Earlier this week, Syfy announced a number of new projects that would premiere later this year, along with the renewal of Being Human. Continuing reading for details from the official press releases, including more information on the upcoming anthology horror series from Jamie Foxx:
"Syfy and Chiller President Dave Howe today unleashed the imagination of the advertising community by announcing an original programming slate featuring Oscar-winner Jamie Foxx (Ray, Django Unchained) executive producing, writing and directing a horror anthology series, a trio of new reality series – Joe Rogan Questions Everything, Cosworld and Fandemonium – and 19 scripted and reality development projects, including The Jim Henson Creature Shop, a creature competition program.
Howe further announced a groundbreaking strategy of major quarterly multiscreen events showcasing new high concept programs, including Ringworld, a miniseries based on Larry Niven’s classic novel; Helix, an epic thriller from Battlestar Galactica’s Ronald D. Moore; the scripted series Dominion (working title) from Sons of Anarchy writer Vaun Wilmott; Opposite Worlds, a real life Hunger Games-type competition, and Unbreakable, an unscripted program testing contestants through mental and physical extremes.
Bolstering its powerhouse scripted programming lineup, Syfy announced that the five-episode series from Jamie Foxx will join Defiance, Warehouse 13, Being Human, Haven and the upcoming Helix from Ronald D. Moore (Battlestar Galactica). Syfy will also begin production on the pilot of High Moon, from Bryan Fuller (Pushing Daisies), based on John Christopher’s best-selling novel The Lotus Cave.
New original scripted development projects – including 8 from Universal Cable Productions -- will include No Place from Robert Zemeckis (Back to the Future), Clandestine from Gale Anne Hurd (The Walking Dead) and Sojourn from Jason Blum (Paranormal Activity). These will expand the existing development slate highlighted by Proof, produced by M. Night Shyamalan (After Earth), the British cult favorite Blake’s 7, directed by Martin Campbell (Casino Royale), and Dominion from Defiance director Scott Stewart and writer Vaun Wilmott (Sons of Anarchy)."
Jamie Foxx Anthology Horror Series - Marking a major addition to its primetime scripted lineup, Syfy today announced that Oscar-winner Jamie Foxx (Django Unchained, Ray), through his Foxxhole Productions, will executive produce, write and direct a yet to be titled five-episode horror anthology series for October 2013. Universal Cable Productions will produce the series.
In the vein of television classics like Tales from the Crypt and The Twilight Zone, this contemporary half-hour series tells creepy morality tales with themes such as envy, jealousy and superficiality. The show will debut during Syfy’s annual 31 Days of Halloween programming marathon this October.
Said Jamie Foxx: “This is a project that I’ve wanted to do for a long time and I’m so happy to see it come to life. Get ready to lose it when some special friends and I bring the scares this October, and who knows… maybe I’ll make a guest appearance or two along the way!”
Said Mark Stern, President, Original Content, Syfy, and Co-Head, Original Content, Universal Cable Productions: “We couldn’t be more excited to work with someone as talented and multifaceted as Jamie Foxx. His passion and unique perspective will transform these universal insights on the human condition into emotionally potent and truly scary cautionary tales.”
Troy Miller (Flight of the Conchords, Brand X) will serve as executive producer through his production company Dakota Pictures. Writers on the project include Mike Ferris (Terminator: Salvation) and John Pogue (Army Wives, Everwood) . Writer Jeff Stilson, Jaime King and Julie Yorn will also serve as executive producers
Joe Rogan Questions Everything (working title) – Premieres Tuesday, July 16 at 9PM (ET/PT) -- Life-long unexplained paranormal mystery-addict Joe Rogan ventures into unknown worlds and untapped territories to search for answers to life’s most startling theories. Having explored these questions for years on his podcast, Joe now takes his journey to the next level, traveling the country and knocking on any door necessary to find the truth. In his own unique and inquisitive style, Joe will stop at nothing to quench his curiosity for the unknown. Production company: A. Smith & Co. Executive producers: Arthur Smith, Joe Rogan, Kent Weed, Frank Sinton, Michael Braverman, Tod Mesirow, Barry Bloom, Jeff Sussman and Chandra Keyes.
Cosworld (working title) – Premieres Tuesday, August 27 at 10PM (ET/PT) – Cosworld is a tantalizing six-episode docuseries that lifts the veil on the imaginative world of cosplay competition. The series follows some of the hottest cosplay stars as they make a splash at comic book conventions around the country. The show dives deep into their lives, following their process as they create extravagant and visually arresting costumes each week. These individuals will constantly defy odds and race against the clock to transform themselves into amazing fictional characters that push the boundaries between fantasy and reality, all in hopes of impressing the convention judges to win a cash prize and the chance to become a cosplay legend. Production company: 51 Minds, an Endemol Company. Executive producers: Mark Cronin, Courtland Cox and Dave Caplan.
