The Sci-Fi Channel, which is rebranding itself as SyFy next week, is developing a new take on “Alien Nation,” the 1988 feature that previously spawned a spinoff TV series and several telefilms on Fox. “Angel” alum Tim Minear (“Angel”, “The X-Files,” “Firefly”, “Strange World”) will be writing a new take on the franchise, about a populace of aliens from a crashes ship who integrate themselves into Los Angeles. Based on the first film, “Alien Nation” centers on the partnership between a veteran cop and his new partner, a member of this alien race called the Newcomers. Stay tuned for more information about the reboot right here at Shockya.com. By Costa  [ Read More ]

Warner Bros. has acquired the rights to produce a big-screen adaptation of the hit British TV series “Primeval”, just as the 3rd season of the show begins this weekend on BBC America, and the series is rolling along on the Sci-Fi channel. “Primevil” follows a team of scientists and adventurers from the British government who are dealing with portals to the prehistoric past called “anomalies” that allow various creatures to venture into the present. The film will be produced by Akiva Goldsman and Kerry Foster for Weed Road, Goldsman’s production company. Emily Cummins will also produce. No other information about the film has been released yet in terms of a  [ Read More ]

Sci Fi Channel is teaming with Will Smith for “Unfinished Business”, a new crime procedural/drama about an ex-cop who starts seeing flashes of memories from the recently deceased, and then, compelled by them, begins helping lost and wronged souls take care of unfinished business. Sci Fi/Syfy plans to initially air “Business” as a 2-hour movie, that also will serve as a series pilot. It isbeing produced through Overbrook Entertainment, with Smith, James Lassiter and Ken Stovitz executive producing. Sally Robinson (“Iron Jawed Angels”) is writing the pilot, and Mikael Salomon (“Band of Brothers”) is attached to direct. Both Robinson and Salomon are also attached as executive producers. No release date  [ Read More ]

Sci Fi Wire has some exclusive concept art for the Sci Fi/Syfy Channel’s “The Phantom” mini-series scheduled for 2010, which you can check out below. Ryan Carnes has been cast as the Phantom in the TV original, written by father-son team Daniel and Charles Knauf and intended to be a backdoor pilot for launching a new live-action Phantom TV series. “The Phantom” is a comic strip created by Lee Falk, it stars a costumed crimefighter operating out of the African jungle, the latest in a line of avengers stemming back hundreds of years. The series began with a daily newspaper strip on February 17, 1936 and the character, credited with  [ Read More ]

The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that Ryan Carnes (“Desperate Housewives”) has been cast in “The Phantom”, the cable channel’s adaptation of the classic comic news strip about the purple-clad ghostlike avenger. Isabella Rossellini will guest star in the mini-series as the villainous Lithia, bent on succeeding with her mind-control power experiments. Cameron Goodman and Sandrine Holt are also starring. “The Phantom” begins production on Monday, and will air next year on Syfyas a four-hour movie/mini-series. The character was created by Lee Faulk in 1936, and is the latest in a line of vigilante avengers dating back to the first Phantom ages ago, who battled pirates. The character is generally acknowledged  [ Read More ]

Sci Fi has announced it is changing it’s programming and its name to Syfy staring July 7th: Building upon sixteen years of water cooler programming and soaring ratings growth following its most-watched year ever, SCI FI Channel is evolving into Syfy on air and on-line beginning July 7th, it was announced today by Dave Howe, President, SCI FI. By changing the name to Syfy, which remains phonetically identical, the new brand broadens perceptions and embraces a wider and more diverse range of imagination-based entertainment including fantasy, paranormal, reality, mystery, action and adventure, as well as science fiction. It also positions the brand for future growth by creating an ownable trademark  [ Read More ]