Vaporware shows

[olivermoss]

Do you have any shows that aren't sure if they are going to make it to screen? Pining for announced shows that never happened?

Here are a few of mine:

* Sanctuary Reboot - This was announced just before Covid. I assume that torpedoed it. For those who don't know it was an very early streaming show that was a bit too early to the streaming market. It was an urban fantasy show with Amanda Tapping and a few writers from SG-1. I don't know the full behind the scenes on it, but I do know that the original first season was unavailable for a long time even when the later season where available. It was a very experimental show and I was very into it. I was hyped by the renewal announcement but then... nothing. I hold out hope that the stars align and it still happens.

* Heralds of Valdemar adaptation - I will bet my spleen this never happens, but please, I would love it if it did. Every bit of dudebro nerd nostalgia has been made into moves or shows, but never weird stuff about talking horses and soul bonds from female fantasy authors.

* I can't remember the title - But I remember that there was going to be a show about the people psychiatrists who get homosexuality removed as a disorder from the DSM-IV. I think it was going to be the next project from some of the people who made Pose. I don't know what happened to it and can't find the articles I remember reading.

* Crystal Lake - There is no good reason right now to worry that it's vaporware, but I am keeping a weather eye on it and hoping. There have been rights issues to the Friday the 13th movie series it's a prequel to, but it sounds like it's moving forward?

So, anyone else? Have any shows in development hell they are pulling for? Still sad about Wayward Sisters?

Comments

[feurioo]

I don't know what happened to it and can't find the articles I remember reading.

This is what I found: ‘81 Words’ Limited Series From ‘Pose’ Co-Creator Steven Canals in Development at FX. Sounds really interesting. Unfortunately, no update since 2020.

Edit: Looked into it and, apparently, another show by Matthew Wiener that was announced around the same time, was cancelled in early 2022.

[feurioo]

To answer your post question with something that spent a long time in development hell but will finally see the light of day: Adult Swim's Uzumaki adaption was announced in 2019. Last month, they posted a clip and, apparently, the four episodes are supposed to air later this year. Didn't believe it was still happening.

[olivermoss]

Sometimes projects go silent and do actually wind up happening! Sometimes projects disappear. Sometimes things like The Black Tapes get optioned for TV and then, nothing.

[olivermoss]

81 Words! Yeah, I was so looking forward to that! I hope it's just back burnered and will happen someday.

[jo]

A few years ago (pre-Covid), my husband read that Amazon was going to adapt Iain M. Banks' Culture books. He was SO excited about that as the Culture series is probably his fave ever. And then last year, we learned that Amazon had changed its mind and wasn't going to proceed with the series. He was majorly disappointed about that.

Personally, I am more concerned about the impact of the current writers/actors strike on shows that are supposed to return with a new season. Last time there was a strike, a number of shows that had been greenlit for new seaons just ended up getting the plug pulled. I'll be mega disappointed if we don't get another season of Severance, to name one...

Sort of related to the topic, an article in the Guardian yesterday about how various streaming services are not only just removing content, but outright cancelling series that are completed before they even air a single episode: https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/aug/29/the-great-cancellation-why-megabucks-tv-shows-are-vanishing-without-a-trace

[olivermoss]

I've heard about completed movies being shelved, it's nuts that it's happening to shows, too. Weird stuff is happening in Hollywood right now.

Hopefully the studios give in soon. The pay structures and creative accounting going on just meant that people who actually make things weren't getting paid and that's just not sustainable. Part of why completed projects got shelved was to avoid residuals.

[senmut]

The Dragonriders of Pern project. Bandied as a film then a series, and the last STRONG contender was under the old Atlantis Entertainment company that I think ... no longer exists? Like every couple of years it comes up again under some media company and then vanishes.

For a time Elfquest was bandied as a possible series, then dropped to a film, and finally I think it is dead in the water because they decided to do a radio play, basically.

I would have said Mr. and Mrs. Smith... but it is apparently actually happening!

[olivermoss]

Pern, Elfquest, Lackey... people saw all the nerd nostalgia has been mined dry but some hasn't been touched!

I think a Mercedes Lackey tv show would be a train wreck, but it would be an entertaining one!

[senmut]

It would be an interesting train wreck maybe!

[olivermoss]

I'd buy the local store out of popcorn!

[violateraindrop]

Gothica. The premise, the cast...This could have been amazing.
I found it when looking at Seth Gabel's imdb page after his appearance on Fringe. What would I give to see at least that unaired Pilot. I can't believe this has now been stuck in my head for ten years.

[olivermoss]

It can be hard to let go of these shows! There was a female lead supernatural investigations show not part of the SPN-verse that was announced ages ago and I don't even remember the name but every once in a while I'm like 'when is show?' It was going to be centered on the Women in White urban myths.

I swear I've heard of Gothica, I don't think you are the only one!