The CW is already home to a higher percentage of genre programming than any other network, with hits like ‘The Flash’, ‘Arrow’, ‘Supernatural‘ and ‘The Vampire Diaries’ just to name a few. And it doesn’t look like the network is going to stray too far from what made it successful, with six pilot orders that explore the worlds of comics, sci fi, fantasy and horror.
While The CW already airs three shows based on DC Comics, their newest comic-based show draws from the venerable world of Archie comics, with ‘Riverdale’. Archie comics made headlines last year when they unveiled new versions of ‘Archie’ and ‘Jughead’, updating the classic all-American gang for the modern world. Expect ‘Riverdale’ to further that evolution.
“Set in present day and based on the iconic Archie Comics characters, ‘Riverdale’ is a surprising and subversive take on Archie, Betty, Veronica, and their friends, exploring the surrealism of small town life — the darkness and weirdness bubbling beneath Riverdale’s wholesome façade.”
‘Riverdale’ is being executive produced by Greg Berlanti and Sarah Schechter, who also produce ‘Arrow’ and ‘The Flash’ as well as CBS’ ‘Supergirl’. Also executive producing are Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and Jon Goldwater of Archie comics.
Perhaps inspired by the success of ‘The Martian‘, The CW has also ordered a sci fi series set on Mars. The project doesn’t yet have a title, but here is the description:
“A team of explorers arrive on Mars to join the first human colony on the planet, only to discover that their predecessors have vanished. Led by a woman whose husband is among the missing, the colonists are forced to change their mission from exploration and settlement to investigation and survival, while navigating the hostile planet and their own personal demons.”
This show is being produced and written by Doris Egan, who previously worked on ‘Reign’ and ‘House’. Frank Marshall is one of the executive producers.
Also in the world of sci fi (kind of) comes a TV adaptation of the 2000 film ‘Frequency’, written and produced by ‘Supernatural’ vet Jeremy Carver:
“In this reimagining of the New Line Cinema film, a female police detective in 2016 discovers she is able to speak via a ham radio with her estranged father (also a detective) who died in 1996. They forge a new relationship while working together on an unresolved murder case, but unintended consequences of the ‘butterfly effect’ wreak havoc in the present day.”
The CW has also ordered a pilot from Kevin Williamson (‘The Vampire Diaries’) with David Nutter (‘The Flash’, ‘Supernatural’) attached to direct. Once again, the project doesn’t have a title, but explores the world of the supernatural.
“A young woman seeks help from a parapsychologist when she begins to experience paranormal phenomena.”
With ‘The Vampire Diaries’ fading and ‘The Originals’ underperforming, The CW is looking for a new horror-tinged series and may have a good one in the form of ‘Transylvania’.
“In 1880, a headstrong young woman in search of her missing father ventures from NYC to Transylvania where she teams up with a wrongfully disgraced Scotland Yard Detective, and together they witness the births of the most famous monsters and villains in history.”
The sixth and final new pilot is the only show that isn’t at all sci fi/supernatural. Here is the description for ‘No Tomorrow’:
“When a risk-averse, straight-arrow, female procurement manager at an Amazon-like distribution center falls in love with a freewheeling man who lives life to the fullest because he believes the apocalypse is imminent, to comedic and poignant results they embark on a quest together to fulfill their individual bucket lists.”
Keep in mind, The CW has only ordered pilots, so not all of these are guaranteed to make it to television this fall. But considering the talent behind the scenes on some of these, some are pretty safe bets. On the other hand, some sound pretty elaborate and expensive, so we’ll have to wait and see if the network wants to shell out the necessary funds to, for instance, recreate Mars or Transylvania.
Out of these shows, which ones would you most like to see?
Source: Entertainment Weekly
