SciFiAndTvTalk

Syfy Announces Major Additions To Original Programming Slate

A scene from the upcoming Krypton. Photo copyright of Syfy.

As SYFY unveils an all-new look and feel set to debut June 19, the network today announced three additions to its powerhouse slate of original programming, including series pickups for highly anticipated Superman prequel Krypton and Happy!, a graphic novel adaptation starring Christopher Meloni (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit). Additionally, SYFY and Universal Cable Productions announced a new development project based on author George R.R. Martin’s novella Nightflyers.

“SYFY is partnering with the biggest names in the business to tell the boldest stories in the sci-fi world, and I can’t think of any bigger and bolder than Krypton, Happy! and Nightflyers,” said Chris McCumber, President, Entertainment Networks, NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment.

KRYPTON

Set two generations before the destruction of the legendary Man of Steel’s home planet, Krypton follows Superman’s grandfather (Cameron Cuffe, The Halcyon) — whose House of El was ostracized and shamed — as he fights to redeem his family’s honor and save his beloved world from chaos. Based on DC characters, KRYPTON is from Warner Horizon Scripted Television and is executive produced by David S. Goyer (Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, The Dark Knight trilogy) through his Phantom Four banner. Damian Kindler (Sleepy Hollow) will serve as executive producer and showrunner.

In addition to Cuffe, Krypton stars Georgina Campbell (Broadchurch), Elliot Cowan (Da Vinci’s Demons), Ann Ogbomo (World War Z), Rasmus Hardiker (Your Highness), Wallis Day (Will), Aaron Pierre (Tennison) with Ian McElhinney (Game of Thrones).

The pilot teleplay was written by Goyer and Kindler, from a story by Ian Goldberg (Once Upon a Time, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles) & Goyer, with Colm McCarthy (She Who Brings Gifts, Peaky Blinders) serving as director and co-executive producer. Krypton is based on characters created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, published by DC.

HAPPY!

Universal Cable Productions’ Happy! is based on New York Times best-selling author Grant Morrison and Darick Robertson’s graphic novel of the same name. The series follows Nick Sax (Christopher Meloni, Law & Order: SVU) – an intoxicated, corrupt ex-cop turned hit man – who is adrift in a world of casual murder, soulless sex and betrayal. After a hit gone wrong, his inebriated life is forever changed by a tiny, relentlessly positive, imaginary blue winged horse named “Happy” (Bobby Moynihan, Saturday Night Live).

Christopher Meloni stars in Happy! Photo copyright of Syfy.

Executive producers Grant Morrison (Batman, The Invisibles) and Brian Taylor (Crank, Gamer) co-wrote the pilot teleplay. Neal Moritz, Pavun Shetty and Toby Jaffe of Original Film (The Fast and the Furious franchise), Meloni and showrunner Patrick Macmanus will also executive produce. Taylor directed the pilot.

NIGHTFLYERS

SYFY and Universal Cable Productions are developing a supernatural thriller based on author George R.R. Martin’s (Game of Thrones) epic novel Nightfluers. Set in the future on the eve of Earth’s destruction, a crew of explorers journey on the most advanced ship in the galaxy, The Nightflyer, to intercept a mysterious alien spacecraft that might hold the key to their survival. As the crew nears their destination, they discover that the ship’s artificial intelligence and never-seen captain may be steering them into deadly and unspeakable horrors deep in the dark reaches of space.

Nightflyers is being developed with executive producers Gene Klein (Suits), David Bartis (Mr. and Mrs. Smith) and Doug Liman (Suits) of Hypnotic; Alison Rosenzweig (Jacob’s Ladder, Windtalkers) and Michael Gaeta (Jacob’s Ladder) of Gaeta Rosenzweig Films; Lloyd Ivan Miller and Alice P. Neuhauser of Lloyd Ivan Miller Productions and Jeff Buhler (Jacob’s Ladder), who will write the adaptation. Robert Jaffe (Nightflyers (1987)) will produce.

Nightflyers joins previously announced high-profile projects in development at SYFY including Brave New World, a scripted series based on one of the most influential genre novels of all time, with Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Television; Hyperion, based on Dan Simmons’ Hugo Award-winning bestselling novel, which is being developed with Oscar-nominated producer Bradley Cooper (American Sniper), Oscar-winning producer Graham King (The Departed, Argo) and Todd Phillips (The Hangover, Old School); and Stranger in a Strange Land, based on the groundbreaking science fiction novel by Robert Heinlein. Brave New World and Hyperion are from Universal Cable Productions, while Stranger in a Strange Land is a co-production between Paramount Television and Universal Cable Productions.

Krypton and Happy! will join a rich 2017-18 lineup of original scripted series on SYFY, including sci-fi drama The Expanse and fantasy series The Magicians, both greenlit for third seasons for 2018; time travel thriller 12 Monkeys, greenlit for third and fourth seasons for 2017 and 2018; Dark Matter and Killjoys, which return for their third season in Summer 2017; and the Channel Zero horror anthology, which will return in October 2017 for its second installment.

As noted above, all photos copyright of Syfy, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!

Syfy Reboot Coming in June 2017

In advance of its 25th anniversary this September, SYFY today announced a strategic point of view focused on a renewed commitment to the genre and fandom at large. This includes an all-new look and feel, an expansion of its news division SYFY WIRE, and high profile additions to the network’s ambitious original programming slate.

