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[TheOddOne]

Steven Knight and Ridley Scott are making a BBC TV show called Taboo. It'll star Tom Hardy

They’ve already worked together on Locke and are planning to collaborate for the second series of BBC drama Peaky Blinders. Yet it appears that Tom Hardy and writer/director Steven Knight want to maintain their working partnership further beyond that, with the Beeb announcing that they’ve roped in Ridley Scott’s services as producer for a new series called Taboo.

Set in 1813, Taboo follows James Keziah Delaney (Hardy), a rogue adventurer who returns from Africa with 14 ill-gotten diamonds to seek vengeance after the death of his father. Refusing to sell the family business to the East India Company, he sets out to build his own trade and shipping empire and finds himself playing a dangerous game with two warring nations, Britain and America. “This man, James Delaney, is a deeply flawed and deeply troubled human being. His greatest struggle will be against the East India Company which, throughout the nineteenth century, was the equivalent of the CIA, the NSA and the biggest, baddest multi-national corporation on earth, all rolled into one self righteous, religiously motivated monolith,” is how Steven Knight views his new antihero.

Based on an idea by Hardy and his father, Chips and created by Knight, eight episodes of Taboo will kick off shooting next January for transmission in 2015. Locke, meanwhile, will be on our screens on April 18.

WHATEVER DUDE, I'M ALREADY SOLD AND WILL MAKE OT.

 

[Alpende]

Will most definitely watch that.

 

[RatskyWatsky]

Sounds pretty cool!

 

[Dan]

FX ordered a bunch of stuff from the team of Rob McElhenney, Charlie Day and Glenn Howerton.

Scripts and pilots for:
* Harder, written by Scott Marder and Glenn Howerton
* We’re Good, Thanks, written by Mary Elizabeth Ellis, Artemis Pebdani and Charlie Day, with Ellis and Pebdani attached to star
* Blow Up Dolls, written by and starring Sarah Solemani

Series order for an untitled show starring Tracy Morgan, which is different than the previous show he had in development for FX. That's being written by McElhenney, Day, Howerton, and Luvh Rakhe. 10 episodes, set to premiere alongside the next season of It's Always Sunny in January 2015.

 

[Cornballer]

- Deadline: ’12 Monkeys’ Picked Up To Series At Syfy

Syfy has given a series order to 12 Monkeys, a drama based on the 1995 Universal Pictures film directed by Terry Gilliam. The project, written/co-executive produced by Terry Matalas & Travis Fickett (Nikita) has received a 12-episode order for a January 2015 premiere. 12 Monkeys was one of two pilots most recently ordered by Syfy. The other, Bryan Fuller’s High Noon, is not going forward.

12 Monkeys, from U12 Monkeys - Pilotniversal Cable Prods. and Atlas Entertainment, producer of the movie, follows the journey of a time traveler (Aaron Stanford) from the post-apocalyptic future who appears in present day on a mission to locate and eradicate the source of a deadly plague that will eventually decimate the human race. Amanda Schull, Noah Bean and Kirk Acevedo also star. Natalie Chaidez (V) serves as showrunner and executive produces alongside Atlas Entertainment’s Charles Roven and Richard Suckle. Jeffrey Reiner directed and executive produced the pilot. “12 Monkeys is a captivating time travel adventure and high stakes race against the clock,” said Syfy president Dave Howe. The pickup of 12 Monkeys comes on the heels of Syfy renewing Ron Moore’s drama Helix for a second season and announcing a return to the longform arena with event series Ascension as the network is shifting towards more serialized fare in the tradition of “space opera” Battlastar Galactica. 12 Monkeys also joins another recently ordered new Syfy series based on a movie, Dominion, adaptation of the feature Legion.

 

[ivysaur12]

No High Moon no you fools

 

[TheOddOne]

The other, Bryan Fuller’s High Noon, is not going forward.

OH COME ON AND HELIX GETS ANOTHER STINKIN' SEASON?

