‘Zombieland’ TV Series Being Developed By Fox
Oct 18, 2011 by Sandy SchaeferFox and Sony are reportedly working on a ‘Zombieland’ TV show that also involves the original film’s screenwriters, Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick.
The chances of a sequel to 2009′s sleeper hit Zombieland being made have been looking extremely dim of late. However, that film’s vision of a post-zombpocalyptic world may live on (pun intended)… on the small screen, that is.
Reports are in that Fox Broadcasting is collaborating with Sony Pictures Television on a Zombieland TV show, which would be a half-hour action-comedy series in the vein of the 2009 film. That makes it all the more fitting that original screenwriting duo Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick are also “onboard” to design the program.
It’s no secret that Reese and Wernick’s Zombieland screenplay was originally fashioned to serve as the pilot episode of a zombie-centric television series. While their script was eventually re-worked to function as more of a standalone feature-length movie, certain television-oriented elements (like the “Zombie Kill of the Week” concept) remained. Even from a pure narrative perspective, the plot of Zombieland doesn’t so much reach a fitting conclusion as it simply… well, stops – much like the first episode in a TV show would.
Here’s what Vulture has to offer, on that topic:
As ‘Zombieland’ producer (and new Vulture columnist) Gavin Polone noted when we called him up to confirm this news, “The original plan for this was to make it as a TV show.” Indeed, CBS actually ordered a pilot script for the concept all the way back in 2005, “but they did what networks do, which is to take all the good stuff out.” CBS ultimately passed and Syfy was interested, but couldn’t make things work financially, Polone says.
While details about the characters and overreaching storyline of the Zombieland TV show are currently unavailable, it’s pretty much a given that the original film’s in-demand cast won’t be involved. So expect either new actors and actresses to play the obsessively-ordered Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg), rowdy Twinkie-lover Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson), or the loner survival-minded sisterly duo of Wichita and Little Rock (Emma Stone and Abigail Breslin) – or, rather, to see entirely new characters on the Zombieland TV series.
The original 'Zombieland' cast
Fox’s decision to press ahead with a Zombieland TV series was undoubtedly in part influenced by the success of AMC’s The Walking Dead – which, just this week, broke ratings records with its season two premiere. However, the former will surely be much more of a comical show that involves people surviving in a zombie-filled wasteland than the latter.
Between that element and the sustaining popularity of the Zombieland name, this new television series should be able to distinguish itself from its more serious AMC counterpart – and not follow in the footsteps of this season’s already-failed attempt to replicate the success of another critically-acclaimed cable series that involved almost identical subject matter (see: NBC’s The Playboy Club and AMC’s Mad Men).
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We will keep you posted on the status of the Zombieland TV series as the story develops.
Source: Vulture
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It’d be dumb to recast the characters, just make a new group somewhere else. That way they could have the original cast guest star maybe for an episode. It’d be fun, If they keep it in LA, they could basically have any celebrity guest star whenever they want (ala Bill Murray) and they die in an ever increasing hilarious ways. But Vegas wouldn’t be a bad setting , and still could do cameos to a lesser extent.
But this being Fox, hopes aren’t high that they could pull this off.
Dead on about Fox. Chances are that they won’t advertise it at all, they’ll play the episodes out of order, wait till the last episode to show the pilot, cancel it after the “shockingly” poor ratings, then DVD sales will be off the charts, then realize they are dumb as heck for canceling it and then turn it into a crappy movie… Wait a second…… Browncoat 4 lyf3! SCREW YOU FOX!
Terrible. Just terrible.
First the vampire genre gets played out, now they’ll overdue it with the zombies. YES!
Sounds like a good show. I’d watch. I hope they create new characters for the television show, there are a lot of towns out there that can be used for names.
The more I think about this idea, the more I think it won’t work. If it is on a premium cable channel like HBO, Showtime, or Starz then it would be a great idea. If it is on a regular cable network, like FX, then it may work. But it is a bad idea to develop this for network television.
For starters, put the show on cable and begin a story line with new characters like male leads, Amarillo (played by Bret Harrison) and Raleigh (played by Josh Halloway), and female leads, Salem (played by Erica Durance) and her friend Phoenix (played by Minka Kelly). Those names, actors, and actresses are all subject to change. Throw in a child actor for good measure, and BAM instant hit. Personally, I would love a Zombieland TV show if the violence and language wasn’t censored and if they don’t just rehash the movie.
Yea I think FX is the way to go, already have the target demo, w/ Always Sunny, The League, Archer etc.
jesus…did they just wait to see the walking dead season 2 premier numbers to make this call??
Sure looks that way.
NO ONE..CAN DO…TALAHASSEE…IF IT’S NOT…WOODY…HARRELSON!!! Seriously, that twinkie-munching zombie killer is what MADE the movie. If Woody Harrelson can’t play as him, then they should not use the character in the show.
No… No NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO!!!!
I want Zombie land 2!!! Not a damn recast of a tv show.
Hell yeah!!! This is great!!
Make a second and maybe third movie with the same actors like what they were always going to do, not this tv crap with new people!
As much as I want another movie, a tv shpw could work. They should have completely new characters though. Or they dont even need main characters per se. Maybe each episode could be based on a different rule of columbuses rule book. Affing a kill of the week after every episode.
this is stupid. the movie was an okay comedy but that’s it. just ride the wave of walking dead? not smart, this will fail.
I never saw the draw for this movie. Sure had a few chuckles but dont see a need (or desire) for a Z2 and the only way the TV show would work is for new fresher characters and better writing.
Trying to steal “The Walking Deads” thunder?
Although, a zombie series with more humor wouldn’t be so bad.
Cast Bruce Campbell as the best zombie killer please
It being on FOX, it will probably be canceled to make room for terrific shows like Dark Angel, Titus, Undeclared, Action, That 80′s Show, Wonderfalls, Fastlane, Andy Richter Controls the Universe, Skin, Girls Club, Cracking Up, The Pits, Firefly, Get Real, Freaky Links, Wanda at Large, Costello, The Lone Gunmen, A Minute With Stan Hooper, “Normal, Ohio, Pasadena, Harsh Realm, Keen Eddie, The Street, American Embassy, Cedric the Entertainer, The Tick, Louie, and Greg the Bunny.
i liked fastlane lol i barely remember it now but i havent seen anyone mention it in years! and isnt that peter griffin??
Word for word from Peter. If the list was updated it would include Tru Calling, Dollhouse, the Human Target, Hole in the Wall, Sons of Tuscan, Traffic Light, Do Not Disturb, Sit Down Shut Up, Don’t Forget the Lyrics, Sarah Connor chronicles, Secret Millionaire, Past Life, Moment of Truth, Lonestar, the War at Home, the Loop, Happy Hour, Justice, Vanished, Drive, the Winner, Breaking in, Brothers, Chicago Code, and probably quite a few more.
My list is just cancelled FOX shows. Some I liked, some I didn’t, most I never watched.
How dare you put Firefly on that list. Heck Dark Angel and Titus shouldn’t be on it either….
Why not just make another movie? C’mon!
If they don’t end up making the TV show they at least have to make a cameo on The Walking Dead
I have every confidence that Fox will screw this up. I think they’ve been trying too hard to be like the major networks than remembering their roots.
If you have to recast this movie don’t do the series, do a Zombieland 2. so i agree with JediGuy1138.