SCI FI/Syfy Plans Three New Miniseries [Text View]

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FilmCritic3000

03-23-2009, 11:46 AM

So The Phantom won't be The Phantom then, huh?

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i2ded48a3101e540bf8fbe8a0cd8d42fe

Sci Fi sets up three RHI miniseries
Trio includes 'Wonderland' retelling, new 'Phantom' take

By James Hibberd

March 22, 2009, 11:00 PM ET
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Sci Fi has greenlighted a trio of miniseries fantasy projects, including two that will serve as potential series pilots, and two of which are based on classic titles.

The network has ordered a retelling of "Alice in Wonderland"; a fresh take on the comic-book hero "The Phantom"; and "Riverworld," from a series of fantasy books by Philip Jose Farmer. All the projects are four-hour movies from prolific production company RHI Entertainment.

"Riverworld," about a photojournalist transported to a mysterious world occupied by everyone who has ever lived on Earth, and "Phantom" will air as backdoor pilots -- titles under consideration for a series order contingent on drawing a large enough audience. It's the programming model the network has used with success before, as in the case of "Battlestar Galactica."

"The four-hour format allows us to command large dollars around the world for our shows that puts about ($4 million-$6 million) of production on the screen per hour," said Robert Halmi Jr., president and CEO of RHI entertainment. "It gives the network a chance to try a concept with the same production values, if not better, than you'd get for a series."

The new "Alice" promises to be different than previous incarnations (more than a few of which were produced by RHI). The project is written and directed by Nick Willing, who also did Sci Fi's highly rated "Wizard of Oz" revamp "Tin Man."

"We thought 'Alice' was the perfectly underlying material to tell a classic story with a modern twist," Halmi said. "We'll have new incredible worlds and a more grown-up feel."

Sci Fi Channel executive vp original programming Mark Stern pointed out that weaknesses in the original "Alice" story, which often was more about the passing scenery than character development, allow for more leeway and modernization than most fantasy tales.

"Lewis Carroll was more concerned about politics and satire then telling a mythological story," Stern said. "You're not really engaged with Alice in a proactive and emotionally fulfilling way."

"Phantom" has been adapted a few times without much success, but Halmi said the previous stumbles are a good reason to try again.

"That there hasn't been a successful 'Phantom' leaves the door wide open for us, since nobody has made it their own yet," Halmi said.

Sci Fi appreciates that the crusader doesn't have superpowers and is more in the grounded vein of Iron Man and Batman. "It's not a guy in purple tights," Stern said.

"Riverworld" could have the most series potential if producers pull off the novel's tricky combination mixing a modern protagonist with reborn historical figures.

" 'Riverworld' has a little bit of everybody's' idea of heaven and everybody's hell," Halmi said of the setting.

Characters in the story's world will be portrayed by actors in their 20s, so somebody like Napoleon wouldn't be "a balding man with his hand in his coat."

"Part of the fun of this is the reveal of who each character is," Stern said.

"Alice" is planned for the winter, "Riverworld" and "Phantom" coming next year. RHI also is doing "Meteor" and "The Storm" for NBC in the summer. The Sci Fi backdoor pilots are part of RHI's effort to expand from movies to series programming.

"They're one of the few production companies that are still doing longform and really doing it well," Stern said. "They have an economic model that most of us are mystified about, the way they're able to fund their shows and make a deal very attractive for us."

philw1776

03-23-2009, 11:50 AM

FilmCritic3000

03-23-2009, 11:57 AM

Just promise me that RDM will not have ANYTHING to do with Philip Jose Farmer's excellent "Riverworld" and I'll be happy. I'm slightly concerned that the protagonist is an oh-so-trendy photojournalist though.

As to "Phantom" I'm not much of a fan of comic book stuff since elementary school. I'll admit the latest Batperson movie was good though.

I was one of the three people, apparently, that thoroughly enjoyed the 1996 film version of The Phantom.

I guess due to the intense criticism of their initial attempt at adapting Riverworld (I've never read it so I'm merely a casual observer.), SCI FI/Syfy's farming it out to a third party.

Alfer

03-23-2009, 12:00 PM

Three new reasons why I don't watch Sci Fi channel....

