With Lost disappearing next year, ABC has been scrambling to find a new sci-fi series to plug that J.J. Abrams-shaped hole in their viewership. Attempts like FlashForward and V have been pretty successful so far, but next year’s quest for sci-fi goodness will lead the network to the end of the world… and beyond it.
Roland Emmerich is working with ABC on a series called 2013, a follow-up to his epic disaster pic, 2012, which hits theaters next week. The TV show will follow the few remaining humans on Earth as they establish their new life in Africa, which is once again the cradle of civilization. In general, Emmerich told i09, he hates sequels, but this is “something different… like Lost, which has a totally different feel to it.” He was also quick to draw comparisons to District 9, citing possible struggles and animosity between the different groups of survivors.
How different will the tone really be? The writer/director insists that “It has no visual effects, it’s all about characters… it will only be what happened between people. We can do that on a TV show week after week after week.”
Hmmm. That’s a big claim coming from a man who has built his career on visual effects, from Independence Day to The Day After Tomorrow to 10,000 BC. But from ABC’s perspective? I’m sure he had them at “like Lost.”
Well, you kind of have to… for most of it, anyway. The series premieres at 8PM tonight on ABC. But you can certainly check out the first eight minutes, which come in the form of an ensemble opening reminiscent of FlashForward’s earlier this season. We’re introduced briefly to the status quo of the main characters, who include a metro news anchor, a suburban mom and her teenage son, and a guy planning to propose to his girlfriend. They start going about their day, which is normal except for some strange tremors… until the giant ships materialize above them. That’s when all hell breaks loose.
We get to see a fighter jet go down in a crowded city street, its pilot parachuting down, unconscious, a moment later. Then, the first of the ships, which is massive enough to blot out the entire sky, shows up, and there’s plenty of panicking as a number of devious-looking gears shift and lights come on on its underbelly. Then, it’s revealed to be a video screen that spans the entire bottom of the craft, and Morena Baccarin’s face looks benevolently down on the people below. And that’s where they leave us.
It’s a strong opening, and it should slake your thirst, if only for a little while. This is one of the most anticipated sci-fi series in a long time, and tonight, we’ll finally get to see if it’s worthy of all that hype. From just 8 minutes, it’s pretty hard to tell, but I gotta say – I’m lovin’ it so far.
In a world where reality TV and CSI spin-offs have all but taken over the episodic world, it is refreshing to stumble upon, or sometimes, search out the projects that actually bring meaning to the art of Television. I’m talking about Lost and Battlestar Galactica, Firefly and Deep Space Nine, Dr. Who and hopefully the new David S. Goyer project Flash Forward.
Written by Goyer and Star Trek visionary Brannon Braga, based on the novel by Robert J. SawyerFlash Forward is looking to be a jigsaw-puzzle series based on the effects of the human race collectively jumping 20 years into the future for two and a half minutes. For the diehards that want to know the entire synopsis, you can check out the plot outline of Sawyer’s novel at http://sfwriter.com/ouff.htm. Otherwise, have fun dreaming up the different plot lines Goyer and Braga might captivate us with. Flash Forward will be set for ABC sometime next year.
Iron Man, the anti-superhero, joins the fight to Stand Up To Cancer, a movement that has been unstoppable in its innovative approach to fund cancer research. EBay is currently holding an auction for a winner and his guest to enjoy a VIP experience of Iron Man 2, encouraging all to “stand up and bid to fight cancer.” The winner will enjoy:
* A visit to the set of Iron Man 2 (one shooting day)
* A meet and greet with the cast
* A walk-on/ extra role in the film for the auction winner
* Photo tour of the set with an Iron Man unit photographer to document the tour
* Professional photos will be given to the winner
* Tickets to the Los Angeles premiere for you and a guest
* Winner and Guest will walk the premiere’s red carpet
Most recently, Laura Ziskin Productions and Seligman Entertainment in association with the Noreen Fraser Foundation teamed up for an unprecedented program that premiered on NBC, ABC, and CBS simultaneously, devoting one hour of commercial free prime time to speak for the cause. Over 50 of the most renowned personalities in TV, film, sports and music came together for this unparalleled undertaking. If you missed the premiere, you can still tune in at Standup2cancer.org to get involved. Cheers to a wonderful team effort.
