Letter 44 is about a new president who discovers on his inauguration day that his predecessor's seemingly insane militarization was all to prep America for an imminent alien threat — one that he'll have to deal with. If you haven't definitely check the first issue, which you can read for free on io9!
Pax Romana is a recent series by comics superstar Jonathan Hickman, about a group of World War III soldiers who get mysteriously transported to ancient Rome and try to fix the future by altering the present, along with their modern-day weapons and vehicles.
Frank Miller's classic '80s series Ronin is about a 13th century samurai transported to modern-day New York City to kill the demon that murdered his brother; Syfy plans this as a miniseries.
And last but not least, Grossman's The Magicians is about a college for magicians, and the attendees there who have to deal with adult problems and adult consequences — and a fantasy land described in a popular series of kids' books which turns out to be real.
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Syfy Press Release
SYFY TO DEVELOP FRANK MILLER’S COMIC BOOK SERIES RONIN AND JONATHAN HICKMAN’S GRAPHIC NOVEL PAX ROMANA AS MINISERIES
NEW YORK – April 30, 2014 – Syfy today announced that it will develop as longform programming Pax Romana, Jonathan Hickman’s graphic novel about a time traveling clash of ages and arms, and Ronin, based on Frank Miller’s (300) comic book series, about an avenging samurai.
Pax Romana is about a Special Forces team that travels back in time on the eve of World War III to “fix” the future by altering the past. Their destination: Ancient Rome. Roman legions battle modern day attack helicopters, tanks and soldiers, while thought-provoking themes are explored as the leaders of the expedition fight over their vision for civilization. Writers: Matthew Federman & Stephen Scaia (Jericho, Warehouse 13, Human Target). Co-executive producer: Jonathan Hickman. Executive producers: David Alpert of Circle of Confusion (The Walking Dead), Federman and Scaia. A production of Universal Cable Productions.
In Ronin, published by DC Entertainment, eight centuries after a Japanese Ronin samurai failed to protect his master from a demon, he awakens in a futuristic, nihilistic New York in the body of Billy, a medical experiment. Now Billy/Ronin is chasing the demon, which has reawakened. Both parties want control of a sword with magical properties and will stop at nothing to get it back. Studio: Warner Horizon.
SYFY ANNOUNCES NEW SCRIPTED DEVELOPMENT SLATE FEATURING ADAPTATIONS OF GRAPHIC NOVELS CLONE AND LETTER 44, AND BOOK SERIES THE MAGICIANS
NEW YORK – April 30, 2014 – Building on the momentum of Syfy’s growing slate of cutting edge, provocative original programming, Syfy today announced it was developing adaptations of the graphic novels Clone, from Robert Kirkman and David Alpert (The Walking Dead) and Letter 44, from Jonathan Mostow (Terminator 3), as well as the popular novels The Magicians, based on the book series by Lev Grossman.
NEW SCRIPTED SERIES DEVELOPMENT
Clone – Based on the best-selling graphic novel. When retired soldier Luke Taylor investigates a break-in at his house, he never expected who the burglar would be: A clone of himself. Drawn into a vast government conspiracy when his wife is kidnapped, Luke must use all his combat skills and network of military contacts to get to the bottom of the secret biotech program that is responsible and the hidden agenda that goes all the way to the top levels of power. Writer/Executive Producer: David Schulner (Dracula, Ironside). Executive Producers: Robert Kirkman of Skybound Entertainment (Creator, EP, Writer of The Walking Dead) and David Alpert of Circle of Confusion (The Walking Dead). Studio: Universal Television.
Letter 44 – Based on the graphic novels of the same name. It is tradition for the preceding President to leave a letter for the newly elected President on the desk of the Oval Office. In this letter, new President Stephen Blades learns this stunning secret: seven years earlier, NASA discovered an alien construction project in the asteroid belt. A crew of heroic astronauts was sent to investigate and they're nearing the conclusion of their epic journey.
Executive Producer/Writer/Director: Jonathan Mostow (Terminator 3). Executive Producers: Eric Gitter (Scott Pilgrim vs the World) and Peter Schwerin (The Flock, Scary Movie 2) from Closed on Mondays. Executive Producer: Renee Echevarria (4400, Terra Nova). Studio: A co-production of Universal Television and Universal Cable Productions.
Magicians – Based on the book series, The Magicians, by Lev Grossman, the one-hour drama follows a group of 20-somethings in New York who study magic and discover that the magical fantasy world they read about as children is real and poses a grave danger to Earth.
Executive Producers/Writers: Sera Gamble (Supernatural) and John McNamara (Common Law, In Plain Sight). Executive Producer: Michael London (Lola Versus, Milk). Studio: Universal Cable Productions.
NEW YORK – April 30, 2014 – Syfy today announced that it will develop as longform programming Pax Romana, Jonathan Hickman’s graphic novel about a time traveling clash of ages and arms, and Ronin, based on Frank Miller’s (300) comic book series, about an avenging samurai.