:D

Ok...I lied...we DVR Ghost Hunters on Sci-Fi.... :)

Rob Helmerichs

03-23-2009, 12:29 PM

Just promise me that RDM will not have ANYTHING to do with Philip Jose Farmer's excellent "Riverworld" and I'll be happy. I'm slightly concerned that the protagonist is an oh-so-trendy photojournalist though.
Well, the Sci-Fi Channel has already proven it doesn't need RDM to screw up Riverworld.

Maybe SyFy Channel will do a better job! :D

FilmCritic3000

03-23-2009, 12:30 PM

Well, the Sci-Fi Channel has already proven it doesn't need RDM to screw up Riverworld.

Maybe SyFy Channel will do a better job! :D

:D

kjnorman

03-23-2009, 02:00 PM

Characters in the story's world will be portrayed by actors in their 20s, so somebody like Napoleon wouldn't be "a balding man with his hand in his coat."

To me this is reason enough not to watch this show. To me it sounds like it is aimed at kids (hey look everyone is in their twenties!). I'm sick of shows that think they'll be successful if everyone looks young and pretty (but otherwise have no talent).

I want to see real people with character lines and little make up. Basically, someone who you would think of as a real person.

Rob Helmerichs

03-23-2009, 02:35 PM

To me this is reason enough not to watch this show. To me it sounds like it is aimed at kids (hey look everyone is in their twenties!). I'm sick of shows that think they'll be successful if everyone looks young and pretty (but otherwise have no talent).

I want to see real people with character lines and little make up. Basically, someone who you would think of as a real person.
Of course, that would make no sense.

Why would the aliens create new bodies for famous people that are exactly the age of the most famous portraits of them?

Logically, the bodies would be at their physical prime. (I can't remember how the books dealt with that...)

mrmike

03-23-2009, 02:59 PM

Of course, that would make no sense.

Why would the aliens create new bodies for famous people that are exactly the age of the most famous portraits of them?

Logically, the bodies would be at their physical prime. (I can't remember how the books dealt with that...)

The bodies were 20-ish and in perfect health* (congential diseases and defects cured, physical deformities for the most part corrected, though psychological issues remained intact as they had brain-state from just prior to their death). And they remained that way (short of death, they could regenerate to their original state and death was merely followed by a subsequent resurrection). All the women were "born" virgins and all the men were circumcised. (I did a paper once on its symbolism and allegory for one of my comparative religion courses.)

*unless they died younger than that, in which case they were regenerated at their death age and aged to the 20-ish state.

BobB

03-23-2009, 03:17 PM

I liked Tin Man, so the Alice remake has potential. The other two, not so much.

philw1776

03-23-2009, 03:34 PM

The bodies were 20-ish and in perfect health* (congential diseases and defects cured, physical deformities for the most part corrected, though psychological issues remained intact as they had brain-state from just prior to their death). And they remained that way (short of death, they could regenerate to their original state and death was merely followed by a subsequent resurrection). All the women were "born" virgins and all the men were circumcised. (I did a paper once on its symbolism and allegory for one of my comparative religion courses.)

*unless they died younger than that, in which case they were regenerated at their death age and aged to the 20-ish state.

Precisely. That's how Farmer wrote it. Of course having a good looking, 20 something cast is a perfect fit for a TV series. And unknown 20 somethings work cheaper than name players. :D

wtherrell

03-23-2009, 03:59 PM

Precisely. That's how Farmer wrote it. Of course having a good looking, 20 something cast is a perfect fit for a TV series. And unknown 20 somethings work cheaper than name players. :D

But they don't usually work better, though.

Graymalkin

03-23-2009, 04:35 PM

I also liked the Phantom movie with Billy Zane, although I would've vastly preferred Catherine Zeta-Jones as Diana Palmer instead of that insipid Kristy Swanson.

I don't have any faith, however, in SyFy's ability to reimagine the Ghost Who Walks in any way that I'd enjoy.

Delta13

03-23-2009, 10:04 PM

"Lewis Carroll was more concerned about politics and satire then telling a mythological story," Stern said. "You're not really engaged with Alice in a proactive and emotionally fulfilling way."Aside from dishing on Lewis, I didn't see any mention of exactly how they're gonna make this more proactive and emotionally fulfilling. Nor exactly what that means. What, Miley Cyrus or Taylor Swift as Alice?

