Post by The Ultimate Nullifier on May 14, 2015 9:05:16 GMT -6
www.newsarama.com/22940-as-seen-on-tv-the-full-list-of-live-action-comic-book-tv-shows-on-the-air-or-in-development.html
With the constant stream of announcements about television shows based on comic book, it's getting tough to keep up with all the news. But with the success of comic-to-TV shows like The Walking Dead and Gotham, and the growth of streaming comic-based series like Daredevil and Powers, television viewers should get used to seeing a slew of new comic characters coming to the small screen in coming years.
To keep up with the latest happenings, Newsarama pulled together an updated list of live action comic book TV series that have been announced within the last year:
EXISTING SHOWS
iZombie
Season: 1 ends June 9, renewed for Season 2
Network: The CW
Premiere Date: March 17, 2015
Airs: Tuesdays at 9
Stars: Rose McIver, Malcolm Goodwin, Rahul Kohli, Steven Weber
Comic Published By: DC Comics’ Vertigo imprint
Another female-fronted show, I, Zombie stars Rose McIver as Liv, a "high-functioning" zombie that lives secretly among humans and takes a job with the medical examiner so she can feed on human brains. Although that might not seem like a superhero story at first glance, Liv absorbs the memories from each brain she ingests, and with murdered folks among them, she ends up using her powers and immortality to solve crimes and save lives.
The Flash
Season: 1 ends May 19, renewed for Season 2
Network: The CW
Airs: Tuesday, 8pm
Stars: Grant Gustin, Candice Patton, Rick Cosnett, Danielle Panabaker, Carlos Valdes, Tom Cavanagh, Jesse L. Martin
Comic Published By: DC Comics
A young Barry Allen stars in the new CW series, which tells the story of the Flash's origins. The lead character is a forensic scientist, and after gaining super speed after an accident, he uses his powers to protect Central City from crime. The show had a huge ratings success during its crossover with CW's other superhero show, Arrow, and the two have spawned the DC's Legends of Tomorrow team series that's expected this fall. Some stars of the new Legends series will be appearing in the Flash season finale.
Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Season: 2 ends May 12, renewed for Season 3
Network: ABC
Airs: Tuesday, 9pm
Stars: Clark Gregg, Ming-Na Wen, Chloe Bennet, Iain De Caestecker, Elizabeth Henstridge, Adrianne Palicki
Comic Published By: Based on characters and concepts by Marvel Comics
Based within the same world as the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. has been taking advantage of the success of Marvel movies by tying into stories (like its recent set-up for The Avengers: Age of Ultron and the current origin story for the upcoming The Inhumans movie.) With a third season guaranteed, and Marvel movies more tied together than ever, the cohesiveness of the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. universe with Marvel's cinematic one should only grow. (And if you're looking for news about a new spin-off, which was reportedly being eyed by ABC, the latest word is that those plans have been halted.)
Arrow
Season: 3 ends May 13, renewed for Season 4
Network: The CW
Airs: Wednesday, 8pm
Stars: Stephen Amell, Emily Bett Rickards, David Ramsey, Katie Cassidy, Paul Blackthorne, Willa Holland, Colton Haynes, John Barrowman.
Comic Published By: Based on characters and Concepts by DC Comics
Now on its third season, Arrow got a rating boost with the aforementioned crossover with CW's other superhero show, The Flash. Depicting the archer Green Arrow from DC Comics, the show is not tied to the DC cinematic universe being developed by Warner Bros., but it's already featured dozens of other DC heroes and villains in its three seasons, and its success led to the spin-off Flash series, as well as the upcoming CW team-up series, DC's Legends of Tomorrow.
Powers
Status: Premiered in March, renewed for Season 2
Network: PlayStation Network
Stars: Sharito Copley, Susan Heyward, and Michelle Forbes
Comic Published By: Marvel Comics’ Icon imprint (previously Image Comics)
Sony broke new ground by launching an original series on its PlayStation Network the way Netflix and Amazon have done, and it was apparently successful enough to warrant a second season for the show (although showrunner Charlie Huston will not return). Powers is among the incentives Sony offers in its $50-per-year PlayStation Plus memberships, which include access to the show's episodes (as well as free games, discounts and other benefits). Based on the gritty comic of the same name, Powers follows a group of police detectives who investigate super-powered crimes and is aimed at adult audiences.
