From Conan to Green Lantern to Everyone’s Favorite Serial Killer

I have a few, mostly-unrelated announcements to cover this week….

First, Conan the Barbarian is making his way to your television (or computer) screens via a new, live-action show. As per Movieweb:

“According to a new report, Fredrik Malmberg and Mark Wheeler’s Pathfinder Media has made a deal with Netflix to produce the Conan the Barbarian TV series. It is also said to be the first in a deal with Conan Properties International. Under the deal, Netflix has the exclusive rights to obtain the rights to the entire Conan library. This would mean that the company could develop further movies and TV shows, both of the animated and live-action variety, should they so choose.”

Malmberg and Wheeler will, of course, be executive producers. Since (as of this writing) this is very early in development, there has been no casting of roles, no hiring of writer or director, and no revelation of any plot details. However, I get the sense that there is no connection to the Conan reboot film (2011) that starred Jason Momoa or to any other production from recent years. It is possible, however, that Netflix might help Arnold Schwarzenegger finally get his The Legend of Conan film made (starring Arnold as an older “King Conan”), though whether they would tie it (and Arnold’s previous Conan movies) in with their TV hero or have it be a totally separate thing is obviously unknown. All speculation, at this point.

I’m not a huge Conan fan, but I might check this new series out.

Second, we have a new “Green Lantern”, live-action TV series on the horizon. This is not completely new news (is that redundant?), since the series was announced one year ago this month as being developed by Berlanti Productions and Warner Bros. Television for the upcoming streaming service HBO Max.

Clockwise from upper-left: Sinestro, Cruz, Baz, Gardner, Scott (Photo: Warner Bros. / HBO Max)

What does appear to be new information is that the show will be “a one-hour drama series that will explore the darkest corners of the universe” and it will focus on… well, I’ll let Warner Bros. tell you:

“From HBO Max, DC, Berlanti Productions and Warner Bros. Television comes a bold adaptation of the iconic comic book franchise, a saga spanning decades and galaxies. Green Lantern will depict the adventures of a multitude of Lanterns, including Guy Gardner, Jessica Cruz, Simon Baz, and Alan Scott — Earth’s first Green Lantern, who, true to the comics, is a gay man — and many more. The series will also include fan favorites such as Sinestro and Kilowog, and will also introduce new heroes to the ranks of the Green Lantern Corps.”

(“True to the comics…”. Well, after they retconned him back in 2012, that is. I just hope they don’t push the whole LGBTQ+ thing.)

Major Green Lanterns from Earth like Hal Jordan, John Stewart, and Kyle Rayner are noticeably missing. Are they being saved for the Green Lantern Corps film, I hope? (Is that still on track?)

The 10-episode first season will be co-written by showrunner Seth Grahame-Smith (IT, The LEGO Batman Movie, Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter) and Arrowverse architect Marc Guggenheim.

I suppose I should also mention that, on a related note, WarnerMedia officially announced that “the DC Universe program is transitioning into DC Universe Infinite and most of its content will be moving over to HBO Max.” This transferred content will include the already existing, non-CW, live-action and animated DC series — “Young Justice”, “Doom Patrol”, “Stargirl”, “Titans”, “Harley Quinn”. So, the new “Green Lantern” series will have plenty of company.

I’m only a moderate GL fan, Kyle Rayner being my favorite, but I’ll probably give this series a shot.

Finally, fans of “Dexter” — and I count myself among them — got some great and surprising news. Many of us wondered “What the heck?!” at the end of the series finale, when we saw Dex (Michael C. Hall) move off to the middle of nowhere to become a lumberjack. It looks like we will get some answers — or, at the very least, a new story and finale to look forward to.

The 10-episode limited series will tentatively begin production in early 2021, eyeing a Fall 2021 premiere date. According to Gary Levine and Jana Winograde, Presidents of Entertainment, Showtime Networks Inc.:

“Dexter is such a special series, both for its millions of fans and for Showtime, as this breakthrough show helped put our network on the map many years ago. We would only revisit this unique character if we could find a creative take that was truly worthy of the brilliant, original series. Well, I am happy to report that [original showrunner] Clyde Phillips and Michael C. Hall have found it, and we can’t wait to shoot it and show it to the world!”