 

[Dan]

Perhaps they had to pass on High Noon because it was too good and made too much sense. It wouldn't fit Syfy's brand.

 

[Clevinger]

OH COME ON AND HELIX GETS ANOTHER STINKIN' SEASON?

this is not my year for pilots...........

 

[RatskyWatsky]

- Deadline: ’12 Monkeys’ Picked Up To Series At Syfy

Bryan Fuller’s High Noon is not going forward.

LOL Syfy

 

[ivysaur12]

 

[TheOddOne]

Xbox Entertainment Studios Partners With Channel 4 For Drama Series ‘Humans’

In what marks the first official scripted series green light for Xbox Entertainment Studios, the entertainment arm of Microsoft’s XBox has teamed with UK broadcaster Channel 4 to co-produce Humans. The drama, which has received an eight-episode order, hails from UK production company, Kudos (Broadchurch), which has been developing the project, an adaptation of Swedish series Real Humans (watch trailer below), for more than three years. Humans will begin production in the summer for a premiere on the Xbox platform in North America and Channel 4 in the UK in 2015.

Written by British writing team Sam Vincent and Jonathan Brackley (Spooks), Humans is set in a parallel present where the latest must-have gadget for any busy family is a ‘Synth’ – a highly-developed robotic servant eerily similar to its live counterpart. In the hope of transforming the way they live, one strained suburban family purchases a refurbished synth only to discover Channel 4 logothat sharing life with a machine has far-reaching and chilling consequences. “Humans not only questions personal relationships, we loved how this sci-fi show toys with reality and our connection to technology,” said Xbox Entertainment Studios President Nancy Tellem. “This deal with Channel 4 and Kudos underscores Xbox Entertainment Studios’ commitment to programming premium TV series with global partners and creating engaging interactive experiences.” Jane Featherstone and Derek Wax will executive produce for Kudos, along with Henrik Widman and Lars Lundström, from Matador Films, the executive producers of the original Swedish series, which aired on public broadcaster Sveriges Television. Chris Fry (The Smoke) will produce. Shine International is distributing.

 

[Cornballer]

- Deadline: Syfy Picks Up 13-Part Mythological Drama ‘Olympus’ From Robert Halmi Sr.

On the heels of greenlighting its first miniseries since 2009′s Alice, the six-hour Ascension, Syfy has teamed with the producer of Alice, as well Syfy minis Tinman and Neverland, for a new 13-part series Olympus to premiere in 2015. The project, set in the world of humans, Gods and monsters, hails from veteran longform producer Robert Halmi Sr. as well as writer Nick Willing who also penned Tinman, Alice and Neverland. Olympus tells the story of how a few brave men and women banished the Gods to the realm of the unconscious – a place they called the Underworld or the Kingdom of Hades. It centers on a fresh-faced and raw young man who, through the dramatic experiences of betrayal, love, disappointment, empowerment and exile, transforms into a ruthless leader of men, and a match for the Gods themselves. “Olympus is a fantastic blend of action, intense thrills, creatures and great story telling,” said SyfySVP Chris Regina. “It will feature characters from mythology in a way never before imagined.”

The series, which will begin production this summer in Vancouver and London, is being produced by Reunion Pictures and Olympus TV Limited in association with Great Point Media. Executive Producers are Robert Halmi Sr. for The Halmi Company, Robert Halmi Jr. and Jim Reeve for Great Point Media and Matthew O’Connor and Lisa Richardson for Reunion Pictures. The series is being marketed and distributed by Content Media Group outside the US, Germany and Canada.

 

[RatskyWatsky]

Syfy Orders Zombie-Apocalypse Series Z Nation

Syfy has picked up 13 episodes of Z Nation, an action-horror series about humans struggling to survive a zombie apocalypse. Z Nation comes from executive-producer Karl Shaefer (Eureka, The Dead Zone) and will premiere this fall.

 

[ivysaur12]

Shut up, Syfy.

