ABC's - Masters of Science Fiction

[Dmon4u]

http://comingsoon.net/news/tvnews.php?id=13312

ABC Greenlights Masters of Science Fiction
Source: Variety February 23, 2006


ABC has greenlit the anthology series Masters of Science Fiction, which will present works of well-known authors such as Ray Bradbury and Isaac Asimov, reports Variety.

IDT Entertainment and Industry Entertainment, which produced the 13-episode anthology Masters of Horror for Showtime, are behind the science fiction version as well. ABC has ordered four episodes, but IDT and Industry plan to go ahead and produce at least six episodes, and as many as 13.

Screenwriter Michael Tolkin (The Rapture) is already on board to adapt and direct an episode, while the producers are also in talks to produce works such as Harlan Ellison's "The Discarded" and Asimov's "The Last Question." IDT and Industry also hope to sign Bradbury to adapt his "Dark They Were, And Golden-Eyed."

Morris Berger, Steve Brown and John Hyde will executive produce for IDT, while Industry's Keith Addis, Brad Mendelsohn and Andrew Dean will also executive produce.

IDT and Industry hope to start production on Masters of Science Fiction in Vancouver this May. The producers said they can start delivering the series to ABC by the middle of June, making a summer launch a possibility. Project is targeted to air in the 2006-07 TV season.

=

Glad to know that we'll get at least some new Sci-Fi goodness next Fall.

[Amnesia]

IIRC, the idea behind Masters of Horror is that each episode is directed by a accomplished horror director. But now Masters of Science Fiction is based on story ideas of accomplished science fiction writers?

Strange brand extension, if you ask me...

[LoadStar]

Could be potentially:
- expensive for ABC, or
- very cheap looking.

Still, I'm cautiously optimistic.

[Dmon4u]

Traditionally, successful Sci-Fi anthology series are rare. A Summer series or movie Specials for this might be the best bet.

[ClutchBrake]

Could be potentially:
- expensive for ABC, or
- very cheap looking.

Still, I'm cautiously optimistic.

Exactly what I was thinking. :)

[dirtypacman]

I have watched the Masters of Horror series and its just so so.

I would be interested to see this series either way though.

[madscientist]

If they do this I hope they use writers other than just the most obvious like Bradbury, Asimov, and Heinlein. There are some writers who have many fantastic short stories that would be perfect for this... my personal favourite is Robert Silverberg. I realize he's not exactly unknown :) but outside of SciFi fans he's probably not well-known. And even some fans might not realize how amazing his short stories are even if they're familiar with his excellent novels. I have a book of his short stories that is almost falling apart from being read so often over the years, and I bet many of those stories could be made into episodes that smack you in the head and don't look cheesy, without spending an arm and a leg.

[PJO1966]

I'm looking forward to this... could be interesting (or as others have pointed out, really bad).

[DLiquid]

Masters of Horror has some good episodes but has been pretty lame for the most part. That show has a LOT of nudity, I guess we won't be seeing that on ABC. I'll watch Masters of Science Fiction, but I don't have high expectations.

[cheerdude]

Maybe OSC on ABC?

[whitson77]

In. Hopefully it won't be a suckfest.

[DevdogAZ]

I'd love to see them do Ray Bradbury's "The Veldt." I've loved this story since I was a kid and would love to see it on screen.

[jschuur]

Asimov has done enough robot stories to fill an entire season alone.

Then again, I'm still dreaming someone will film the entire Foundation series, plus the later books done after his death.

[anom]

I'm very surprised a major network is picking up a project like this. It might be great, and it might suck, but either way I predict a quick cancellation. Networks love to launch adventurous concepts and then yank them three weeks later when they aren't immediate hits.

[SteveInNC]

I'd love to see them do Ray Bradbury's "The Veldt." I've loved this story since I was a kid and would love to see it on screen.

It's been done (in 1969, a decent rendition too). Look for the Illustrated Man with Rod Steiger and Claire Bloom.