The CW got on the board today with its first pilot orders for the season — to a remake of the 1980s horror/fantasy/thriller anthology series Tales From the Darkside and disaster drama Cordon, from The Vampire Diaries and The Originals‘ showrunner Julie Plec and director David Nutter. Also heating up for a pilot order at the CW has been the Tom Kapinos/Bad Robot drama Dead People. The network has been looking to pick up 5-6 hourlong pilots this season, in line with last year.
The CW originally envisioned the Tales From the Darkside reboot as a half-hour series for this coming summer. The project, from producers Alex Kurtzman and Bob Orci and writer Joe Hill, is now being piloted as an hourlong project for next season.
Hill wrote the adaptation of George A. Romero’s half-hour anthology series. Hill, Kurtzman and Orci executive produce with Heather Kadin, Mitch Galin and Jerry Golod for CBS TV Studios, where Kurtzman and Orci’s K/O Paper Products is based. The project reunites Kurtzman and Orci with Hill, son of horror master Stephen King. The three previously worked together on Locke & Key, a drama adaptation of Hill’s graphic novel, which went to pilot at Fox. Tales From The Darkside, which is in the vein of other genre anthology series like Amazing Stories, The Twilight Zone, The Outer Limits and Tales From The Crypt, had a four-year syndicated run and is owned by CBS TV Studios sibling CBS TV Distribution.
Based upon the original Belgian series created by Carl Joos for Eyeworks, Cordon is in the vein of Under the Dome. When a deadly epidemic breaks out in Atlanta, a large city quarantine is quickly enforced, leaving those stuck on the inside to fight for their lives. Loved ones are tragically torn apart, and the society that grows inside the cordon reveals both the devolution of humanity and the birth of unlikely heroes. Plec wrote the script, with Nutter, helmer of the pilots for the CW’s Arrow and The Flash, directing. The two executive produce for Warner Bros. TV, where they are based, My So-Called Company and Eyeworks in association with Warner Bros. Television.
The CW originally envisioned the Tales From the Darkside reboot as a half-hour series for this coming summer. The project, from producers Alex Kurtzman and Bob Orci and writer Joe Hill, is now being piloted as an hourlong project for next season.
Hill wrote the adaptation of George A. Romero’s half-hour anthology series. Hill, Kurtzman and Orci executive produce with Heather Kadin, Mitch Galin and Jerry Golod for CBS TV Studios, where Kurtzman and Orci’s K/O Paper Products is based. The project reunites Kurtzman and Orci with Hill, son of horror master Stephen King. The three previously worked together on Locke & Key, a drama adaptation of Hill’s graphic novel, which went to pilot at Fox. Tales From The Darkside, which is in the vein of other genre anthology series like Amazing Stories, The Twilight Zone, The Outer Limits and Tales From The Crypt, had a four-year syndicated run and is owned by CBS TV Studios sibling CBS TV Distribution.
Based upon the original Belgian series created by Carl Joos for Eyeworks, Cordon is in the vein of Under the Dome. When a deadly epidemic breaks out in Atlanta, a large city quarantine is quickly enforced, leaving those stuck on the inside to fight for their lives. Loved ones are tragically torn apart, and the society that grows inside the cordon reveals both the devolution of humanity and the birth of unlikely heroes. Plec wrote the script, with Nutter, helmer of the pilots for the CW’s Arrow and The Flash, directing. The two executive produce for Warner Bros. TV, where they are based, My So-Called Company and Eyeworks in association with Warner Bros. Television.
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Julie Plec again? So she is the CW Shonda? I was skeptical but David Nutter is directing the pilot so of course I'll give it a try.
ReplyDeleteMe too. That I would be interested in. Unless they let JP develop it for the small screen.
ReplyDeleteJulie Plec is involved in one of these? Nope.
ReplyDeleteShe thinks she's CW's Shonda. Nope.
ReplyDeleteThat nope is stick in my head :)
ReplyDeleteIf TVD is ending nexts eason maybe TMi can replace it but it has to be really good to work.
ReplyDelete*sighs* I just want City Of Ashes (book two) made into live action.
I like the sound of Corden though they have to be careful to make it distinctive enough from Under the Dome.
ReplyDeleteShe is not as creative as Shonda not even close but she is taking over the CW.
ReplyDeleteI watched some of the original Belgian version of Cordon and thought it was interesting, but not sure how it will work on CW.