 

[bishopp35]

- Deadline: Syfy Picks Up 13-Part Mythological Drama ‘Olympus’ From Robert Halmi Sr.

I don’t' know why but the description sounds so cheesy, I'm getting Hercules/Xena vibes type of show from it.

Syfy Orders Zombie-Apocalypse Series Z Nation

And of couse trey want a piece of that Walking Dead ratings.

Why coulden't they find a timelot to Fuller? ;__; I really would like a new sci-fi series (and not that Helix bullshit).

 

[TheOddOne]

- Deadline: Syfy Picks Up 13-Part Mythological Drama ‘Olympus’ From Robert Halmi Sr.

Syfy Orders Zombie-Apocalypse Series Z Nation

Dammit Syfy. Why you so poop.

 

[RatskyWatsky]

Art Linson & John Linson Ink HBO Deal, Set Up Drama Project With Taylor Sheridan

The new project, Yellowstone, follows one family’s violent struggle against encroachment in southwest Montana.

Southwest Montanaaaaaaaaa!!!!

 

[beat]

Syfy Orders Zombie-Apocalypse Series Z Nation

It would be such a fantastic troll if they got Frank Darabont to showrun this, though.

 

[Cornballer]

- THR: Netflix's 'Marco Polo' Sets Its Cast

Lorenzo Richelmy has been tapped to star as the famed explorer in the drama series based on the adventures of Marco Polo, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

...

Benedict Wong (Prometheus), Zhu Zhu(Cloud Atlas), Tom Wu (Skyfall), Remy Hii (Treading Water) and Rick Yune (Olympus Has Fallen) round out the cast.

 

[TheOddOne]

Amazon Studios Confirms Pilots ‘Cosmopolitans’ & ‘Hand Of God’

Amazon Studios traditionally doesn’t announce its pilots until they’re fully cast and starting production. That is why it this morning confirmed the first two pilots from its third pilot season — half-hour dramatic comedy The Cosmopolitans, from Whit Stillman, and one-hour drama Hand of God, from executive producers Marc Forster, Ben Watkins, Ron Perlman, Brian Wilkins and Jeff King. Both were greenloghted in January. The Cosmopolitans, about young American expatriates in Paris searching for love and friendship, stars Adam Brody and Chloë Sevigny. Hand of God stars Ron Perlman as a hard-living powerful judge-turned vigilante and co-stars Dana Delany and Garret Dillahunt. Yet to be confirmed are three other Amazon pilots ordered this year, single-camera comedy Red Oaks, executive produced by Steven Soderbergh and executive produced and directed by David Gordon Green, Shaun Cassidy’s drama Hysteria and Samuel Baum’s dramedy Cocked.

Full synopsises of both shows at link.

 

[RatskyWatsky]

Amazon Studios Confirms Pilots ‘Cosmopolitans’ & ‘Hand Of God’

Full synopsises of both shows at link.

I hope Cosmopolitans gets picked up for Sevigny's sake.

 

[TheOddOne]

I hope Cosmopolitans gets picked up for Sevigny's sake.

Yeah, she deserves better than Those Who Kill.

 

[RatskyWatsky]

Yeah, she deserves better than Those Who Kill.

She was great on Louie so I'm excited to see her in a dramedy again.

 

[TheOddOne]

She was great on Louie so I'm excited to see her in a dramedy again.

I still have to watch Louie *Feels ashamed*.

Paramount TV Unveils First Development Slate That Includes Series Takes On ‘Narc’ & ‘Truman Show’, Firms Up Executive Team

A year after Paramount Studios signaled its re-entry in television with the relaunch of Paramount Television, the startup division has set its first development slate. As expected, it includes mining well known properties from the Paramount movie library. That includes a crime drama with roots in Joe Carnahan’s Narc, with Carnahan writing and directing the pilot and a re-imagination of the Jim Carrey hit The Truman Show. Additionally, Paramount TV has boarded the Terminator TV series, joining Skydance Television and Annapurna Pictures who announced the project back in December. Paramount TV also has in the works an adaptation of hit feature Ghost with filmmakers Akiva Goldsman, Jeff Pinkner.

