Sci-Fi Storm

I’m just learning of reports that the remake of the classic British SF series Blake’s 7 from Georgiaville Television, which I’ve been asking for years, is no longer in development at Syfy, but may be nearing a series order from Microsoft, of all companies, to become one of the first original series offered over the Xbox Live service.

Xbox Live may also get the Halo series long in development at Steven Spielberg’s Amblin TV.

Actress Dana Davis (Franklin & Bash, Heroes) and actor Peter Macon (Ashes) have signed on as regulars for the Syfy pilot High Moon.

Davis will play Yama Winehart, a Moon environmentalist who was the first – and only – child born on the Moon. Due to pre-natal problems due to the artificial gravity, she can never leave the Moon.

Macon will play General Gale Lynn Winehart, Yama’s father and a hard-nosed Army general.

Syfy has acquired the first two seasons (23 episodes) of the popular New Zealand scripted series The Almighty Johnsons from independent television distributor ALL3MEDIA International.

The Almighty Johnsons is a production of South Pacific Pictures.

Season 1 of The Almighty Johnsons, consisting of 10 episodes, will premiere on Syfy in 2014.

The action-packed comedy drama The Almighty Johnsons follows the Johnson boys, four typical fun-loving guys – who have inherited the power of Norse Gods. But these four brothers are no flashy superheroes. Everyday Gods have everyday struggles – searching for love, overcoming sibling rivalry and fulfilling their God-like destiny – while still enjoying a few beers with their mates.

Chris Regina, Senior Vice President, Programming, Syfy, said: “We’re delighted to introduce quality New Zealand programming to the Syfy audience. A compelling blend of fantasy and comedy, this quirky series should resonate strongly with our viewers.”

Kelly Martin, CEO, South Pacific Pictures, said: “We are thrilled with the deal that ALL3MEDIA International has done. The Almighty Johnsons will be the first wholly New Zealand originated and produced drama series to be broadcast in the United States, which is a terrific accomplishment and reflects the quality of the series.”

Louise Pedersen, Managing Director, ALL3MEDIA International, added: “This acquisition by an influential market such as the United States will be fantastic for the profile of The Almighty Johnsons and New Zealand drama on the global stage.”

Syfy has inked actors Chris Diamantopoulos and Jake Sandvig for starring roles in High Moon, a 90-minute pilot, co-produced by Universal Cable Productions and Lark Productions set to commence shooting August 26 in Vancouver BC. The project is based on the novel “The Lotus Caves” by John Christopher.

High Moon is an imaginative, out-of-this-world adventure series exploring what happens when Earth establishes colonies to mine the Moon’s resources and discover a new form of life. Chaos erupts in a genuinely emotional, humorously thrilling and always unexpected fashion as the colonists of the Moon race to uncover this life form’s powerful secrets.

High Moon is executive produced by Bryan Fuller (Hannibal) and Adam Kane (Being Human), Cary Granat and Steve Granat for Reel FX, Don Murphy and Susan Montford for Angry Films, and Louise Clark and Andrew Williamson for Lark Productions. Adam Kane will also direct the pilot written by Co-executive Producer Jim Danger Gray (Pushing Daisies) from the story adaptation written by Bryan Fuller and Gray.
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At least one of the series on Syfy’s April development slate will make it to pilot…it was announced today that Dominion, based on characters from the 2010’s feature Legion, has been given the green light for a pilot.

Dominion is an epic supernatural action drama set 25 years in the future after a war between an army of angels and mankind has transformed the world. The series follows the perilous journey of a rebellious young soldier who discovers he’s the unlikely savior of humanity.

Scott Stewart, who co-wrote and directed Legion, is back to direct the pilot, and is one of the project’s executive producers. Michel Litvak and David Lancaster of BOLD Films are also Executive Producers. Vaun Wilmott, who is also writing the Syfy miniseries development project Ringworld, is writer and co-executive producer.

Here are five sizzle reels direct from Comic-Con for the Syfy series Haven, Warehouse 13, Defiance, Being Human and Helix!
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Deadline reports that Timur Bekmambetov, who directed Wanted and Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, will develop his own idea for a new re-imagining of the Wizard of Oz story as a mini-series for Syfy. Called Warriors Of Oz, a fantasy-action mini in which “a warrior from present day Earth is transported to a post-apocalyptic future Oz where he must team up with three other warriors, Heartless, Brainless, and Coward, in order to defeat the evil Wizard who has enslaved the land.”

Syfy has dipped into that pool before, having produced 2007’s Tin Man starring Zooey Deschanel.

The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that the Terry Gilliam film 12 Monkeys is being adapted into a series for Syfy, and is nearing a series order. Chuck Roven and Richard Suckle, who produced the movie, are involved.

The movie dealt with a post-apocalyptic Earth, devastated by a virus believed to have been released by a terrorist organization called the Army of the 12 Monkeys. A convicted criminal by the name of James Cole (Bruce Willis) can earn a pardon if he agrees to go back in time (using some problematic technology) to try and discover the origin of the virus and bring back a pure sample, so that they might be able to craft a cure back in the future. The film also starred Brad Pitt and Madeline Stow.

It is expected that there will be a 90-minute backdoor pilot, which if it does sufficiently well will kick in to a series order.

Here is apparently the last teaser for the upcoming Syfy series Helix from Ronald Moore…

Catch this creepy yet bright teaser trailer for Syfy’s Helix, which has the X-Files-ish tag of “The Truth will spread”…and if you missed the first trailer, it follows below. More will be learned at Comic-Con, but Helix deals with a team of scientists investigating a disease outbreak in isolation in the Artic…and might end up bringing about the end of the world…
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