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I hear Syfy is zeroing in on scripts for its next round of green lights, which may come next week. I hear among the top contenders for a pickup are Helix, from Battlestar Galactica developer/executive producer Ron Moore, and The Almighty Johnsons. I hear Syfy are contemplating straight-to-series orders in lieu of traditional pilot pickups, and that the network may make greenlight decisions in conjunction with existing series renewals.
Moore’s Helix, from Sony Picture TV where Moore is under an overall deal, is about a team of scientists investigating a possible disease outbreak at an Antarctic research facility. Cameron Porsandeh wrote the spec the pilot is based off of and serves as co-executive producer. Lynda Obst exec produces alongside Moore.
The Almighty Johnsons is an adaptation of the New Zealand fantasy comedy/drama series created by James Griffin and Rachel Lang and produced by All3Media’s South Pacific Pictures. It centers on Axl Johnson, who on his 21st birthday discovers he and his family members are reincarnated Norse gods. Chris Dingess wrote the U.S. adaptation, which is being produced by Entertainment One.
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What happened to the SyFy pilots that were in contention? Did they all not get picked up, then?
Yeah, a lot of those sounded really great. Especially Rewind.
Anyway, Helix sounds like it could be really good. I didn’t even know it was in development. The Almighty Johnsons would actually fit well with the network if it blends the comedy and drama properly.
yes and it fits their stratagy of stealing forign shows
Yessssss!!!! I Love The Almighty Johnsons!!!! I’ve been waiting to hear news of a US version of the show for some time now!! Although I would have rather it been on TNT or FX so it can be a little raunchy like the original but I’ll take what I can get!!!
The Almighty Johnsons is a terrific, oddball fantasy series. I shudder to think how it will be adapted for the North American market.
Moore rules. I did just read one entitled The Extinction Principle… Perfect for Syfy. Too smart for networks.
C’mon, SyFy! What happened to Rewind, Legion, The Dover Agenda, Seeing Things, Grave Sight, High Moon (aka The Lotus Caves), Defender & The Family?
Why remake the almighty johnsons, it’s cheaper to just buy the rights to air as they’ve done with the Canadian Shows. It can’t be the accents, surely ?
How about real original stuff instead of remakes ?
Well, considering that the New Zealand channel that made The Almighty Johnsons stupidly cancelled the show after 23 episodes and with the storyline unresolved, maybe a remake is the only chance of getting a “full” version of the story. The American version will have to be tamer on the sexual content and coarse language, but it could still be good. The central concept is inherently strong.
Not True…it was confirmed in october by in a last minute reprieve that a third series has been funded and will be filmed. It more than likely may end up being the final series for the original.
I can’t wait to see who they cast as The Johnson Brothers. I just hope that nail the casting for each one.
Thanks for that. In September cast members said on Twitter that the plugged was pulled on the show, and the series’ creator confirmed there would be no season 3. It looks like reason prevailed the following month.
No problem. I did a little fantasy casting and would love to see Eion Bailey -as- Mike, Billy Miller -as- Anders, Wes Brown -as- Ty, Ryan Hansen -as- Olaf, & David Henrie -as Axl. At least that’s who I feel could do each role without it diverting too much from the original concept of the characters. Regardless I can’t wait to see who is cast.
Perhaps BBC America will pic Star Trek: The Next Generation, for example).
Perhaps BBC America will pick it up, as not all their content is BBC-originated (Battlestar Galactica and Star Trek: The Next Generation, for example).
What Syfy really needs is a big, bright and beautiful new space opera. Can you believe this has been the first year since Star Trek The Next Generation debuted 25(!) years ago that there hasn’t been one on TV? It’s inevitable that CBS/Paramount will eventually mount a new Trek series, but Syfy reinvented the genre nearly ten years ago with Battlestar Galactica, so there’s no reason they can’t and shouldn’t do so once again while that audience is totally free for the taking. Syfy should own this space (no pun intended).
too cheap
The Almighty Johnsons was renewed for season 3 and thus will be returning in 2013
The Almighty Johnsons has recently been picked up for a 3rd series so keep watching, the Johnson boys are on their way again
Dear Odin, no. Don’t remake The Almighty Johnsons. The original series from New Zealand is fabulous. Pick it up and air it, the way they did in the UK and Canada. Don’t spoil it by moving it to a suburb of Minneapolis. Or are you actually concerned that a viewer population that enjoys shows set everywhere from deep space to Asgard will desert you if you air a fantasy based in New Zealand?
They will never do it. Syfy, by their own admission, wants nothing to do with space. The folks that work there don’t want it to be a niche genre network because they have inferiority complexes that they won’t be able to get jobs at “regular” networks if all they have on their resumes are Star Trek, Babylon 5 and the like. So you get a stupid name change away from Sci Fi and shows that are grounded but with some “imagination” driven hook.
they also don’t want to make any “expensive” orginal shows.which is why their broadcasting reality shows and canadian series instead of making their own series.
April 15 a space series called Defiance starts and it looks great.