Sci Fi appreciates that the crusader doesn't have superpowers and is more in the grounded vein of Iron Man and Batman. "It's not a guy in purple tights," Stern said.I never followed The Phantom all that closely, but isn't he a guy in purple tights? Maybe this version will be called "The Phantym".

mattack

03-23-2009, 10:23 PM

I was one of the three people, apparently, that thoroughly enjoyed the 1996 film version of The Phantom.

Five.. Well, maybe "thoroughly enjoyed" might be a TINY bit too much -- but basically I don't know why everyone else hates it so much. I remember enjoying it at the time. I have no great need to see it again.. and that is the first thing I think of when I hear of Billy Zane.

FilmCritic3000

03-23-2009, 10:35 PM

Five.. Well, maybe "thoroughly enjoyed" might be a TINY bit too much -- but basically I don't know why everyone else hates it so much. I remember enjoying it at the time. I have no great need to see it again.. and that is the first thing I think of when I hear of Billy Zane.

I can remember popcorn tubs at the theater back then had a tie-in with that film - Billy Zane in The Phantom garb with his ring featured prominently and the tagline "Slam Evil!"

I don't know why I didn't see it in the theater back then. I wanted to but I guess it just never worked out.

kjnorman

03-23-2009, 10:38 PM

The bodies were 20-ish and in perfect health* (congential diseases and defects cured, physical deformities for the most part corrected, though psychological issues remained intact as they had brain-state from just prior to their death). And they remained that way (short of death, they could regenerate to their original state and death was merely followed by a subsequent resurrection). All the women were "born" virgins and all the men were circumcised. (I did a paper once on its symbolism and allegory for one of my comparative religion courses.)

*unless they died younger than that, in which case they were regenerated at their death age and aged to the 20-ish state.

Okay, I can see where that is coming from. I'll give SyFy a little bit of grace then as that was how it was written in the book. Guess I was just feeling a bit old and a lot of people on TV are now beginning to look a significant bit younger than me...:(

Mars Rocket

03-23-2009, 10:54 PM

I enjoyed the Billy Zane Phantom as well. I never understood why it was so hated.

This part makes me cringe:

"Part of the fun of this is the reveal of who each character is," Stern said.

That could turn each episode really stupid, really quickly.

FilmCritic3000

03-23-2009, 11:26 PM

I enjoyed the Billy Zane Phantom as well. I never understood why it was so hated.

Nor did I. I think Ebert's review was spot-on, comparing it to an updated version of a serial from the 1940s.

atrac

03-24-2009, 01:56 AM

FilmCritic3000

03-24-2009, 02:07 AM

Count me in as liking the film version of "The Phantom" as well. It had a terrific, fun-loving spirit (no pun intended) to it and a nice sense of humor -- and visually looked great too.

I'm excited to hear that they're going to have a go at it!

Let us hope it doesn't turn out like SCI FI/Syfy's TV series version of Flash Gordon.

The horror...the horror...

gastrof

03-24-2009, 06:07 AM

As for them doing "The Phantom" with the intention of changing it, I wonder if anyone there remembers the "success" they had doing the same thing with Flash Gordon last season?

As for "Riverworld", they've already done a pilot movie for that a couple/few years ago, and nothing came of it. Why in the world are they doing another (no doubt with a different cast and an abandoning of the first one)?

EDIT:
Oops! Film Critic got there before me with regards to FG, and Rob Helmerichs regarding Riverworld!

cheesesteak

03-24-2009, 07:54 AM

Let us hope it doesn't turn out like SCI FI/Syfy's TV series version of Flash Gordon.

The horror...the horror...
Even though the first 9, 10 or so episodes were pretty terrible, Flash Gordon wasn't all that bad at the end. I was sad to see it go.

sieglinde

03-24-2009, 06:09 PM

The Riverworld thing was pretty bad if I recollect. Maybe they are giving the entire thing another try.

wmcbrine

03-24-2009, 06:36 PM

The Riverworld thing was pretty bad if I recollect.I could only watch it for about five minutes. When the guy rode up on his horse and gave his little speech... I was done. :down::down::down:

Rob Helmerichs

03-24-2009, 06:41 PM

The Riverworld thing was pretty bad if I recollect. Maybe they are giving the entire thing another try.
They are. This is a new 4-hour backdoor pilot.