Daredevil
Season: 1 released, Season 2 coming in 2016
Network: Netflix
Stars: Charlie Cox (Daredevil), Deborah Ann Woll, Elden Henson, Vincent D'Onofrio
Comic Published By: Marvel Comics
The first of four exclusive Marvel series that are coming on Netflix, Daredevil was reportedly a huge success for Netflix. The show is now going to have a second season. A superhero who was blinded as a young boy but imbued with extraordinary senses, Matt Murdock fights against injustice by day as a lawyer, and by night as the super hero Daredevil in modern day Hell's Kitchen, New York City. Next in the Netflix series? A.K.A. Jessica Jones (see below).
Gotham
Season: 1 just ended, renewed for Season 2
Network: Fox
Stars: Ben McKenzie, Donal Logue, Jada Pinkett Smith, Camren Bicondova, David Mazouz
Comic Published By: Based on characters and concepts by DC Comics
Renewed in January, Gotham serves as a "prequel" of sorts to Batman, telling the story of Gotham City before there it had its Caped Crusader. The first episode depicted young Bruce Wayne's parents being killed and the case getting assigned to rookie cop Jim Gordon. Since then, viewers have been treated to origin stories for well-known Gotham gangsters and villains like Catwoman and Penguin, as well as early stories of Alfred Pennyworth, Jim Gordon and, of course, a young Bruce Wayne.
The Walking Dead
Network: AMC
Season: 5 ended in March, renewed for Season 6
Stars: Andrew Lincoln, Norman Reedus, Steven Yeun, Chandler Riggs, Lauren Cohan, Danai Gurira
Comic Published By: Image Comics, Skybound imprint
The March finale of the fifth season of The Walking Dead drew record ratings, and finished its highest-rated season yet. Set in the zombie apocalypse, the hugely successful show seems to only continue adding viewers. Of course, AMC is banking on the success of the Walking Dead franchise, as it's soon premiering Fear the Walking Dead, a spin-off series (see below).
Marvel’s Agent Carter
Season: 1 ended earlier this year, renewed for Season 2
Network: ABC
Stars: Hayley Atwell
Comic Published By: Based on characters and concepts by Marvel Comics
The character of Peggy Carter, who debuted in Captain America: The First Avenger, was at the center of this series, her story picking up after Cap is assumed dead in 1946. According to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Peggy Carter was one of the founding members of S.H.I.E.L.D. — an unusual role for a woman back in the '40s — so the series also ties into Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.. Peggy, who showed up in Avengers: Age of Ultron during a dream-like sequence, will be coming back to TV thanks to the recent announcement of a second season for Agent Carter.
Constantine
Season: 1 ended
Network: NBC canceled the show, but it's being shopped to other networks
Stars: Matt Ryan, Lucy Griffiths, Harold Perrineau
Comic Published By: DC Comics
Constantine features John Constantine, DC's wisecracking, British demon hunter and master of the dark arts. Although NBC just pulled the plug on the show, Deadline reports that Constantine isn't necessarily dead — that it could land at another network. To encourage that, the show's fans are using #saveconstantine on Twitter, including a few celebrities like already-self-described Constantine fan William Shatner. Interestingly, there have also been several CW stars tweeting support, including Joseph Morgan from The Originals, Mark Sheppard from Supernatural, and Arrow actor Stephen Amell (who offered to guest star if Constantine gets a season 2).
UPCOMING SERIES
Fear The Walking Dead
Status: To debut summer 2015
Network: AMC
Stars: Cliff Curtis, Frank Dillane, Alycia Debnam Carey, Kim Dickens, Mercedes Mason, Elizabeth Rodriguez
Comic Published By: Based on concepts from Image Comics’ Skybound Imprint
Taking place in the same outbreak as The Walking Dead (but in a different location — Los Angeles), this spin-off series will consist of six one-hour episodes and will premiere on AMC this summer. The show, which has a trailer out, already has a second season confirmed for 2016. (There's also been indication that there may be crossover characters, such as "Morales" (Juan G. Pareja) and another character introduced in the sixth season of The Walking Dead.)
