ABC Going for 'Masters' Degree
Sci-fi anthology could debut in summer
February 23 2006
LOS ANGELES -- ABC, whose Emmy-winning hit "Lost" brought forth a host of other supernaturally tinged shows this season, is taking the next leap into the sci-fi stratosphere.
The network has ordered an anthology series called "Masters of Science Fiction" that will bring the work of some of the genre's titans -- including, possibly, Ray Bradbury and Isaac Asimov -- to the small screen. The show comes from IDT Entertainment, the company behind Showtime's "Masters of Horror."
ABC has ordered four episodes of the show thus far. Production is scheduled to begin in late spring; it could be on the air by summer or held for fall.
"We're very excited about this anthology," says Quinn Taylor, who oversees movies and miniseries for ABC. "We've been trying to put together this kind of series because it has great potential to become appointment television."
Oscar-nominated screenwriter Michael Tolkin ("The Player," "Deep Impact") has already agreed to write and direct one episode. Bradbury is in discussions to adapt his "Dark They Were, and Golden-Eyed," and the producers are also negotiating for the rights to Asimov's story "The Last Question" and "The Discarded" by Harlan Ellison.
"Masters of Horror," which premiered last fall on Showtime, featured mini-movies by John Carpenter, Mick Garris, Joe Dante, Dario Argento and John Landis. A second season is due in the fall.
Sci-fi anthology could debut in summer
February 23 2006
LOS ANGELES -- ABC, whose Emmy-winning hit "Lost" brought forth a host of other supernaturally tinged shows this season, is taking the next leap into the sci-fi stratosphere.
The network has ordered an anthology series called "Masters of Science Fiction" that will bring the work of some of the genre's titans -- including, possibly, Ray Bradbury and Isaac Asimov -- to the small screen. The show comes from IDT Entertainment, the company behind Showtime's "Masters of Horror."
ABC has ordered four episodes of the show thus far. Production is scheduled to begin in late spring; it could be on the air by summer or held for fall.
"We're very excited about this anthology," says Quinn Taylor, who oversees movies and miniseries for ABC. "We've been trying to put together this kind of series because it has great potential to become appointment television."
Oscar-nominated screenwriter Michael Tolkin ("The Player," "Deep Impact") has already agreed to write and direct one episode. Bradbury is in discussions to adapt his "Dark They Were, and Golden-Eyed," and the producers are also negotiating for the rights to Asimov's story "The Last Question" and "The Discarded" by Harlan Ellison.
"Masters of Horror," which premiered last fall on Showtime, featured mini-movies by John Carpenter, Mick Garris, Joe Dante, Dario Argento and John Landis. A second season is due in the fall.
