The Technodrome Forums - Upcoming Sci-fi Mini-series

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090323/tv_nm/us_scifi_1

Quote:

Sci Fi has ordered a trio of fantasy miniseries, including a retelling of "Alice in Wonderland."

The cable network is also working on a fresh take of the comic-book hero "The Phantom"; and developing an adaptation of the "Riverworld" fantasy books by Philip Jose Farmer. All the projects are four-hour movies from prolific production company RHI Entertainment.

"Alice" is planned for the winter, "Riverworld" and "Phantom" coming next year. The latter two will air as backdoor pilots -- meaning they could get series orders if they draw a large enough audience. It's the programing model the network has used with success before, as in the case of "Battlestar Galactica."

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," said Robert Halmi Jr., president and CEO of RHI entertainment. "We'll have new incredible worlds and a more grown-up feel."

Sci Fi Channel executive vp original programing 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," about a photojournalist transported to a mysterious world occupied by everyone who has ever lived on Earth, could have the most series potential if producers pull off the novel's tricky combination mixing a modern protagonist with reborn historical figures.

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.

How many Alice movies are gonna be out within the next year? 2? 3? Yeesh....Another take on Phantom that's a backdoor pilot for a tv series....well....there's been several of those but the Phantom seems to be as popular as ever outside of Sweden (where he's practically a god and even has a theme park! ). Riverworld will be good if done right. I love Phillip J. Farmer's stuff. I doubt they'd be able to do his Wold Newton Universe (my fave of his works) tho considering all the Marvel and DC heroes in it (as well as James Bond, MacGyver, the Scooby Doo gang, ect).

But Riverworld would make for a totally fun tv series. Everyone in history on one planet up to the 20th century! But man it totally figures that they'd make a tv series ouf of Farmer's stuff AFTER he dies. :P

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riverworld