ReplyDeleteI recall Tales from the Darkside somewhat... I think I preferred Tales from the Crypt more, but at time Darkside was pretty good. It seems a bit out of place on CW to me as well though....
MMM Under The Dome CW version? nahh give me something else. I thought they were the ones to pick The Mortal Instruments but there hasnt been any news.
ReplyDeletenope. not interested in any of this.
ReplyDeleteMe too. I think they would do much better on TV.
ReplyDeleteShe's got two shows, one possible. I wouldn't trust her to develop Readers Digest.
ReplyDeleteGreg Berlanti has as many shows as her.
ReplyDeleteShe is winning now!
ReplyDeleteThe early seasons of TVD were great and the first season of TO was really good but I have no idea what happened.
ReplyDeleteThat's why I don't trust her. She's good at the initial stage but she has no longevity or creativity to keep sustain the good.
ReplyDeleteTechnically he also has The Atom in development, though I really doubt that goes to series.
ReplyDeleteI'll pass; I had enough frustration with Under the Dome and Cordon doesn't strike me as something better. As for Tales.... Nah, the premise doesn't really compell me. May change my mind upon seeing trailers (if these gets picked, obviously)
ReplyDeleteyep, they just did a couple minutes ago, a post is coming soon :)
ReplyDelete...I see dead series.....
ReplyDeleteUnder the Dome sucks so it won't be hard to top that.
ReplyDeleteCouldn't agree more
ReplyDeleteTales of the darkside only one seem interesting others not so much
ReplyDeleteThe problem with UTD is the lack of compelling characters (Britt Robertson, Dean Norris, Mike Vogel all play or played interesting characters but the rest of the characters are bland/boring) and
ReplyDeleteat least in season 1 very few of the characters behaved in a way that I found believable considering the circumstances. I dont know if a show by Julie Plec on the CW is going to fix the two problems of UTD. The mystery of the Dome really should be second to how the characters deal with living under the dome.
I kinda like what I'm hearing?
ReplyDeleteActually they ordered three... The third one is called Dead People
ReplyDeleteI can't with Julie Plec or anything remotely similar to Under the Dome, but gosh darn if David Nutter doesn't almost make up for both.
ReplyDeleteAgreed on all counts!
ReplyDeleteBeing the "Shonda" of anything is more of an insult to me than a compliment! XD
another Julie Plec show??!
ReplyDeletei am ASHAMED for you CW. don't you ever learn?
Where's my "Atom/Blue Beetle/DC's Iron Man" show to expand the Arrow-verse? :S
ReplyDeleteWell that is David Nutter's magic isn't it? To just make everything better by default...
ReplyDeleteSkipping Cordon if there are no zombies. Tales from the Darkside I will watch. I loved the original series.
ReplyDeleteHaha! I'm not remotely a Shonda Fan (I mean, I won't deny she's successful, but IMO she's also super overrated), so factor that in with me not thinking too much of JP, this is double funny to me... :D
ReplyDeleteHowever I'll agree, that with David Nutter being attached to direct the pilot, it does make me a wee bit interested...
Cordon sounds interesting, definitely checking that out
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, not sure what any of you were expecting considering the CW was contractually obligated to one more JP project, but seriously can we talk about how awesome Tales From the Darkside sounds!? I’m legit surprised the CW managed to bag such decent names. And at least JP’s new outing isn’t a genre show.
ReplyDeleteWow JP is really on a CW kick isn't she? = / I don't feel like reading the description. I will later.
ReplyDeleteWell,this crazy woman doesn't give up,does she?
ReplyDeleteAs long it doesn't contain another Love triangle,i'll give it a try.
Cordon sounds to ambitious for the CW to do but I believe JP could bring up some big shipper stories and make it a hit.
ReplyDeleteBoth of these shows seem more like midseason entries.
Kurtzman & Orci :)
ReplyDeletecool excited
ReplyDeleteAll 3 pilots sound very good so far
ReplyDeleteexcept Shonda's shows are real hits
ReplyDeleteWell, it's great to see a person, who's really optimistic about all three pilots!
ReplyDeleteI think people should stop judging! I mean Jane the Virgin didn't sound interesting at all, but it has become one of my favorite shows!
ReplyDeleteYeah, I was hoping too for The Mortal Instruments.
ReplyDeleteI was angry when they picked Reign and Jane the virgin and now they are my two favorites. I just know The CW will make it work.