Lucifer
Status: Series confirmed
Network: Fox
Stars: Tom Ellis, Lauren German, Lina Esco, Nicholas Gonzalez, DB Woodside, Lesley-Ann Brandt, Rachel Harris, Scarlett Estevez
Comic Published By: DC Comics' Vertigo Imprint
Fox just added this series to its line-up, with Californication's Tom Kapinos writing, and Underworld’s Len Wiseman directing the pilot. Lucifer Morningstar is a character from Vertigo’s Sandman series based on the Biblical character that became hugely popular in his own spin-off series by Mike Carey and Peter Gross. The series focuses on a Lucifer who is "bored and unhappy as the Lord of Hell," who "resigns his throne and abandons his kingdom for the gorgeous, shimmering insanity of Los Angeles, where he opens an exclusive piano bar called Lux." The drama will show Lucifer helping the LAPD punish criminals.
DC's Legends of Tomorrow
Status: Series confirmed
Network: The CW
Stars: Brandon Routh, Dominic Purcell, Victor Garber, Wentworth Miller, Caity Lotz, Ciarra Renee, Dominic Purcell, Arther Davill, Franz Drameh
Publisher: Based on characters and concepts by DC Comics
From Greg Berlanti, Andrew Kreisberg and Marc Guggenheim, this team series will take place in the same universe as CW's other two superhero shows, Arrow and The Flash (using some characters who already debuted on the existing show). With Davill playing time traveler Rip Hunter, the series will apparently involve time travel, as the heroes battle an "unstoppable threat" to "the planet," and "all of time itself," according to a CW description.
Supergirl
Status: To debut November 2015
Network: CBS
Stars: Melissa Benoist, Dean Cain, Helen Slater, Calista Flockhart, Mehcad Brooks, Chyler Leigh, David Harewood
Comic Published By: DC Comics
The series, which some might say is Devil Wears Prada meets, well, Supergirl, is being executive produced by Greg Berlanti (Arrow and The Flash), alongside Ali Adler and Sarah Schechter.. The series will have Kara Zor-El "Danvers" living on Earth for several years, adopted by the Danvers family, hiding her powers, but now ready to step up and be a hero, following in her cousin's footsteps. A 6+ minute trailer for the show was released during CBS's "upfronts," a showcase for upcoming projects.
Marvel’s A.K.A. Jessica Jones
Status: Filming underway, tentatively releasing December 2015
Network: Netflix
Stars: Krysten Ritter, Mike Colter, David Tennant, Carrie Ann Moss, Rachael Taylor, Eka Darville, Erin Moriarty, Wil Traval
Comic Published By: Marvel Comics
Jessica Jones is a superhero-turned-private eye (after suffering from PTSD) whose story was chronicled in the comic series Alias, and her show will be the second of four Marvel-based series on Netflix (after the debut of the aforementioned Daredevil, and before the later introduction of shows focused on Iron Fist and Luke Cage). Marvel recently revealed that Daredevil character Claire Temple could show up in any of the Netflix Marvel shows, which would further tie them together, at least until the four heroes will be part of the same universe and will eventually come together for a crossover mini-series titled The Defenders.
Iron Fist
Status: Series confirmed
Network: Netflix
Stars: None Yet
Comic Published By: Marvel Comics
There have been a lot of rumblings about Ryan Phillippe being considered for the title role, but no official news yet. Although it's expected that Iron Fist's show will focus on the same New York streets as Daredevil and A.K.A. Jessica Jones, the Marvel comics character is a martial arts expert who learned his skills and attained his superhuman energy in another dimension called K'un-Lun. (And K'un-Lun may have been teased in a subtle way during Daredevil season 1.) Whatever the official description of the show ends up being, the Iron Fist character will eventually be part of The Defenders mini-series.
Luke Cage
Status: Series confirmed
Network: Netflix
Stars: Michael Colter
Comic Published By: Marvel Comics
Based in the same New York-centered universe as the other three Netflix series, Luke Cage will be appearing in several episodes of A.K.A. Jessica Jones before his own show kicks off. Hodari Coker has been hired as showrunner, and will write at least the first two episodes.
