Caffeinated Clint
With the TCAs in full swing, no surprise to hear rumblings of some exciting future projects – many of which have juicy name association – coming to an Apple or Roku near you.
While not confirmed, NBC are said to be looking at relaunching the body-jumping adventures of Sam Beckett with a “Quantum Leap” revival, while FOX are considering dusting off “24” and “Prison Break” for another go-round,
NBC’s Program Strategy Head Jeff Bader tells /film that ’80s cult classic “Quantum Leap” is one they’re definitely looking at reviving for the Peacock streaming network.
“That’s one that I know everyone is discussing,” Bader said.
Since the original run mainly fixed on situations in the ’50s up till the early ’80s, Bader said a new series would possibly involve the main character – whether it’s Scott Bakula’s Sam, or someone new – reliving people’s lives from the ’80s and ’90s.
Dean Stockwell, who played Sam’s sidekick, Hologram ‘Al’, in the original run is returned – – so it might be hard to entice him back into the fold.
A reboot of “Quantum Leap” was toyed with a few years back, with Reese Witherspoon on the then wish-list to play the new time-traveler.
A new “Star Trek” series fixing on Pike & Spock could come to fruition.
Revealed at the upfronts, CBS is considering a “Star Trek : Discovery” spin-off for season 2 faves Pike (Anson Mount) and Spock (Ethan Peck).
CBS All Access’s Julie McNamara said “We’ve definitely heard fans that people are excited about the notion of that. We have heard them loud and clear. We also thought there was incredible chemistry around that bridge crew so among many things that we talk about, that idea is certainly one of them.”
“24” may be getting another revival with original star Kiefer Sutherland.
As per Deadline, the show’s executive producer Howard Gordon revealed they’ve been talking about relaunching the Fox hit a third time.
“Fox certainly wants to do it, and we’re talking,” Gordon revealed. He added, “When I say talking, what it will be. The big headline being it has to be worth doing. We can’t do it to just do it. We want to find the right story.”
Todd Harthan, currently showrunner on ”The Resident”, is the main person developing it – and one of his ideas is to do a prequel focusing on a young Jack Bauer.
Meantime, Fox might also be looking at relaunching “Prison Break” – but it won’t be back this year.
There’s also a glimmer of hope for a “Firefly” revival.
The short-lived Joss Whedon creation, which spawned 14 eps and a movie, could make a return according to Fox president of entertainment Michael Thorn.
“The macro answer is, any time we look at one of our classic titles, if there’s a way to reinvent it for today so it’s as resonant now as the original was, and is, to the fans, we’re wide open,” Thorn tells The Wrap. “In this crowded marketplace, if you can start with some kind of brand awareness and IP that has a vocal support and, in this case, a crazy, passionate love for it, you’re ahead of the game.”
executive producer Tim Minear said he’d “love to see, like, an eight- or 10-episode adventure in that universe”.
