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Anyone worried that US TV bosses might be falling out of favour with SF and fantasy needn't worry. Just check out the following list for proof. These are the pilots (and, indeed, in some cases full series) that have already been ordered by the major networks.
Captain Cook's Extraordinary Atlas STUDIO: Warner Brothers CHANNEL: ABC SYNOPSIS: Harry Potter meets Pan's Labyrinth – a young girl who finds a magical atlas that reveals a secret world underneath our world. COMMENTS: Bet this one is whimsical attempt to recapture the success of Pushing Daisies.
Section 8 STUDIO: ABC Studios/BermanBraun CHANNEL: ABC SYNOPSIS: Everyday people with exceptional neurological abilities recruited to work for a secret branch of a government agency COMMENTS: There are some big names behind this one, including Zak Penn (scripter on X-Men III and The Incredible Hulk) and Gail Berman (previously a producer on Buffy and Angel). Six episodes have been commissioned.
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Life on Mars STUDIO: David E Kelley Productions/20th Century Fox TV/Kudos CHANNEL: ABC SYNOPSIS: US adaptation of the BBC hit about a modern day cop transported back to the '70s,CAST: Jason O'Mara, Colm Meaney COMMENTS: David E Kelly, the mastermind behind Ali McBeal and Boston Legal, is handling the trans-Atlantic translation.
Mythological Ex STUDIO: 20th Century Fox TV CHANNEL: CBS SYNOPSIS: After learning from a psychic that she already has dated the man she's supposed to marry, a woman revisits all her past relationships in the hopes of finding him. CAST: Rachel Boston COMMENT: Not too sure how fantasy this will be. Maybe not at all. Can’t honestly say it sounds the most thrilling concept. It’s based on an Israeli format, apparently.
The Meant to Be's STUDIO: CBS Paramount Network TV CHANNEL: CBS SYNOPSIS: Romantic drama about a woman who dies, but in order to "pass over," she must return to Earth and help people improve their lives. CAST: Amy Smart COMMENTS: Again, the concept sounds far from thrilling, but the showrunner is the legendary Glenn Gordon Caron (Moonlighting, Medium) who has a habit of quirking up seemingly unoriginal ideas.
Eleventh Hour STUDIO: Jerry Bruckheimer Television/Warner Bros./Granada Channel: CBS SYNOPSIS: A special science adviser to the government saves people from the worst abuses of science. COMMENTS: Another one that ultimately may or may not fall into SFX territory, depending on how far they develop it from the orignal ITV mini series (which wasn’t quite SF enough for SFX's tastes).
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Flashpoint STUDIO: CTV/Avmar Entertainment/Pink Sky Entertainment Channel: CBS SYNOPSIS: A struggling artist is recruited by a secret agency to fight comic book-type villains. CAST: Rufus Sewell, Marley Shelton COMMENTS: A co-production with Canadian TV, this has already been given a series order.
Harper's Island STUDIO: CBS Paramount Network TV CHANNEL: CBS SYNOPSIS: A horror story unfolds over the course of a season as a group of friends meet on an island off the Seattle coast for a wedding. COMMENTS: Another one that may or may not be SFX territory. Jon (National Treasure/Jericho) Turteltaub is among the producers, though, so it could hover on the borders of telefantasy.
The Oaks STUDIO: 20th Century Fox CHANNEL: Fox SYNOPSIS: Three families, in different time periods, all occupy the same house haunted by a restless spirit. CAST: Sienna Guillory, Matt Lanter, Shannon Lucio, Romy Rosemont, Michael Rispoli COMMENTS: Sounds expensive. Has already been commissioned for a series.
Fringe STUDIO: Warner Brothers TV/Bad Robot CHANNEL: Fox SYNOPSIS: A tough FBI agent is forced to confront the spread of unexplained phenomena. CAST: Anna Torv, John Noble, Joshua Jackson COMMENTS: Is JJ Abrams giving us an X-Files for the noughties? Has already been commissioned for a series.
Dollhouse STUDIO: 20th Century Fox TV CHANNEL: Fox SYNOPSIS: A group of men and women – dolls - are imprinted with different personalities for different assignments, but forget all about their adventures when they return to the Dollhouse. CAST: Eliza Dushku, Tahmoh Penikett, Fran Kranz, Dichen Lachman, Enver Gjokaj COMMENTS: Whedon has returned. Already been commissioned for a series.
Inseparable STUDIO: ABC Television Studios CHANNEL: Fox SYNOPSIS: A modern-day Jekyll and Hyde tale about a partially paralyzed forensic psychiatrist with a split personality whose alter ego is a charismatic criminal. CAST: Toby Stephens COMMENTS: The latest stab at telefantasy from Invasion and American Gothic creator Shaun Cassidy.
Knight Rider STUDIO: Universal Media Studios/Cullen Bros./Dutch Oven Productions CHANNEL: NBC SYNOPSIS: An updated version of the 1980's television series. CAST: Sydney Tamiia Poitier, Justin Bruening, Val Kilmer COMMENTS: It’s just been announced that Gary Scott Thompson of Las Vegas (the show, not the place) fame will be showrunner.
SFX Magazine is the world's number one sci-fi, fantasy, and horror magazine published by Future PLC. Established in 1995, SFX Magazine prides itself on writing for its fans, welcoming geeks, collectors, and aficionados into its readership for over 25 years. Covering films, TV shows, books, comics, games, merch, and more, SFX Magazine is published every month. If you love it, chances are we do too and you'll find it in SFX.
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