I hope they bring in at least a couple familiar supporting characters, namely Dexter’s sister Debra (Jennifer Carpenter) and father Harry (James Remar).

Bloody marvelous! I’m in!

DC’s New TV Series in 2019

A few members of Doom Patrol

DC Comics has managed to produce an impressive number of popular, live-action TV series based on their superhero properties in recent years. These include “Arrow”, “The Flash”, “Supergirl”, “Legends of Tomorrow”, “Gotham”, “iZombie”, “Black Lightning”, and the most recent hit, “Titans”. (I haven’t checked out that last one, yet, as of this writing.) The only one I know for sure that is planning to end in the near future is “Gotham”, which debuts its 5th and final season this January. Meanwhile, though, DC has a few more tentatively scheduled to debut in 2019, and those are what I wanted to briefly review this week.

I already mentioned the “Batwoman” and “Stargirl” series in my “Girl Power!, part 1 of 2” post a couple months ago. The former will be spun off from the recent ‘Elseworlds’ crossover event in Flash/Arrow/Supergirl. It will star Ruby Rose as Kate Kane, Bruce Wayne’s (very lesbian) cousin who takes over Wayne Enterprises in Wayne’s absence, while also protecting Gotham in the guise of ‘Batwoman’. I thought she did OK in her ‘Elseworlds’ appearance, but I certainly hope the new series forces Rose to expand her acting range beyond the stoic-tough-chick bit.

From the way the “Stargirl” series is developing, I wonder if it should be called “Stargirl and the Justice Society”. In addition to Brec Bassinger in the title role, the JSA is going to include Joel McHale (Starman), Henry Thomas (Doctor Mid-Nite), Lou Ferrigno Jr. (Hourman), et al. I like the JSA but was never a huge fan. But, I’m curious to see what they do with these characters. (A few more details and links re the “Batwoman” and “Stargirl” series can be found in the above-linked post.)

Another re-imagining, “Doom Patrol” is set to spin off in February, after a few of the characters guest-starred in an episode of “Titans”. This is a quirky group of misfits with weird powers and a lot of psychological baggage. Or, as the DC press release put it:

“The Doom Patrol’s members each suffered horrible accidents that gave them superhuman abilities — but also left them scarred and disfigured. Traumatized and downtrodden, the team found purpose through The Chief, who brought them together to investigate the weirdest phenomena in existence — and to protect Earth from what they find. Part support group, part Super Hero team, the Doom Patrol is a band of super-powered freaks who fight for a world that wants nothing to do with them.”

Sounds like fun! There is the danger, of course, of it getting quite campy/silly. But, with smart writing and decent performances, it could be a great series!

Notables that have signed on include Timothy Dalton (The Chief), Brendan Fraser (Robotman), Matt Bomer (Negative Man), and Alan Tudyk (Mr. Nobody). No surprise, the show is being executive produced by Greg Berlanti and Geoff Johns.

Swamp Thing

Speaking of weird, “Swamp Thing” is coming to our screens, as well:

“Based on the DC Comics characters created by Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson, the one-hour drama series would follow CDC researcher Abby Arcane, who returns to her childhood home of Houma, Louisiana, in order to investigate a deadly swamp-borne virus. She develops a surprising bond with scientist Alec Holland, only to have him tragically taken from her. But as powerful forces descend on Houma, intent on exploiting the swamp’s mysterious properties for their own purposes, Abby will discover that the swamp holds mystical secrets, and the potential love of her life may not be dead after all.”

The character first came to TV in a series (following two movies) starring Dick Durrock (1990-93). I never got into this character, either in print or on TV — just not my cup of bog water. But, it does look like it’s got some big names behind it. For example, Jennifer Beals, Ian Ziering, Virginia Madsen, and Will Patton will all have roles, with the monster himself being played by Derek Mears. Then there is Mark Verheiden as one of the writer / exec producers, and James Wan and his Atomic Monster Productions cohorts will also be producing. Len Wiseman will direct the pilot (and maybe more). Could be a decent series, so I’ll probably give it a look at some point.