Other projects on Paramount TV’s inaugural development slate include a drama series inspired by Caleb Carr’s best-selling novel, The Alienist, with Anonymous Content (True Detective) executive producing; a limited series event based on A. Scott Berg’s Pulitzer Prize-winning biography, Lindbergh; and an adaptation of Peter Moffat’s BBC series The Village with Sundance Productions and All3Media. They join previously announced mutli-project deal with Craig Brewer for original scripted dramas. “While we are just getting started, there has been a terrific amount of momentum at Paramount TV as we look to develop new ideas as well as harness some of the studio’s most iconic titles,” said Paramount TV president Amy Powell.

 

[Vert boil]

I still have to watch Louie *Feels ashamed*.

 

[TheOddOne]

I already miss Gus too much, Vert. Why you do this to me

WGN America In Script-To-Series Deal With Gaumont & Justin Lin For Dystopian Drama

Gaumont International Television (Hannibal) has teamed with filmmaker Justin Lin and his Perfect Storm Entertainment for Radiant Doors, a drama that has been set up at WGN America. The project, from writer Jeremy Doner (The Killing), has received a script against a series commitment, meaning that it would go straight to series if the pilot script gets WGN’s approval. An adaptation of the short story by wgnnewlogoMichael Swanwick, Radiant Doors is described as a gripping drama series exploring how our society gaumontdeals with the sudden arrival of a flood of refugees from a dystopian future. Lin is set to direct and executive produce with Doner and Perfect Storm’s Danielle Woodrow and Troy Craig Poon, with Ryan Andolina serving as co-producer. “We have been wanting to work with both Justin and Jeremy and are so happy to have them come together on this project,” said GIT CEO Katie O’Connell. “The award-winning short story really captivated all of us with its transcendent themes.” Both WGN America and GIT are in the straight-to-series business. WGN’s first original drama, Salem, premieres April 20.

 

[Cornballer]

- EW: Syfy orders 'The Expanse' series based on 'Leviathan Wakes'

Syfy has given a direct-to-series order to an exciting-sounding new project based on an acclaimed sci-fi book series. The cable network has given a 10-episode order to The Expanse, from Academy Award-nominated screenwriting duo Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby (Children of Men, Iron Man) and Alcon Television Group. The project has been described by insiders as “Game of Thrones in space” — not so much because of the plot, but because it takes grown-up sophisticated content and sets it in a popular genre).

The logline: “A thriller set two hundred years in the future, The Expanse follows the case of a missing young woman who brings a hardened detective and a rogue ship’s captain together in a race across the solar system to expose the greatest conspiracy in human history.”

The Expanse is based on a series of books James S.A. Corey (the most well-known title is probably the first in the series, Leviathan Wakes, which has been praised for reinventing and updating the old school Star Wars/Firefly-style space opera). Syfy won a bidding war with another content producer to acquire the project.

 

[TheOddOne]

“Game of Thrones in space”

I hate this way of pitching shows.

Show has got some cool talent behind it, but Syfy is still poop in my book for now.

 

[Dan]

I've heard a variety of impressions of that book series, from being great to being kinda uninspired (

Spoiler

space zombies

). They've been in my queue for some time. I know the series gets brought up a ton in those 'what are you reading' threads. It's certainly a popular series.

The show writers have a mixed track record, so who knows what to think about that.

 

[Mushroomer25]

I still have to watch Louie *Feels ashamed*.

Paramount TV Unveils First Development Slate That Includes Series Takes On ‘Narc’ & ‘Truman Show’, Firms Up Executive Team

I'm really curious about the prospect of a Truman Show reboot. The concept is still fresh & contemporary, and the name holds a lot of weight for an older dramedy that never spawned any sequels. It seems it'd even be possible to get Jim Carrey on board for a recurring role.
It'd be very cool if they could set this up as part of the canon. Have the format of the show be the Truman Show itself, with a rebellion set in the shadows trying to get New Truman out. (led by, you guessed it, original Truman).
Really hope this one goes forward.