Marvel’s The Defenders
Status: Series confirmed
Network: Netflix
Stars: Charlie Cox, Krysten Ritter, Michael Colter
Comic Published By: Marvel Comics
The culmination of the previous four solo series, The Defenders will bring together Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Iron Fist and Luke Cage for an Avengers-style team-up in a shorter mini-series on Netflix.
PILOT STAGE
Titans
Status: Pilot ordered
Network: TNT
Comic Published By: DC Comics
The pilot for Titans will reportedly be shot in the late summer of 2015, after being delayed by co-writer Akiva Goldsman's busy schedule. According to early reports, the team will be young adults — not "Teen" Titans — and will focus on a Dick Grayson who has moved away from Gotham to work apart from Batman (similar to the creation of his Nightwing identity from comics). Word is that Starfire and Raven will join Nightwing on the show, and a recent report said fans would also see a TV version of Hawk, Dove, and a Barbara Gordon who is wheelchair bound — which, if it holds true, makes the team four women and two men.
Riverdale
Status: Pilot ordered
Network: Fox
Publisher: Based on characters and concepts from Archie Comics
The drama series will star high school students Archie, Jughead, Betty, Veronica and the whole Riverdale gang and is being developed by Warner Bros. TV with Greg Berlanti (Arrow, The Flash). Although Archie is best known as an all-ages comic, the TV show's description reveals that the series is more aimed toward teens, exploring "the surreality of small-town life — the darkness and weirdness bubbling beneath Riverdale's wholesome facade."
Outcast
Status: Pilot ordered
Network: Cinemax
Stars: Patrick Fugit, Philip Glenister, Gabriel Bateman
Publisher: Image Comics’ Skybound Imprint
According to the official description, Fugit plays Kyle Barnes, a young man who's been plagued by possession since he was a child. When he searches for answers, he uncovers something that threatens humanity. The comic wasn't even released when Cinemax grabbed the rights to the TV show. Robert Kirkman is writing the pilot and producing with David Alpert of Circle of Confusion and others. Adam Wingard has been tapped to direct the pilot.
Preacher
Status: Pilot ordered
Network: AMC
Stars: Ruth Negga, Joe Gilgun, Dominic Cooper, Ian Colletti, Lucy Griffiths, Elizabeth Perkins
Publisher: DC Comics’ Vertigo Imprint
Based on the gritty series by Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon, Preacher is finally heading to pilot. The fan-favorite series has been elusive for TV and film development, but the project is casting and set to film a pilot. Writers and executive producers Seth Rogen and Adam Goldberg are developing for AMC, as the network looks to follow up on their comic-book-turned-hit-TV-series The Walking Dead. Breaking Bad's Sam Catlin has been announced as showrunner, and Neal Moritz and Vivian Cannon as executive producers.
Global Frequency
Status: Pilot ordered
Network: Fox
Publisher: DC Comics' now-defunct WildStorm Imprint
Another pilot commitment from Fox, this time with a Warren Ellis series that already had a (different) pilot declined by The WB. Fox is bringing in a pair of veterans of action and genre to try to finally make it work. Jerry Bruckheimer is producing with Rockne S. O’Bannon (Farscape) writing the pilot. Warren Ellis is also executive producing. (It's also worth noting that O’Bannon is a writer on Constantine.)
IN DEVELOPMENT
Sex Criminals
Status: Part of a TV development deal with creators
Produced by: Universal TV
Publisher: Based on Matt Fraction/Kelly Sue DeConnick series
Universal signed a two-year television deal with Fraction and DeConnick to develop comic book properties for TV, with Sex Criminals reportedly up first. The comedic comic is about a couple that are able to stop time when they have sex, so they use the power to commit crimes.
Lazarus
Status: In Development
Produced by: Matt Tolmach
Publisher: Image
Lazarus, the Image Comics series from Greg Rucka and Michael Lark, is set in a dystopian world where 16 wealthy families rule. Each of the families has a Lazarus — a protector who's unable to be killed. The series follows one of them, Forever Carlyle, as she protects her family (while giving the creators an outlet for social commentary on class divisions). Rucka is reportedly writing the pilot.