Last but not least, we have CBS’s in-development “Secret Six” series. To be honest, I am unfamiliar with this team. But, from what I read, there have been a few incarnations in the comics, with members including second- and third-tier characters, as well as first-tier (e.g., Lex Luthor, Penguin, Bane). The one constant is that membership always consists of six diverse individuals, gathered and directed by the mysterious ‘Mockingbird’, who may or may not be one of the “field team”. As per the Variety article,

“The project, which has received a pilot production commitment at the network, follows six morally ambiguous strangers, each with their own unique specialties and secret pasts. They are brought together by an enigmatic figure who blackmails them into working as a team to expose the corruption of the corporate and political elite….

Rick Muirragui will write and executive produce, with Bill Lawrence and Jeff Ingold executive producing via Doozer Productions. Warner Bros. Television, where Doozer is under an overall deal, will produce.”

As far as I can tell, no actors have signed on, yet.

If I had to guess, I doubt they’ll have any of the first-tier characters in the line-up, but I could be wrong. Either way, I’m not sure how I feel about this project. The basic idea doesn’t thrill me, but I suppose it could be good if executed well. Muirragui has been writing/producing “Suits”, one of my favorite dramas, for years. If the writing is as sharp for “Secret Six” as it is for “Suits”, it could be a surprise hit!

And that brings us to the end… WAIT, no, there’s one more….

Metropolis by Kerem Gogus

“Metropolis” is being developed for a 2019 debut, too! Along with “Titans” and “Doom Patrol”, this makes three live-action series Warner Bros. is creating for the DC digital service. Not to be confused with SyFy’s “Krypton” series that already aired, this will be another Superman prequel.

“Metropolis will follow Lois Lane and Lex Luthor as they investigate the world of fringe science and expose the city’s dark and bizarre secrets…. [I]t promises to show us a wondrous and awe-inspiring City of Tomorrow, before the emergence of Superman, and establish much of the Man of Steel’s world leading up to his arrival.”

Still in the early stages, apparently, there are no actors attached, as yet. “Gotham”‘s John Stephens and Danny Cannon will also executive produce “Metropolis”, with Cannon directing the first episode from a teleplay by Stephens — story by both Cannon and Stephens.

“Metropolis will likely have a considerably different tone than Gotham. Superman’s villains are also more powerful, cosmic and rooted in science fiction than Batman’s, so one can only imagine there will be much less emphasis on street level gangsters and crime families in this forward-thinking city.”

Color me intrigued! This one, I’ll definitely be looking forward to….

Upcoming, Live-Action Superhero Series Round-up, part 2

Continuing from last week, wherein we looked at various confirmed, possible, and merely rumored Netflix series that will/would join the four Marvel adaptations so far, this week we’ll review several more superhero shows being developed at other networks. Most of them also happen to be based on Marvel properties, but not all….

Disney/ABC

o I’ve already blogged about the “Inhumans” mini-series coming out this Fall (here and here). As previously mentioned, it will focus on the Inhumans’ Royal Family (as seen in the comics) and will not be connected to “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. I have mixed feelings about the casting choices — e.g., Serinda Swan as ‘Medusa’ looks rather disappointing in the pic I saw — but I’m hopeful that the overall story and production will make it worth watching.

Fox

‘The Gifted’

o As we now know, the mysterious “X-men related” show that was being developed over at Fox is called “The Gifted”. The basic premise is that a suburban American couple discovers “their children possess mutant powers. Forced to go on the run from a hostile government, the family joins up with an underground network of mutants and must fight to survive.” This appears to be a new concept and not based on any particular Marvel mutant-themed comics, but there will be a few familiar characters (e.g., ‘Polaris’, ‘Blink’, ‘Thunderbird’). The creative team / producers include many familiar names, too — e.g., Bryan Singer, Jeph Loeb, Lauren Shuler Donner, Simon Kinberg, Jim Chory, and Matt Nix. My interest is piqued! (No premiere date but possibly late-2017.)

Hulu

o Based on another popular Marvel comic book series, “Runaways” is about a group of teenagers who discover that their parents are the members of a secret cabal of supervillains. As if there wasn’t enough to be angsty about…. These kids discover that they have unusual skills and abilities of their own and decide to foil their parents’ evil plans. As you might have guessed, the parents do not appreciate the interference, and the kids end up on the run, so to speak. Thus the title. I remember reading several issues of this series when it came out years ago and enjoyed it. I really hope they do a decent job with this adaptation. At least the cast looks good…. (Premieres sometime in 2018.)