Fandemonium (working title) – Premieres Fall 2013 – From the producer of Jersey Shore comes Fandemonium – a six-part docuseries that celebrates the incredibly unique, often misunderstood, and infinitely fascinating fan girl and fan boy culture. Living together in an LA apartment complex, a tight-knit group of pop culture-obsessed fans continue to find their place in the world and flourish, thanks to their passions and personalities. Whether it’s being first in line for the latest blockbuster, making a lasting impression upon getting the chance to meet their heroes, or just figuring out how to balance their passions with making a living – when these friends get together, it’s flat out Fandemonium. Production company: 495 Productions. Executive producer: SallyAnn Salsano.
No Place - Syfy is joining creative forces with Fox Television Studios, Academy Award©-winning director/producer Robert Zemeckis, producers Jack Rapke and Jackie Levine, and feature film writing team John Brancato and Michael Ferris (Terminator Salvation, The Game) to develop the series project No Place, it was announced today by Mark Stern, President of Original Content, Syfy and Co-Head Original Content, Universal Cable Productions. Zemeckis and Rapke are executive producers along with Brancato and Ferris who will write the pilot.
Circle of Confusion will also produce the project with David Alpert (The Walking Dead) and Rick Jacobs as executive producers. Matt Hawkins and Marc Silvestri serve as executive producers for Top Cow.
In No Place, residents of a high-tech gated community awaken one morning to find themselves alone and cut off from the rest of reality – nothing exists beyond the community’s walls. Only one man has contact with the powers responsible for what is known as “The Rift,” and he must lead his fellow residents beyond the void to discover the truth.
Ghost Mine Season 2 - Dig even deeper into the Ghost Mine mystery when the hit Syfy paranormal unscripted series returns for Season 2 this fall. Twelve all-new episodes are set to premiere starting in September 2013.
For Season 2, the rag-tag team of gold miners and pair of paranormal investigators will return to Eastern Oregon’s Crescent Mine to continue their quest for gold and evidence of ghosts at the notoriously haunted mine. Located near the historic gold mining community of Sumpter, Oregon, the Crescent Mine is believed to contain high amounts of gold.
Each hour-long episode of the new season will feature the Ghost Mine crew battling the elements in hopes of striking it rich while delving further into the mysterious history of the Crescent Mine and revealing new information about the recurring Masonic symbols, Native American presence and a spirit named “Joe.” While the miners use the time-honored tools of their trade – including pickaxes and explosives – the paranormal investigators will introduce special new techniques and innovative gear to capture activity, including a revamped version of the popular RIPA (Remote Investigator of Paranormal Activity).
Being Human Season 4 - Syfy is ordering a fourth season (13 episodes) of its hit drama series Being Human, it was announced today by Mark Stern, President of Original Content, Syfy and Co-Head of Original Content, Universal Cable Productions. The announcement comes on the heels of the Season 3 finale which aired Monday, April 8 and in time for Syfy’s Upfront presentation this evening in New York City.
Being Human stars Sam Witwer, Meaghan Rath, Sam Huntington and Kristen Hager as vampire Aidan, ghost Sally and werewolves Josh and Nora. Together they struggle to suppress their supernatural secrets and temptations and live their lives as close to normal as possible.
“‘Being Human’ really hit its stride creatively this year,” said Mark Stern. “This show has become a signature series for Syfy and we are thrilled to have it return in 2014.”
Ringworld and Childhood's End Miniseries - Syfy announced today it is developing miniseries based on two of science fiction’s greatest novels: Larry Niven’s Ringworld and Arthur C. Clarke’s Childhood’s End. They join the previously announced Philip K. Dick’s The Man in the High Castle from Ridley Scott’s Scott Free Productions, writer/executive producer Frank Spotnitz, Headline Pictures and FremantleMedia International, Stephen King’s Eyes of the Dragon, from Universal Cable Productions (UCP) and Ostar Productions, and Darkfall, also from UCP and Jim Henson Productions, as long form productions.
Adapted by writer Michael Perry (The River, Paranormal Activity 2), Ringworld is based on Niven’s best-selling book and is being developed as a four-hour mini-series Syfy event. The project is a co-production of MGM Television and Universal Cable Productions (UCP), with MGM as the lead studio. Executive producers are William S. Todman Jr. and Edward Milstein.
Childhood’s End will be executive produced by Michael DeLuca (The Social Network) with Universal Cable Productions serving as the studio.
In making the announcement, Mark Stern, President, Original Content, Syfy, and Co-Head, Original Content, Universal Cable Productions, said: “We’re proud to bring to life these science fiction masterpieces, Ringworld and Childhood’s End. With their brilliant scope of imagination, the astonishing visions of these two novels created riveting possibilities into the future of humanity which remain timely and provocative.”
In Ringworld, a hastily-assembled team of explorers travels to the farthest reaches of space to investigate a mind-blowing alien artifact called Ringworld – an artificial habitat the size of one million Earths. As they crash land on this enormous structure, they discover the remnants of ancient civilizations, technology beyond their wildest dreams, mysteries that shed light on the very origins of man and, most importantly, a possible salvation for a doomed Earth.
Childhood’s End follows a peaceful alien invasion of Earth by the mysterious Overlords, whose arrival ends all war and turns the planet into a near-utopia.
Daily Dead's Official Podcast! Daily Dead's Official Podcast!
