humans and aliens must learn to co-exist peacefully. Redefining the transmedia experience, Defiance has distinguished itself with an unprecedented partnership between Syfy and Trion Worlds, by creating the first-ever true convergence of television and online gaming.

Based on characters from the hit theatrical film Legion (2010), Dominion is an epic supernatural drama set in a transformed post–apocalyptic future, 25 years after an army of lower angels, assembled by the archangel Gabriel, waged a war of possession against mankind. The archangel Michael, turning against his own kind, chose to side with humanity. Rising out of the ashes, are newly fortified cities which protect the human survivors. In Vega (formerly Las Vegas), the largest of these cities, two houses vie for control over the people and the stage is set for political upheaval and a dangerous power shift. Meanwhile, a rebellious young soldier begins a perilous journey as the war escalates between the human race and the angels that are hell-bent on destroying humanity. Dominion is produced by Universal Cable Productions and Bold Films.

Syfy has given a straight-to-series order for 13 episodes of Hunters from producer Gale Anne Hurd’s Valhalla Productions and Universal Cable Productions. The series will be based on the [asin=076536848X]Alien Hunter[/asin] series of novels from Whitley Streiber.

No casting has been announced yet. Natalie Chaidez (V, Heroes) will pen the first script.

The books follow the story of Flynn Carroll, a police detective who investigates the mysterious disappearance of his wife. In the process he attracts the attention of a secret organization, one run by shadowy figures who may not be of this world…