“I can think of no better occasion than SYFY’s 25th anniversary to get back to our roots, double down on premium original programming, and put fans at the center of everything we do,” said Chris McCumber, President, Entertainment Networks for NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment. “As the only television network dedicated to the genre 24/7, we’re building the ultimate universe for this passionate community to call home.”

Debuting on June 19, SYFY’s updated visual identity includes a new logo, typeface and look across all linear, digital, social and experiential platforms. “This is a wholesale change, top to bottom, of the way we express ourselves,” said Alexandra Shapiro, Executive Vice President, Marketing and Digital, Entertainment Networks for NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment. “Our new branding is designed for the digital age and tailored to the consumption patterns of our audience, allowing us to celebrate and engage with fans on every consumer touchpoint.”

Additionally, SYFY is scaling and expanding its editorial division SYFY WIRE to infuse breaking genre news, in-depth analysis and thought-provoking original content across its entire ecosystem. Through SYFY WIRE’s website (http://syfywire.com) and on air via future program development, programming integrations and regular interstitials and lower thirds, SYFY WIRE will cover the latest and greatest in genre TV, film, books, comics, gaming and technology.

On the programming front, SYFY’s original development filter will encompass science fiction, fantasy, paranormal and superheroes/comics, reflecting the rich depth of the genre. As part of this, SYFY today announced two new high profile series pickups. The highly anticipated Superman prequel Krypton and the graphic novel adaptation Happy!, starring Christopher Meloni will join the network’s acclaimed originals slate including The Expanse, The Magicians, 12 Monkeys and Channel Zero. Additionally, the network announced new development project Nightflyers, based on the George R.R. Martin novella, which joins previously announced high profile development including Brave New World, Hyperion and Strangers in a Strange Land.

Preacher - New Season Two Key Art Images (AMC)

AMC has released four Preacher key art images (above and below) in anticipation of the show’s second season featuring its “Powerful” trio: Jesse (Dominic Cooper), Tulip (Ruth Negga) and Cassidy (Joseph Gilgun). The critically-acclaimed, supernatural series returns with a two-night event, beginning with the season premiere on Sunday, June 25th at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT , followed by the second episode on Monday, June 26th at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT , in the series' regular time slot.  

Based on the popular cult comic book franchise of the same name, Preacher is an absurdly twisted and action packed thrill ride. When Jesse Custer, a small-town preacher with a criminal past, realizes God is absent from Heaven, Jesse sets out to find Him. Along for the ride are Tulip, Jesse’s volatile true love, and Cassidy, a 119 year old Irish vampire and Jesse’s best mate.   The gang ends up in New Orleans, where they must dodge local gangsters, dangerous secret agents in white suits, and the Saint of Killers, an unstoppable killer cowboy from Hell.

The Sony Pictures Television and AMC Studios co-production was developed for television by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg (Sausage Party, Neighbors 2, Superbad) and showrunner Sam Catlin (Breaking Bad). The series is executive produced by Catlin, as well as Rogen, Goldberg and James Weaver for Point Grey Pictures, Neal H. Moritz and Ori Marmur for Original Film and Vivian Cannon, Jason Netter, Ken F. Levin, Michael Slovis and the author of the Preacher graphic novel, Garth Ennis.

Preacher season two stars Cooper, Negga, Gilgun, Ian Coletti, Graham McTavish, and new additions Noah Taylor (Peaky Blinders, Game of Thrones),Pip Torrens (Star Wars: The Force Awakens, My Week with Marilyn), Julie Ann Emery (Better Call Saul, Fargo), Malcolm Barrett (Dear White People), Justin Prentice (13 Reasons Why, Awkward) and Ronald Guttman (Mozart in the Jungle, Mad Men).

This Week on Doctor Who - "Oxygen" (BBC America)

Peter Capaldi as The Doctor in "Oxygen." Photo copyright of BBC America.

"Space – the final frontier. Final because it wants to kill us." This week on Doctor Who, trapped on a space station with no oxygen, the Doctor (Peter Capaldi), Bill (Pearl Mackie) and Nardole (Matt Lucas) are horrified to discover the automated spacesuits keeping them alive are also trying to kill them! Check out the trailer below for Oxygen and then make sure to tune into BBC America on Saturday, May 13th @ 9:00 p.m. EST/8:00 p.m. CT followed by Class @ 10:00 p.m. EST/9:00 p.m. CT.

 

 

The Gifted - Coming To FOX TV

Coming to FOX TV this fall for the 2017-2018 season, the family adventure series The Gifted, from 20th Century Fox Television in association with Marvel Television, tells the story of a suburban couple whose ordinary lives are rocked by the sudden discovery that their children possess mutant powers. Forced to go on the run from a hostile government, the family joins up with an underground network of mutants and must fight to survive.  Written by Matt Nix (APB, Burn Notice), directed by Bryan Singer (the X-Men franchise”) and executive-produced by Nix, Singer, Lauren Shuler Donner (X-Men: Apocalypse, X-Men: Days of Future Past, The Wolverine), Simon Kinberg (X-Men: Apocalypse, X-Men: Days of Future Past), Jeph Loeb (Marvel’s Daredevil, Marvel’s Jessica Jones) and Jim Chory (Marvel’s Daredevil, Marvel’s Jessica Jones), the series stars Stephen Moyer (Shots Fired), Amy Acker (Person of Interest), Sean Teale (Reign), Jamie Chung (Gotham), Coby Bell (Burn Notice), Emma Dumont (Aquarius), Blair Redford (Satisfaction), Natalie Alyn Lind (Gotham) and Percy Hynes White (Night at the Museum 3). Check out the teaser trailer below!