#SDCC15: Universal Cable Productions Announces More Genre-Themed Programming in the Works
Debi Moore
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Hot on the heels of yesterday’s news that Universal Cable Productions has teamed with Dark Horse for some genre-themed TV projects comes word of three others that UCP is working on, including a Syfy series based on Caradog James’ slick and thought-provoking horror/sci-fi film The Machine (review). Read on for all the details!
From the Press Release:
As Comic-Con International 2015 kicks off in San Diego, Universal Cable Productions (UCP) has unveiled several new deals that will continue to fortify the studio’s growing genre library and cater to the high demand for television content inspired by science fiction, graphic novel, and comic book stories. As part of its overall deal with Valhalla Entertainment, UCP today announced renowned graphic novel writer Warren Ellis (New York Times best-seller Gun Machine and Iron Man: Extremis – the Marvel Comics graphic novel and basis for Iron Man 3) will adapt the popular 1970s Mexican comic book and Televisa format “El Pantera” as his first original TV series with Gale Anne Hurd set to executive produce and Televisa USA to co-produce.
Based on the popular 1970s Mexican comic book and hit Spanish language TV series adapted by Televisa, “El Pantera” is a vigilante crime drama set in a fictional metropolis on the U.S. Mexico Border. When a young officer is appointed Head of Police, he only has one request: He asks that his friend, who was wrongfully imprisoned, be set free. Under the guise of his rumored death, the two create ‘El Pantera’ to rid the city of the Mexican mob. Warren Ellis is set to adapt the comic with Gale Anne Hurd’s Valhalla Entertainment attached to produce and Televisa USA to co-produce with UCP.
UCP is also developing the award-winning cult British film The Machine into a scripted series for Syfy with the film’s Caradog James (Little White Lies) set to write the script and John Giwa-Amu (The Silent Storm) to produce. The story follows a brilliant computer programmer, desperate to save his terminally ill daughter, who creates the first-ever piece of self-aware artificial intelligence. But things go terribly wrong when the technology, designed to help injured soldiers, is hijacked by the government and used to create the ultimate robotic weapon. “The Machine” series will follow multiple storylines as it takes a broad view of cutting edge scientific breakthroughs in genetic engineering, trans-humanism, and artificial intelligence.
Additionally, the studio has recently optioned the critically acclaimed comic series Kill Shakespeare, created by Anthony Del Col and Conor McCreery and released by IDW Publishing (Orphan Black, Locke & Key). This dark take on Shakespeare – which has also spawned a stage production and board game – pits his greatest heroes (Hamlet, Juliet, Othello, Falstaff) against his most menacing villains (Richard III, Lady Macbeth, Iago) in an epic adventure to find and kill – or save – a reclusive wizard named William Shakespeare. Anthony Del Col and Conor McCreery are set to write.
“These projects speak to UCP’s continued commitment to genre and aligning with the best talent in the business. Warren Ellis and Gale Anne Hurd are a genre dream team – ideal visionaries to adapt Mexico’s iconic comic El Pantera,” said Dawn Olmstead, Executive Vice President of Development, Universal Cable Productions. “Comic-Con has been fertile ground for mining great content – it was there five years ago that I first heard about Kill Shakespeare and have been chasing it since. They had me at a love triangle between Romeo, Juliet, and Hamlet. Set in a world where all of Shakespeare’s villains are seeking to find their creator and destroy him is, well, very Shakespearian. The Machine is a profound story that allows us to explore a poignant and unique relationship between science fiction and humanity.”
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