The Disciples
Status: In Development
Produced by: Wes Craven, Universal Cable Productions
Publisher: Black Mask Studios
Announced before the first issue even came out, The Disciples TV adaptation is being developed by comic series writer Steve Niles (of 30 Days of Night fame), with horror legend Wes Craven. The comic tells the story of a religious cult on a moon of Jupiter and detectives investigating the disappearance of a politician's daughter.
Unnamed X-Men TV Series
Status: In negotiations between Marvel and Fox
Network: Fox
Publisher: Based on characters and concepts by Marvel
Reported in January, this series has Evan Katz and Manny Coto from 24 involved as producers and showrunners, with Patrick McKay and JD Payne, who recently did a draft of Star Trek 3, involved as writers.
Static Shock
Status: In development for digital release
Network: Warner's new digital production unit
Publisher: DC Comics and previously Milestone Comics
While there haven't been too many details about this project, it's part of Warner Bros.' digital production unit, called Blue Ribbon Content. Warner unveiled a development slate in October 2014, and among the many potential series was a live action version of Static Shock, the teen, African-American hero who started in comics, but is also known for an animated series on Cartoon Network.
Winterworld
Status: In development (as of April 2014)
Network: XBox Entertainment
Publisher: Based on Chuck Dixon and Jorge Zaffino's Winterworld series
Winterworld was announced as part of ambitious slate of television series as part of a new initiative from Microsoft's XBox division (along with a TV adaptation of Warren Ellis' Gun Machine prose novel). This series, developed by IDW, is described as a "limited event live-action series" featuring Dixon and Zaffino's end-of-world polar scenario. Circle of Confusion's Dave Alpert, who also produces The Walking Dead for AMC, is attached as an executive producer.
Krypton
Status: In development
Network: Syfy
Publisher: Based on characters and concepts by DC Comics
Reported by The Hollywood Reporter (an announcement that was retweeted by DCE executive Geoff Johns, which amounts to an official confirmation), Krypton follows the Man of Steel's grandfather as he "brings hope and equality to Krypton, turning a planet in disarray into one worthy of giving birth to the greatest hero ever known." David Goyer (who also did Constantine and is involved in Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice) is executive producer along with Ian Goldberg, who's writing the screenplay.
Five Ghosts
Status: In development
Network: Syfy
Publisher: Image Comics
Frank J. Barbiere and Chris Mooneyham's series turns the treasure-hunting trope on its head with a supernatural twist — Fabian Gray can access the ghosts (and their respective skills) of a famous Archer, Detective, Wizard, Samurai, and Vampire from out of literary history (you can probably make the connections yourself). Genre veteran Evan Daugherty is writing the pilot, and will EP alongside Chris Bender and Jake Weiner of BenderSpink.
Dreadstar
Status: In development
Network: Unknown (being developed by UCP, a subsidiary of NBCUniversal)
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment, formerly Marvel’s Epic line, First Comics, Malibu Comics & Image Comics
It was recently reported that Jim Starlin reached a deal for his creator-owned, space opera series Dreadstar, to be developed as a TV series. The comic followed the titular character as the captain of a spaceship and crew caught between two intergalactic empires at war.
Pax Romana
Status: In development (as of summer 2014)
Network: Syfy
Publisher: Image Comics
David Alpert of Circle of Confusion is producing this Jonathan Hickman comic TV series, with writers Matthew Federman and Stephen Scaia penning the pilot. The series follows a modern Special Forces unit traveling in time to ancient Rome to prevent World War III.
Clone
Status: In development (as of summer 2014)
Network: Syfy
Publisher: Image Comics’ Skybound Imprint
And more Skybound, and yes, this is being produced by Robert Kirkman and David Alpert of Circle of Confusion. Joining them is the writer of the comic book, David Schulner, who is also producing and is writing the pilot. The story centers on a man discovering a burglar in his home, who just so happens to be a clone of himself. Things quickly escalate with multiple clones, a deeper conspiracy, and the threat of impending death.