 

[DieH@rd]

- EW: Syfy orders 'The Expanse' series based on 'Leviathan Wakes'

YYYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!

OMG this is so great. I really like those books, and they are perfect for TV adaptation. Hard SciFi universe, great mystery, conflict, fucked up threat, true space opera stuff with relativley straightforward story that can be easily followed. Great job SyFy! Now pls dont make show suck ["game of thrones" in space is very wrong way to look at these books].

After several years, we will finally get TV show that is set in space and spaceships. [SGU was the last one ]

 

[Wiktor]

I hate this way of pitching shows.

Show has got some cool talent behind it, but Syfy is still poop in my book for now.

It makes sense for this show. I mean, the biggest part of marketing for first novel was a huge ass GRRM quote

Anyway, GOT in space propably simply means big and serialized instead of procedural, which is what this show should be about. And at least they picked up a good show to do an elevator pitch with. I mean look at Defying Gravity, a nice sci-fi show that had plenty of potential, but was canceled quickly. And I'm convinced a large part of the reason why it never took off was because it was pitched as "Grey'a Anatomy in space"

And somebody should do OT for this news

 

[Dan]

WGN America is developing an adaptation of Scalped.

WGN America is looking to DC Comics as it bolsters its development slate.

The cable network, which will bow its first original scripted series on Sunday, has put in development an adaptation of Scalped from DC Entertainment's Vertigo imprint, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

Scalped is described as a crime noir set on a Native American reservation. Banshee's Doug Jung will pen the script and executive produce the Warner Horizon Television drama.

The comic launched in 2007 as a monthly and ran for 60 issues, ending in 2012. Jason Aaron penned the comic, which was illustrated by R.M. Guera. The series focused on the Oglala Lakota inhabitants in the fictional Prairie Rose Indian Reservation in South Dakota as they grapple with organized crime, poverty, drug and alcohol addiction and local politics while trying to preserve their cultural identity. The plot was partially inspired by Native American activist Leonard Peltier, who was arrested for the slaying of two FBI agents on a reservation shootout in 1975.

Scalped is fucking awesome. Brilliant series. I hope if this moves forward that WGN is prepared to do it justice. Always seemed like HBO would be the ideal candidate for it, or perhaps the version of AMC that did Breaking Bad.

 

[TheOddOne]

Oh wow, I actually really enjoyed reading Scalped. Can't wait to see it.

 

[RatskyWatsky]

Scapled is described as a crime noir set on a Native American reservation. Banshee's Doug Jung will pen the script

Sold!

 

[Penguin]

WGN America is developing an adaptation of Scalped.



Scalped is fucking awesome. Brilliant series. I hope if this moves forward that WGN is prepared to do it justice. Always seemed like HBO would be the ideal candidate for it, or perhaps the version of AMC that did Breaking Bad.

I didn't realize WGN America did original content

We still don't get it

 

[TheOddOne]

Annapurna Pictures Ventures Into TV With Series About Greta Garbo & Marlene Dietrich

Megan Ellison’s film production and finance company Annapurna Pictures (American Hustle) has set its first major TV project, a series focusing on the intersecting lives of Hollywood icons and rivals Greta Garbo and Marlene Dietrich. Written by Angela Robinson and Alex Kondracke (Hung), the project is set in the Golden Age of Hollywood and explores the relationships of the starlets with such notable figures as John Gilbert, Mercedes de Acosta, Tallulah Bankhead, Alla Nazimova, Barbara Stanwyck, Cary Grant, and John Wayne, among others.

Annapurna Pictures will finance or produce, with Ellison serving as executive producer. Just like the movies she takes on, telling the Garbo-Dietrich story has been a passion project for Ellison, who is paying WME-repped Robinson and Kondracke to write it on spec. Annapurna’s Stephen Feder will be the executive overseeing day-to-day development and production. Robinson is wrapping up an overall deal at HBO, as part of which she serves as an executive producer on True Blood and is directing a key episode from the vampire drama’s final season.

