Must-See TV for 2006/7
August 30th, 2005
TV producer Keith Addis has announced plans to put together an anthology show, adapting classic SF short stories that’ll fit into an hour (that is, 42 minutes.) Considering the line-up of stories and screenwriters, this could be very good indeed:
Michael Tolkin (The Player) will adapt Heinlein’s “Jerry Was a Man.” John Milius (Conan the Barbarian) will rework Lem’s “The Hunt.” Bradbury will adapt his story “Dark They Were, and Golden-Eyed.” Similarly, Ellison will adapt his short story, “‘Repent, Harlequin!’ Said the TicktockMan,” Addis said.
Harlan Ellison scripting ‘Repent, Harlequin!’…
One of my five favourite SF short stories of all time.
Adapted by the author.
A man who, it should be remembered, actually knows how to write for the screen.
Ladies and gentlemen, I do believe the Hugo for Best Dramatic Presentation (Short Form) for 2007 is taken. Just so long as the screenwriter’s name that appears on the credits isn’t “Cordwainer Bird.”
Seriously, that’s a fine collection of stories and screenwriters Addis has lined up. Obviously a lot will depend on the quality of the scripts, the casting, the budget, the directors, whether a willing customer can be found for the series, whether SF and fantasy are still in vogue by the 2006/7 season and so on and a couple of hundred other imponderables; there’s a long, long way to go yet and we may never hear another word about the show should the stars fail to align at the right time.
(You’ll notice I’m not even mentioning the question of whether the show will be bought by a UK terrestrial channel. That’ll certainly be an issue for me if/when the time comes, but for now let’s just get the show made, then I’ll worry about how I’m ever going to see it.)
The main point at this stage is that at least they’re starting out right: good stories, and screenwriters with genre experience.
[Via Amygdala]