Ronin
Status: In development (as of spring 2014)
Network: Syfy
Publisher: DC Comics
Last heard about in April 2014 (so possibly not happening), Frank Miller's DC series Ronin is being developed as a mini-series at Syfy, with Warner Horizon Television and DC Entertainment. The show takes place eight centuries after a Japanese Ronin samurai failed to protect his master from a demon. He awakens in modern day New York, in the body of a medical experiment named Billy, and must face the demon again and control the magical sword they both seek.
Letter 44
Status: In development (as of spring 2014)
Network: Syfy
Publisher: Oni Press
Based on a comic book by Charles Soule, the series revolves around a newly-elected president, Stephen Blades, who learns of a secret mission for first contact that was launched by his predecessor and is about to end. Jonathan Mostow of Terminator 3 will write, executive produce, and direct the pilot. Eric Gitter of Scott Pilgrim is also producing.
Scalped
Status: In development (as of spring 2014)
Network: WGN America
Publisher: DC Comics’ Vertigo Imprint
Based on Jason Aaron and R.M. Guera’s 60-issue comic, the show is described as a crime noir set on a Native American reservation. Doug Jung (Banshee) is writing the pilot and executive producing for Warner Horizon Television.
With the constant stream of announcements about television shows based on comic book, it's getting tough to keep up with all the news. But with the success of comic-to-TV shows like The Walking Dead and Gotham, and the growth of streaming comic-based series like Daredevil and Powers, television viewers should get used to seeing a slew of new comic characters coming to the small screen in coming years.
To keep up with the latest happenings, Newsarama pulled together an updated list of live action comic book TV series that have been announced within the last year:
EXISTING SHOWS
iZombie
Season: 1 ends June 9, renewed for Season 2
Network: The CW
Premiere Date: March 17, 2015
Airs: Tuesdays at 9
Stars: Rose McIver, Malcolm Goodwin, Rahul Kohli, Steven Weber
Comic Published By: DC Comics’ Vertigo imprint
Another female-fronted show, I, Zombie stars Rose McIver as Liv, a "high-functioning" zombie that lives secretly among humans and takes a job with the medical examiner so she can feed on human brains. Although that might not seem like a superhero story at first glance, Liv absorbs the memories from each brain she ingests, and with murdered folks among them, she ends up using her powers and immortality to solve crimes and save lives.
The Flash
Season: 1 ends May 19, renewed for Season 2
Network: The CW
Airs: Tuesday, 8pm
Stars: Grant Gustin, Candice Patton, Rick Cosnett, Danielle Panabaker, Carlos Valdes, Tom Cavanagh, Jesse L. Martin
Comic Published By: DC Comics
A young Barry Allen stars in the new CW series, which tells the story of the Flash's origins. The lead character is a forensic scientist, and after gaining super speed after an accident, he uses his powers to protect Central City from crime. The show had a huge ratings success during its crossover with CW's other superhero show, Arrow, and the two have spawned the DC's Legends of Tomorrow team series that's expected this fall. Some stars of the new Legends series will be appearing in the Flash season finale.
Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Season: 2 ends May 12, renewed for Season 3
Network: ABC
Airs: Tuesday, 9pm
Stars: Clark Gregg, Ming-Na Wen, Chloe Bennet, Iain De Caestecker, Elizabeth Henstridge, Adrianne Palicki
Comic Published By: Based on characters and concepts by Marvel Comics
Based within the same world as the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. has been taking advantage of the success of Marvel movies by tying into stories (like its recent set-up for The Avengers: Age of Ultron and the current origin story for the upcoming The Inhumans movie.) With a third season guaranteed, and Marvel movies more tied together than ever, the cohesiveness of the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. universe with Marvel's cinematic one should only grow. (And if you're looking for news about a new spin-off, which was reportedly being eyed by ABC, the latest word is that those plans have been halted.)
Arrow
Season: 3 ends May 13, renewed for Season 4
Network: The CW
Airs: Wednesday, 8pm
Stars: Stephen Amell, Emily Bett Rickards, David Ramsey, Katie Cassidy, