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‘Chuck’ Producer Venturing Into Sci-Fi Western

Bruce Simmons — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 18:43:50 +0000

So it worked once and it developed a devoted following, despite how Fox treated it, so it looks like Fox is trying it again.

Scott Rosenbaum (Producer: Chuck, The Shield) is stepping outside the boundaries he’s made for himself with NBC’s Chuck and is taking a stab at a yet-to-be-named western with a science fiction twist.

Rosenbaum will be producing the show with Warner Bros. TV and Wonderland Sound and Vision studios (McG’s company), the latter of which has a fairly decent list of shows to their credits. That’s if you count Chuck, Human Target and Supernatural as decent shows. They also produce The OC, but I couldn’t put that in the same sentence with the phrase “decent shows.” Just ain’t our cup of tea here at Screen Rant.

I said sadly, because as much as I am loyal to the memory of Joss Whedon’s Firefly (a great sci-fi/western TV show), I am going to be giving Rosenbaum’s show a look-see once it gets going.

At the moment, we have no other details on the show. I hope they best tread very carefully on ground already trodden, because you know for a fact that the fan base of Joss Whedon and other editorial entertainment writers will be comparing it to Firefly. Not that Firefly has the sole market on sci-fi westerns, but it’s the most popular template for comparison.

Source: Geeks of Doom

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Warner Bros. Creates DC Entertainment Inc.

Kofi Outlaw — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:49:39 +0000

After the Disney/Marvel merger DC Comics and longtime-partner Warner Bros. had to be shaking in their boots. “The House of the Mouse” is already looking like a force that few will likely be able to reckon with.

Well, in an effort to become one of those few forces able to take on Disney/Marvel, Nikke Finke reports that Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. has launched a new division, DC Entertainment Inc., in order to better expand the DC Brand.

Marvel fanboys have already been having heart palpitations wondering what the fate of their favorite characters will be in the hands of Disney. Now DC fans can officially share in that anxiety.

Diane Nelson will be the lady in charge of DC Entertainment Inc., as announced yesterday by Warner Bros. CEO Barry Meyer, and COO, Alan Horn. The mission statement of DC Entertainment Inc. will be to “strategically integrate the DC Comics business, brand and characters deeply into Warner Bros. Entertainment and all its content and distribution businesses.” Basically that constitutes Warner Bros. taking a more hands-on approach to developing DC Comic properties into successful film and TV franchises, interactive and new platform media, etc. In the midst of all this, DC Comics will remain as is for the most part, serving as the creative cornerstone of DC Entertainment Inc.

Of course this new structure means that DC’s comic book division has officially become a limb on a much larger body. As a result, Paul Levitz, President & Publisher of DC Comics since 2002, will vacate his exec post and return to a writing position, lending his three decades of experience to the “new DC” as a contributing editor and consultant.

Said Levitz:

“After so many roles at DC, it’s exciting to look forward to focusing on my writing and being able to remain a part of the company I love as it grows into its next stage. It’s a new golden age for comics and DC’s great characters, and I hope my new position will allow me to contribute to that magic time.”

Diane Nelson (Click Image for Source)

Nelson is leaving her post as President of Warner Premiere to take on the DC Entertainment job. If you’re wondering about her qualifications and experience: in her two decades working in creative brand management, strategic marketing and content development and production, Nelson has most notably had a big hand in adapting and managing the Harry Potter franchise for WB. Taking J.K. Rowling’s beloved novels and turning them into a juggernaut (read: cash cow) movie franchise is no small accomplishment; IMO, it demonstrates that Nelson understands how to maintain the balance between being true to source material, while making the needed changes to create successful multimedia ventures – an area where DC has admittedly had some trouble (See: Superman Returns).

Said Nelson:

“The founding of DC Entertainment fully recognizes our desire to provide both the DC properties and fans the type of content that is only possible through a concerted cross-company, multi-platform effort…DC Entertainment will help us to formally take the great working relationships between DC Comics and various Warner Bros. businesses to the next level in order to maximize every opportunity to bring DC’s unrivalled collection of titles and characters to life.”

For a great in-depth explanation of all this (with more quotes from the players involved) head on over to Deadline Hollywood.

Personally, I’m not at all upset (or surprised, really) about any of this. For better or worse, comic book fans, these are chicks we raised that are coming home to roost. We were the ones who pushed for so long to see our favorite heroes grace the big and small screens; our money fed the box office and gave rise to the “Era of Geek-Chic.” And in that proud era, our favorite comic books and superheroes have had their market value shoot WAY up – they are now worldwide icons and potential cash cows. When you think about it like that, it’s only logical that the big dawgs have come a barkin’ and comic book publishers have had to answer the call by stepping up into the corporate big leagues.

But will the source material – our beloved comic books – survive and flourish under these bright neon corporate banners, or whither and be forever tainted? As the zen master says “We shall see…”

What do you think about the creation of DC Entertainment Inc.? Will it be a good way for DC to catch up to Marvel in the multimedia market, or are you DC fans worrying that this is the end of the age of innocence for your beloved universe?

(And be sure to check our list of tags below to know which DC/WB movies are currently in the pipeline . Will this re-structuring affect them too?)

Source: Deadline Hollywood

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The Television Presence At San Diego Comic-Con 2009

Bruce Simmons — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:38:32 +0000

UpDated 7-2-09

Last year at the 2008 San Diego Comic-Con, the event was ruled by several big named movies that ranged from youthful vampires to illegal vigilantes. TV was more a side-note than anything else.

This year at the 2009 Comic-Con, things will be a bit different as television programming seems to have a bigger presence than last year.

For instance, the Warner Brothers Television Group will have 11 different panels for their shows. That’s a studio best for them. ABC Studios will have 7 panels. 20th Century Fox will have 9 panels.

Do you think your favorite television show will be represented?

This year, I’m ready… I hope. So in preparation, I’ve started sifting through the network press releases and other resources, pulling it all together for myself. I decided… OK, maybe I was nudged a bit by Vic, to actually put it all prep info together here, for you, our loyal readers.

I’m done chatting. Let’s take a look at what television panels are lined up for the 2009 San Diego Comic Con.

Wednesday Evening, July 22nd:

6-9 p.m.:
Warner Brothers Television will be airing pilot previews this evening for the early-arriving crowd.

Human Target, V and The Vampire Diaries are the shows being previewed on this evening.

Thursday, July 23rd:

Burn Notice, Time To Be Determined (TTBD)
This panel will feature Bruce Campbell and writers from the series.

Legend of the Seeker, TTBD

Psych, TTBD

5-6 p.m.: Dexter

8 p.m. – Special Screening – Green Lantern [UPDATED]
Catch a special screening of the 5th DVD in the Green Lantern series, titled Green Lantern: First Flight. It will have it’s world premiere in Ballroom 20. That’s 5 days before it’s released to DVD!

Continue to the next page for Friday’s schedule

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Fox’s ‘Human Target’ – Trailer And Discussion

Bruce Simmons — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 14:53:07 +0000

Fox’s newest show, Human Target, is about a body guard named Christopher Chance who privately contracts out to clients to guard them from dangerous threats. He’s hired when normal measures are no longer effective.

Human Target first showed up in comic books in 1972 under the Action Comics title and later became its own comic book and graphic novel. The original version of Human Target had him impersonate his clients.

Now Fox has taken the franchise a step further and has ordered some episodes for the 2009 / 2010 season.

In Fox’s version, Chance assumes nondescript positions that keeps him close to his client.

Check it out:

Human Target will be executive produced by Jon Steinberg (Jericho), McG (Terminator 5, Supernatural, Chuck), & Brad Kern (Charmed, Lois & Clark). Co-executive producer Peter Johnson (Chuck, Supernatural), directed (and executive producer) Simon West (Con Air, When A Stranger Calls, Black Hawk Down)

The writer tagged for the show is Jon Steinberg (Jericho).

I think the cast has potential. Mark Valley (Fringe, Boston Legal) plays Christopher Chance. Jackie Earle Haley (Watchmen, A Nightmare on Elm Street) plays Guerrero and Chi McBride (Pushing Daisies) plays Winston.

If this show is handled properly, judging from the power house creative forces on either side of the camera, this could be juicy good.

Human Target is the newest action thriller premiering on Fox with a special preview on Sunday, January 17, 2010. What does everyone think? Are you looking forward to checking out this new show like I am?

Background source: Wikipedia, Image source: Fox

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Fox’s Human Target Has Snagged Jackie Earl Haley

Sabrina Cognata — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 01:57:04 +0000

Former child star Jackie Earl Haley (most recently known for portraying Rorschach in Zach Snyder’s Watchmen) has been cast to co-star in the up and coming Fox series Human Target. Haley will be joined by co-star and Pushing Daisies alum, Chi McBride.

Human Target is based on the DC comic of the same name about an enigmatic freelancer, Christopher Chance (Mark Valley), who provides a very specialized form of personal security by assuming the identity of his client in order to shield them from harm. Thereby becoming the literal “human target.”

Haley is tapped to play Chance’s contact and information gatherer. McBride will play Chance’s business partner and friend. This will be another Warner Brothers project for both.

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Weekly TV Wrap Up – January 29, 2009

Bruce Simmons — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 19:10:46 +0000

Here is yet one more edition of Thursday’s Weekly TV Wrap Up on Screen Rant!

This week we have news on new shows that FOX has ordered, a bit of news on Dead Like Me, we touch on some House info and more on yet more guest appearances on E.R..

In the confused department, I’ve got some news sort of related to Smallville, and we chat about Ugly Betty getting dumped temporarily.

We wrap it up with a little bit of new news for our overseas readers on a new set of episodes of Red Dwarf. Let’s get on with it!

1. FOX Network ordered itself a bunch of pilots. Four comedies and three dramas. Of the three dramas, two of them are of the sci-fi genre.

One is Human Target, based on the DC Comics title about a man for hire whose job is to assume the role of people who find themselves in life threatening situations. John Steinberg writes the scripts and is executive producing alongside McG.

The other project is untitled at this time, but focuses on past-life investigators using the concept of reincarnation to solve present day crimes. Source: THR.com

2. For the Dead Like Me fans, a direct-to-DVD movie is being released on February 17th, 2009 titled Dead Like Me: Life After Death.

I’ve always found the show interesting and wouldn’t mind catching a full length movie version. Of course after watching a movie, I would probably end up wanting more. Source: TVShowsOnDVD

3. In case you missed the news and missed the show, House has moved to Monday nights. (SPOILER) Later this season Gregory House and Cuddy will, um, well… you know, they um, well… they “hit it” off pretty good, if you know what I mean. Of course the creators of House warn us that even though House and Cuddy settle into the sheets together, they’re going to do this the only way it can be done, House style. Sigh. Source: EW.com, Image: FOX

4. As Niall reported a few days ago regarding George Clooney returning for a reprisal of his role of Doug Ross on E.R., Julianna Margulies is following suit and also reprising her role as Hathaway on the final season of E.R. on NBC. Source: ET Online.

There are also some rumors that Susan Sarandon will be appearing in the same episode with Clooney. Source: E Online.

5. First it’s good news, then it’s not. I can’t decide if The CW really knows what’s up.

In the process of getting a reboot of Melrose Place up and running, The CW is talking to Darren Swimmer and Todd Slavkin about helming the Melrose effort. Yes, the same Darren Swimmer and Todd Slavkin who are 2 of the 4 show-runners for Smallville.

If for some reason they move on to tackle Melrose Place, that would leave Kelly Souders and Brian Peterson as the executive producers for the 9th season of Smallville. It’s being reported that Warner Bros is finalizing deals with the cast for a 9th season.

So my question to you would be what do you think would happen to the quality of the show if they split up this four-some? Source: EW.com,

6. It’s been thought that ABC’s Ugly Betty was their workhorse signature series, yet they’re shelving the show starting March 26th in favor of Samantha Who?, and then In The Motherhood. claiming that the Thursday night time slot is a great spot to launch these shows.

According to ABC, Ugly Betty will return after these two shows run their set number of episodes. Though the network is not saying when the show will return, by some calculations, it should probably air sometime in June. The dreaded summertime slot. Source: EW.com.

7. Channel Dave is a network over in the UK. If you have access to the network, and you’re a fan of Red Dwarf, then you are in for a treat. Red Dwarf is returning with a brand new two-part series. Dave Lister gets to return home!

Red Dwarf: Back to Earth starts filming their two-part episode in February.

Over the Easter weekend, four new episodes will come at you. After the two episodes of Back to Earth, prepare yourself for Red Dwarf: Unplugged. Unplugged will have no sets, no effects and egads, no cue cards! Then you get to watch Red Dwarf: The Making of Back to Earth. Source: Dave TV.

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