Sci-Fi Film and Television Developments

Jericho
7/30/09 – SCI FI Wire reported that the producers of the CBS post-apocalyptic series Jericho are developing a final two-hour movie.  Lennie James, who played techno spy Robert Hawkins, was part of a Comic-Con panel last weekend when he heard the news. "While we were there, Karim Zreik, one of the producers, said that the idea of a movie is still on the cards," James said. "They're just trying to come up with the two-hour story that's worth telling. So that's where they are at the moment. But it's still on the cards, and people are still interested."  In the meantime, the story does continue in comic-book form, which may have to be enough for a while. "I try very hard not to have any expectations, even after people have told me that this is going to happen," James said. "I try not to have any expectations, but I was at Comic-Con the other day, and we did a panel because Jericho is being released as a comic book. That's one way that they're going to continue the story."  Should the telefilm come together, London native James said that he would be excited to play Hawkins again. "Listen, I loved doing Jericho," he said. "I had a lot of fun on Jericho. I've made friends for life on Jericho. It was my introduction to, not just American television, but to America. Jericho did me nothing but favors, so if they come up with a story that's strong and that justifies doing it, and they get it done in the way that I would hope it should be done, then, yeah, I'll be the first name on the list. If not, the second."

3/18/09 – SCI Fi Wire reported that Dan Shotz, co-executive producer of Jericho, said he and his fellow writer/producers are indeed serious about developing a feature film based on the cult show.  "It's not just wishful thinking," Shotz said. "We've been developing a feature to hopefully make, because we would love to. I mean, Jericho is so built in a way, especially where we left off season two, to create a feature. So our hope is to launch this comic-book series and then, with the development at the same time of the feature, hopefully get that launched as well."  The comic series is from Devil's Due Publishing and will pick up where the series left off, pledging to answer many of the story's lingering questions. The show's writers will contribute to the comic series, Shotz added.

1/16/09 - Jon Turteltaub, one of the executive producers of CBS' defunct Jericho, told iF Magazine that he and his partners are developing a feature-film version of the post-apocalyptic series.  "We're developing a feature for Jericho," Turteltaub said. "It would not require you to have seen the TV show, but it gets into life after an event like this on a national scale. It would be the bigger, full-on American version of what's going on beyond the town in Jericho."  Turteltaub, who also directed many of the series' episodes, added that he hopes to get the cast back. "Oh yeah!" he said. And would it be a huge budget? "Anything would be a huge budget compared to what we were dealing with," he said. "If we had $40 million to make a movie with, that's 20 times more than we did before."

6/26/08 - Brad Beyer and Ashley Scott, two of the stars of the twice-canceled CBS show Jericho, said recently that they have been hearing rumors of a possible feature-film version and would be interested in doing it if the opportunity presented itself.  "We got here and caught wind of a possible movie idea, which we thought was really good," Scott said. "I think Brad had heard about it online the other day, and I just heard tonight, and I thought that would be really wonderful, wouldn't it? Kind of put a closing on it."  Jericho was canceled after the end of its first season in 2007, but returned for seven additional episodes earlier this year after a fan campaign convinced CBS to bring the show back. It was canceled again after the episodes aired to mediocre ratings.  Beyer, who played farmer Stanley Richmond, said that he would like to see the film cover the escalating civil war between the remaining survivors of a nuclear attack in the U.S.  Fans of the show are currently campaigning for another network to pick the show up. Both actors said that they would gladly come back, whether it be for a feature film or a new incarnation of the series.  "I think we're all very passionate about the show." said Scott, who played Emily Sullivan. "We have been from the moment I read the script, the first script, the pilot. I think we're all very passionate about it. We're so thankful that our fans have been so incredible. It's been such a blessing to know that we're thought of that way. I think, at least speaking for myself, I know I'd be back."   Beyer added: "Yeah. I think everybody that I keep in contact with would definitely jump on board with it. ... We're all pretty much open to it. It was such a great, positive experience, why wouldn't we want to do it again?"

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