November 15, 2009 | by Bruce Simmons 

Ray Bradbury To Pitch Miniseries

Ray Bradbury

Ray Bradbury has signed on with White Oak Films with the idea of creating a miniseries.  The miniseries is structured as a 6-hour project broken down into six 1-hour episodes, all based on different short stories of Bradbury’s.

The plan is for each episode to be directed by a different person, none of whom have been officially signed yet. Who they pick to direct each episode will be very important, as they’re letting the director select their own favorite short story of Bradbury’s.

Ray Bradbury has authored many a short story and they’ve all become stories that have inspired generations of readers.  Some notables that he’s authored “Fahrenheit 451″, “The Martian Chronicles”, “Something Wicked This Way Comes” and many others.

His famous books aren’t short stories obviously, but the directors have a list of over 400 short stories or novelettes to choose from.

Below is a random selection of titles of Bradbury’s shorts:

  • (1941) The Trouble with Humans is People
  • (1942) The Candle
  • (1943) The Scythe
  • (1944) The Lake
  • (1945) The Watchers
  • (1945) Invisible Boy
  • (1946) The Traveller
  • (1950) There Will Come Soft Rains
  • (1951) The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms
  • (1952) A Sound of Thunder
  • (1953) The Meadow
  • (1960) The Best of All Possible Worlds
  • (1966) The Man in the Rorschach Shirt
  • (1967) The Lost City of Mars
  • (1979) The Aqueduct
  • (1984) The Toynbee Convector
  • (1988) The Dragon
  • (1994) From the Dust Returned
  • (2003) Is That You, Herb?
  • (2009) Juggernaut

Though they’re leaving it up to the directors to choose their favorite short story, I’d think it’d be neat if they ran web polls asking the fans / readers vote for what they’d like to see.

I’m getting ahead of myself.  First they need to successfully shop the idea out and get a network to take the bait. Any ideas who might step up?  Syfy?  TNT?  AMC?  FX?  Maybe even ABC or CBS might throw their hat into the ring, considering who it is pitching this idea.

Do you have any favorite short stories from Ray Bradbury that you’d like to see grace the small screen?

Sources:  THR

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  • I just finished "The Next In Line" and thought that story would be awesome on film. I just started The October Country Stories so that may change. This idea is so awesome though.
  • Andy S
    I thought that they already did a version of "A Sound of Thunder." Not too long ago either. That is a very cool story and would probably be pretty cool if it could be adapted into a 2-hour film.
  • Luis
    I would love to see them do 'The Laurel & Hardy Love Affair', 'Ylla', 'Usher II'; most of all, 'Referent', which he wrote under a pseudonym in the 50s.
  • Hopefully, what this does promise is some decent (at least 6 hours of) television where we know the writing was good! And we can hope they don't mutate any story they pick for their creative take on the story!
  • D.C.
    Love Bradbury. I think some of his more understated stuff is better, but probably wouldn't excite viewers. My favorite is "Dandelion Wine." Reminds me of my younger days.
  • D.C., that's an astute observation about the understated stuff not catching on.

    If the directors pick good stories that excite viewers for good ratings, we might just see more than 6 hours of Bradbury's material!
  • JessSayin
    It's all good.
    Meaning I've read ALL of his works and they can do any of it and I'll love it.

    He's the man. I got to meet him at Cal State Fullerton, what a character!

    They're still working on the 451 remake from what I've read.
  • Tim
    Fondly remember "The Ray Bradbury Theater". It would be great seeing his works done with the technology available now. Thanks for reminding me of the master. I have been meaning to read his sequel to "Dandelion Wine", "Farewell Summer". Reading his prose is like savoring a fine wine. A trip to the bookstore on the way home from work is planned.
  • Glad to inspire Tim.
  • SK-47
    This has to be done on AMC.
  • Claire
    I would like to see Fahrenhiet 451, I love that book. I'd watch the mini-series.
  • the_old_man
    I wholeheartedly agree SK-47. SYFY needs it more, considering some of the movies and series they've aired. I think AMC deserves to do them though, considering the quality of produced shows the last couple of years. I would hope they could raise a respectable budget for each. “The Martian Chronicles”, that NBC aired years ago didn't exactly sit well with me. I thought the BBC scrimped quite a bit on the adaptation's effects and I missed the story descriptions Bradbury wrote about the first human landing and encounter with a Martian. The BBC version just wasn't as interesting as the book. I hope these don't fall as flat as it did...
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