Anubys

03-25-2009, 08:09 AM

They are. This is a new 4-hour backdoor pilot.

backdoor pilot...I don't know what that means, but it sounds...um...never mind :D

Rob Helmerichs

03-25-2009, 08:19 AM

backdoor pilot...I don't know what that means, but it sounds...um...never mind :D
If you're serious, a back-door pilot is a TV movie or miniseries that is designed to be turned into a series if it's successful.

If you're not... :p

Anubys

03-25-2009, 08:24 AM

If you're serious, a back-door pilot is a TV movie or miniseries that is designed to be turned into a series if it's successful.

If you're not... :p

I was both...I didn't know what it meant but I knew it would make a great title for a porn flick!

mattack

03-25-2009, 10:33 PM

Consult the oracle, wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backdoor_pilot#Backdoor_pilots

atrac

04-26-2009, 01:44 AM

BriGuy20

04-26-2009, 12:27 PM

So, we have our new "Phantom"

http://www.shockya.com/news/wp-content/uploads/ryan_carnes_photo.jpg

http://www.shockya.com/news/2009/04/09/ryan-carnes-cast-in-sci-fis-the-phantom/

...VERY difficult to find a pic of this dude without having his shirt off or making out with another guy!

Seems like he could be a masked crime fighter. I'd have to see him in costume (and see his acting) before passing final judgement.

Linnemir

04-26-2009, 02:41 PM

It's been a long time since the college Lit classes, but if memory serves, the character of Alice was based on the author's 10 (or so) year old niece and written to entertain her - Who wants to bet that the 'new' Alice is either a late teen or from a dysfunctional family? (I have a real problem with the way dysfunctional families tend to be central to so much lately!)

I always loved The Phantom in the Sunday comics! Not to mention one or two comic books still gathering dust in the attic ... Did not care for Billy Zane as an actor, but didn't think the movie was all that bad either ...

FilmCritic3000

04-26-2009, 02:57 PM

Again I say, so he's not The Phantom then?

http://scifiwire.com/2009/04/get-a-sneak-peek-at-the-t.php

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x18/jasoncinema/phantom_front-thumb-550x804-15921.jpg

kmccbf

04-27-2009, 12:26 PM

So they're doing another Riverworld movie. The A&E version was terrible.

and that's not the phantom. Even updated, it doesn't work.

Rob Helmerichs

04-27-2009, 12:38 PM

So they're doing another Riverworld movie. The A&E version was terrible.
There was an A&E version? Or are you thinking of the earlier Sci-Fi version?

mrmike

04-27-2009, 12:52 PM

Again I say, so he's not The Phantom then?

http://scifiwire.com/2009/04/get-a-sneak-peek-at-the-t.php

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x18/jasoncinema/phantom_front-thumb-550x804-15921.jpg

That looks like a stillsuit. With Chuck Taylors. I don't see Phantom in that at all.

FilmCritic3000

04-27-2009, 01:33 PM

That looks like a stillsuit. With Chuck Taylors. I don't see Phantom in that at all.

Exactly. It looks like he's about to take part in the Gravity Games.

kmccbf

04-27-2009, 02:51 PM

There was an A&E version? Or are you thinking of the earlier Sci-Fi version?

It may have been an SF version. I didn't see it on TV. As a fan of the Riverword series I saw a DVD of it and bought it, hoping it might be good. I believe it said it was distributed by A&E. OOPS! I just looked it up. It was distributed by Universal. Either way after the first 15 min. it was disappointment. Maybe they will do it right this time.

Yeah! - and "My Mother the Car." was the best show ever put on TV.

Fl_Gulfer

04-27-2009, 05:55 PM

philw1776

04-28-2009, 08:14 PM

I liked how everyone was naked when they came out of the water, I also like all the different people from history, like Mark Twain.. it was ok for a show, I guess they will pick up with the ship going down the river meeting new people from history at each stop.

Mr. Ed was the best show on TV.

Hmmmmm. Maybe we need Showtime or HBO to produce Riverworld. Then again, as a thrifty Scot I dinna pay fer the premium channels.