ReplyDeleteTales sound very different and very good, Corden sounds like UTD and i need better version, because UTD is kind of a disappointment, Dead People seem like Ghost Whisperer,iZombie but it does sound pretty good too. With right cast, all 3 of them coud be amazing
you want the Blue Beetle?
ReplyDeletewhy?
ReplyDeleteI'm not that big of a fan either. I only watch Grey's Anatomy. I wasn't going to check out the pilot but reading David Nutter's name got me interested.
ReplyDeletePlz God don't make go to series. That character needs to be erased from history.
ReplyDeleteShonda is a super messy storyteller. She goes for the shock and awe and tends to dismiss substance and narrative perspective in the process. Besides Grey's (which at least was decent and relatively consistent for a few years) I can't stand the rest of her work (and I did try).
ReplyDeleteI even finally gave up Grey's about a season and a half ago. I guess I still follow it occasionally and very casually, but I'm absolutely not making it a point to catch up. After all it had been a few years where I was pretty much going back only out of a habit anyway.
Julie Plec has similar problems, where she sacrifices substance and storytelling. However not really going for shock and awe, she's more of the repetitive-redundant-retracting storyteller variety.
Right? What is it with that man?
ReplyDeleteI wasn't comparing shows quality just stating the fact that they both will have 3 shows on the same network.
ReplyDeleteTrue!
ReplyDeleteCordon or Corden?
ReplyDeleteThat one sounds like a show I'll be watching next season.
As for Tales from the Darkside I hated the original and don't want to see a reboot of it getting picked up. Also, it's a cheap procedural without a main cast I would root for so why bother?
I agree. I tried to watch Scandal but to be honest it was only because of Henry Ian Cusick and I couldn't even finish the first season.
ReplyDeleteAs for Grey's Anatomy, it got a little boring I agree but for a show in its 11th season it's still pretty good.
I like it, so to each his own
ReplyDeleteI can't say Grey's has been good in the last 4 years (possibly for longer)... It can be watchable if you've been watching it from the get go (because it has become a bit of a habit, and I say this as someone who has been on that boat), but I can't just can't use the word "good" for it anymore.
ReplyDeleteIts saving grace is that the cast is indeed pretty stellar. They are the ones who tend to manage and work miracles with the crappy material, but the show has reached a point where even they can't do that much to help anymore.
First of all, I don't expect a thing from Julie Plec.
ReplyDeleteSecond of all, I do not like her and that is allowed.
Thirdly, I do not like her shows and that is allowed.
Fourth, I don't think Tales From the Darkside is a fit with the CW
Fifth, I love genre shows.
"Based upon the originals Belgian series" wait what? There's something I never expected to read in a press release. No clue which show they're talking about
ReplyDeletealmost my same thought word-for-word. LOL
ReplyDeleteYeah, i was also really skeptical about Reign, JtV and even The 100, and these are now my favourite shows!
ReplyDeleteBoth sound interesting but I'll definitely be checking out Tales From the Darkside, I've never seen or heard of the original but anything Orci & Kurtzman releated that I've watched so far hasn't disappointed.
ReplyDeleteCordon sounds like it could be good but the names behind it are leaving me very skeptical.
God, JP, just concentrate on making the best you can with TVD an TO and leave other shows to when u finish with one of the previous ones.
ReplyDeleteNo, just that Arrow's Ray Palmer is a weird Atom/BlueBeetle/Iron Man hybrid and i don't know what to call him, tbh xD
ReplyDeleteI think if Tales From the Darkside was being done on cable, the show
ReplyDeletecould pull a lot of really interesting actors for one episode, but it
seems doubtful that will happen on the CW, which kinda takes away what potentially might be fun about the series.
That's why I don't jump into the bandwagon and judge these shows when they are in their very preliminary stage.
ReplyDeleteI grew up with the original Tales from the Darkside and it shaped my love of horror, genre, campy and suspense. I just don't see the CW doing so well with it.
ReplyDeleteI'm still shocked that pilot he did with Mandy Moore and Ben McKenzie a couple of seasons ago didn't get picked up. (and don't quote me on this but I think it was his first ever pilot to NOT get picked up... and it bugged because I had heard good things and I believe it ended up being shopped until last minute and just barely didn't make the cut...)
ReplyDeleteWhat Pilot was this?
ReplyDeleteI think it was called "The Advocates"
ReplyDeleteShe was a laywer he was a con man and they teamed up to solve cases for their clients... something like that...