Pax Romana is about a Special Forces team that travels back in time on the eve of World War III to “fix” the future by altering the past. Their destination: Ancient Rome. Roman legions battle modern day attack helicopters, tanks and soldiers, while thought-provoking themes are explored as the leaders of the expedition fight over their vision for civilization. Writers: Matthew Federman & Stephen Scaia (Jericho, Warehouse 13, Human Target). Co-executive producer: Jonathan Hickman. Executive producers: David Alpert of Circle of Confusion (The Walking Dead), Federman and Scaia. A production of Universal Cable Productions.
In Ronin, published by DC Entertainment, eight centuries after a Japanese Ronin samurai failed to protect his master from a demon, he awakens in a futuristic, nihilistic New York in the body of Billy, a medical experiment. Now Billy/Ronin is chasing the demon, which has reawakened. Both parties want control of a sword with magical properties and will stop at nothing to get it back. Studio: Warner Horizon.
SYFY ANNOUNCES NEW SCRIPTED DEVELOPMENT SLATE FEATURING ADAPTATIONS OF GRAPHIC NOVELS CLONE AND LETTER 44, AND BOOK SERIES THE MAGICIANS
NEW YORK – April 30, 2014 – Building on the momentum of Syfy’s growing slate of cutting edge, provocative original programming, Syfy today announced it was developing adaptations of the graphic novels Clone, from Robert Kirkman and David Alpert (The Walking Dead) and Letter 44, from Jonathan Mostow (Terminator 3), as well as the popular novels The Magicians, based on the book series by Lev Grossman.
NEW SCRIPTED SERIES DEVELOPMENT
Clone – Based on the best-selling graphic novel. When retired soldier Luke Taylor investigates a break-in at his house, he never expected who the burglar would be: A clone of himself. Drawn into a vast government conspiracy when his wife is kidnapped, Luke must use all his combat skills and network of military contacts to get to the bottom of the secret biotech program that is responsible and the hidden agenda that goes all the way to the top levels of power. Writer/Executive Producer: David Schulner (Dracula, Ironside). Executive Producers: Robert Kirkman of Skybound Entertainment (Creator, EP, Writer of The Walking Dead) and David Alpert of Circle of Confusion (The Walking Dead). Studio: Universal Television.
Letter 44 – Based on the graphic novels of the same name. It is tradition for the preceding President to leave a letter for the newly elected President on the desk of the Oval Office. In this letter, new President Stephen Blades learns this stunning secret: seven years earlier, NASA discovered an alien construction project in the asteroid belt. A crew of heroic astronauts was sent to investigate and they're nearing the conclusion of their epic journey.
Executive Producer/Writer/Director: Jonathan Mostow (Terminator 3). Executive Producers: Eric Gitter (Scott Pilgrim vs the World) and Peter Schwerin (The Flock, Scary Movie 2) from Closed on Mondays. Executive Producer: Renee Echevarria (4400, Terra Nova). Studio: A co-production of Universal Television and Universal Cable Productions.
Magicians – Based on the book series, The Magicians, by Lev Grossman, the one-hour drama follows a group of 20-somethings in New York who study magic and discover that the magical fantasy world they read about as children is real and poses a grave danger to Earth.
Executive Producers/Writers: Sera Gamble (Supernatural) and John McNamara (Common Law, In Plain Sight). Executive Producer: Michael London (Lola Versus, Milk). Studio: Universal Cable Productions.
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None of these projects seem interesting to me. To think that the network rejected Bryan Fuller's pilot for this...
ReplyDeleteThis series sound awful, too bad that this network now rejects good series, cancels good ones and doesn't develops good new series.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds worse than squeaky voice of Candice Accola.
ReplyDeletePax Romana is just crazy enough to draw my attention and that's it.
ReplyDeleteSounds promising.
ReplyDeleteBecause THAT insult was totally both necessary and relevant in any way.
ReplyDeletelooking for forward t Letter 44 and the magicians
ReplyDeletePax Romana, Clone, and Letter 44 sound interesting.
ReplyDeletewas surprised to find out these were all scripted shows, to be honest. Actual scripted sci-fi is a shock on this network.
These all sound semi-interesting to me, but I'd like to know more.
ReplyDeleteThe only one semi appealing to me is Pax Romana. And even then, I'm not sure I'll be watching it or sticking with it.
ReplyDeleteI think they sound iffy especially given how cheap Syfy shows can look and feel sometimes but all also have the potential to be pretty great. I am interested in The Magicians, and I think it's definity a good idea for Syfy to balance their sci-fi with fantasy so I hope it moves forward if it's any good.
ReplyDelete" Roman legions battle modern day attack helicopters, tanks and soldiers"
ReplyDeleteThe term "battle" presumably means "get horribly and hilariously slaughtered by."
Syfy: Let's cancel all of our most interesting shows, and then replace them with far less interesting shows. That sounds like an awesome idea!
ReplyDeletePersonally, after Warehouse 13 is canceled the only thing that's drawing me to the network is Defiance.
It was my first thought and simple comparison. I don't care if you love it or hate it.
ReplyDeleteI might be interested in Pax Romana and Ronin, but as usual, I want to see cast and production values to sway me...
ReplyDeleteIf Dominion doesn't work out, I'll have nothing on the channel anymore.
ReplyDeleteHahahahahahha. I read it and I thought "WTF?", but you have a valid point.
ReplyDelete