John Updike’s The Witches of Eastwick is boiling up a new incarnation, this time as an hour-long series for ABC. The pilot is being written by Maggie Friedman (Dawson’s Creek) and is expected for mid-season of fall 2009 airing. No cast has been announced as yet. Three women bond over witchcraft to replace the men in their lives but manage to conjure up a man more devilish than any of their former partners.
The novel has previously been a feature film, released in 1987 and starred Jack Nicholson, Cher, Susan Sarandon and Michelle Pfeiffer. It did very well despite criticism of Nicholson being even more over the top than usual. (more…)
Robert Forster (Karen Sisco) will join the cast of Heroes as presumed-dead Arthur Petrelli. According to Entertainment Weekly, the character could be seen as early as the September 22 season premiere although in real time or flashback remains to be seen.
Lisa Bonet (Angel Heart) has been added to the impressive growing cast of ABC’s Life on Mars. She will play Jason O’Mara’s present-day girlfriend while just announced Gretchen Mol will play his 1973 flame.
ABC has landed Harvey Keitel for his first television series, the American version of Life on Mars. He will be Detective Gene Hunt, heading up the 1970s homicide department when he finds himself working with the time displaced Detective Sam Tyler, to be played by Jason O’Mara. Known for using any means necessary to do his job, the tough cop will be paired with Detective Ray Caling (Michael Imperioli) and Detective Chris Skelton (Jonathan Murphy).
Lionsgate has set a November 7 release for Repo! The Genetic Opera. Expect this to be a short-lived run before it lives forever on DVD.
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader will be shot in Mexico, not New Zealand according to Variety. The production’s need for several large soundstages plus a massive water tank prompted the move to Baja Studios. As a result, shooting, originally slated for October, will now begin in January. (more…)
Peacock, a thriller about multiple personalities, has added Keith Carradine (Dexter) and Graham Beckel (Battlestar Galactica) to a cast that already has Cillian Murphy (Batman Begins) and Ellen Page (Juno). Things go off the rails when a train crashes into the backyard of a bank clerk (Carradine) and his wife (also Carradine, dealing with the fractured mind).
The movie is from writer/director Michael Lander (Solid Waste) and cowriter Ryan O. Roy. A 2009 release is anticipated.
Julianna Guill (CSI: Miami) has signed in at Camp Crystal Lake in the remake of Friday the 13th, now shooting.
Bruce Boxleitner (Babylon 5) will play a politician on the third season of Heroes.
It seems we may have been premature in telling you Jonah Hill would be seen in Transformers 2. Word is now that negotiations collapsed so he’s not likely to be playing Shia LaBeouf’s college roommate.
Morena Baccarin (Firefly) has been cast in an ABC dramatic pilot starring Matt Long (Ghost Rider). They play associates from wildly different backgrounds now working for an upscale Los Angeles law firm.
Ruben Santiago-Hudson has joined ABC’s drama pilot Castle, the one about the horror/mystery novelist (Nathan Fillion).
The BBC series about a 21st century cop mysteriously transported back to the 1970s, Life on Mars, has been reworked for American audiences. David E. Kelley, who knows how to spin reality on its head ever since his Picket Fences debuted, has been shepherding the project. Now the Hollywood trades indicate ABC is likely to pick up the series for next fall, but without Kelley. Instead, their October Road showrunners Josh Appelbaum, Andre Nemec, and Scott Rosenberg are likely to handle the show.
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With Lost disappearing next year, ABC has been scrambling to find a new sci-fi series to plug that J.J. Abrams-shaped hole in their viewership. Attempts like FlashForward and V have been pretty successful so far, but next year’s quest for sci-fi goodness will lead the network to the end of the world… and beyond it.