 

[ivysaur12]

PILOT BUZZ!!!

http://www.deadline.com/2014/04/pilots-2014-more-early-buzz/

Also in the mix: Odyssey at NBC, which is testing through the roof but has been a late delivery (they haven't turned it in yet).

 

[Razgriz-Specter]

PILOT BUZZ!!!

http://www.deadline.com/2014/04/pilots-2014-more-early-buzz/
http://www.maxistentialism.com/bees/oprahbees.gif

Also in the mix: Odyssey at NBC, which is testing through the roof but has been a late delivery (they haven't turned it in yet).

Lets go, Flash for full series.

 

[ivysaur12]

NBC might only pick up 3 dramas, plus their straight to series fare. That means that they can pick up 2 of the 3: SVU, Parenthood, or Revolution. With SVU on its way out and Dick Wolf refusing to take a pay cut, looks like it could be the others.

 

[beat]

PILOT BUZZ!!!

http://www.deadline.com/2014/04/pilots-2014-more-early-buzz/

NBC's comedies: between Old Soul, Mission Control, and Marry Me, I'll probably be disappointed in at least one NBC non-pickup.

High hopes for iZombie*.

I'm eager to see Mullaney and the two Tina Fey/Robert Carlock shows, all of which got series orders already.

* it's a really good comic, you guys.

Morbidly curious to see how much more spin will come out of HIMYD considering how many fans hated the HIMYM finale. (HIMYD is supposed to be thematically similar and in the same universe, but it won't follow The Mother of HIMYM.) But the cast for HIMYD is pretty awesome and I might well tune in a few times just to see how they do.

 

[NotTheGuyYouKill]

Steven Knight and Ridley Scott are making a BBC TV show called Taboo. It'll star Tom Hardy

WHATEVER DUDE, I'M ALREADY SOLD AND WILL MAKE OT.

I missed this before, but this sounds cool

 

[ivysaur12]

HIMYD reveals

Spoiler

who the father is at the end of the pilot.

 

[DieH@rd]

This quote from latest Deadline article makes me very happy:

The Flash is getting rave early reviews and, already penciled for the schedule, now could be written in with a permanent marker.

 

[Razgriz-Specter]

This quote from latest Deadline article makes me very happy:

Yup,
wonder if it and Arrow air on the same night for a while.

 

[Kadayi]

Steven Knight and Ridley Scott are making a BBC TV show called Taboo. It'll star Tom Hardy

I hope Knight passes on both writing & directing duties and is just a producer. Albeit the production values were great on Peaky Blinders, the actual story was leaden, woefully predictable (like a lot of middle class written UK drama tbh) and lacking in any punch

Spoiler

The end of season stand off was groanworthy and completely anti-climatic

.

 

[RatskyWatsky]

Netflix Orders First Spanish-Language Original Series From Gaz Alazraki

The untitled project, slated to premiere in 2015 on Netflix, centers on a family feud among heirs of a soccer club after the owner’s death. Luis Gerardo Mendez stars in the series, which will be shot entirely in Mexico and feature a cast from throughout Latin America.

 

[RatskyWatsky]

David Schulner Sets Ancient Egypt HBO Drama With Ridley Scott

Schulner has sold hourlong drama Pharaoh to HBO with Ridley Scott attached to direct and executive produce. The series explores an alternate explanation for the foundation and ascent of the ancient Egyptian empire—one in which greatness was bestowed upon us by beings from another world, calling into question what it means to be a ‘god.’

HBO To Co-Produce BBC Miniseries Based On J.K. Rowling Book ‘The Casual Vacancy’

HBO has come on board as co-producer of BBC’s miniseries adaptation of novel The Casual Vacancy, from Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling.

:O EGYPT :O

 

[TheOddOne]

Ancient Egypt drama sounds really cool.