Freeform (formerly ABC Family)

o “Cloak & Dagger”: “Two teenagers [Tandy Bowen and Tyrone Johnson] from very different backgrounds find themselves burdened and awakened to newly acquired superpowers while falling in love.” To be honest, I never really got into these characters much. I remember reading a few stories with them — maybe the initial, limited series and a few guest-starring appearances in other titles. But, they never really got me excited. Still, it’s an interesting concept, and I know their fans have been talking for some time about the possibility of these characters arriving either on the small- or big-screen. Well, it’s finally happening, so for their sakes, I hope this is a satisfying live-action adaptation. (Premieres early/winter 2018.)

o Not much is known about the “(Marvel’s) New Warriors” series being developed for Freeform, except that it will be a half-hour action-comedy and apparently features ‘Squirrel Girl’. Now, since debuting in the ’90s, this team has gone through a few different rosters. But, it has always been (mostly) serious, despite the silliness of Speedball, and the ridiculous Squirrel Girl has never before been part of any incarnation of the team. This series “is about six young people with powers living and working together. With powers and abilities on the opposite end of the spectrum of The Avengers, the New Warriors want to make a difference in the world… even if the world isn’t ready.” The team will be led by SG, whose “most important trait is that she has faith in people and teaches them to believe in themselves.” Not the way I’d have gone with this property, but I guess…. (No premiere date but probably 2018.)

You might be wondering if there will be any crossover between the two Freeform series. Well, probably not. As per Karey Burke, Freeform’s Vice President of Programming, “If you know these two properties, they’re not particularly connected. There are many degrees of separation with where they fall in the Marvel universe. But anything is possible with Marvel. Their tones are so wildly different. Cloak is this angst-filled, achingly beautiful, heartfelt romantic drama. And Squirrel Girl is a balls-out comedy.”

CW

‘Black Lightning’

o DC’s latest — fifth, or sixth if you count “iZombie” — entre on The CW will be “Black Lightning”, starring Cress Williams in the title role. The incredibly busy and talented Greg Berlanti is one of the executive producers, along with his producing partner Sarah Schechter. Husband-and-wife team Salim and Mara Brock Akil are writing, with Salim also directing at least the pilot. The show tells the story of Jefferson Pierce, a long-retired superhero who gets pulled back into the biz, when his daughters (who I think also have powers) get involved in some heavy stuff. The trailer I saw looked pretty good, so here’s hopin’…. (Premieres either this October or early 2018.)

???

o The one we know the least about is “Quantum & Woody”, based on a Valiant title by the same name. (I loved the original but haven’t read the new one.) It was a quirky, clever series with fun characters: adopted, adult brothers — one black, one white; one serious, one goofy — who gain superpowers and (naturally) become costumed adventurers. This past March it was announced that the Russo Brothers (“Community”, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War) would develop the property as a TV series, once they wrap The Avengers: Infinity War. Other executive producers include Andrew Barrer and Gabriel Ferrari (Ant-Man), who are currently working on Ant-Man and The Wasp. Sounds like a great creative team! But, correctly casting the title characters — with the “odd couple” vibe and repartee from the comics — will be crucial to the show’s success. (No premiere date.)

o Just before going to press, I discovered that DC’s live-action “Titans” series has not only been revived but will begin shooting in September. Apparently, I missed the announcement back in April that it was moving forward, after all. Beside the shoot-date, we also now know that Berlanti (along with Geoff Johns and Akiva Goldsman) is co-developing this one, too, and it will be “part of a brand new digital service from DC Entertainment and Warner Bros.” Does this mean it won’t air on a regular TV or cable channel? I dunno. Regardless, I hope they do the team justice. Teen justice! <<ahem!>> (Likely premieres sometime in 2018.)

I don’t know about you, but I think there is a *lot* to look forward to over the next couple years, and that’s just from this particular subset of our beloved sci-fi/fantasy and action/adventure genres. Even if only half of these series catch on, I’ll be happy. (Assuming I have a chance to watch them, that is.)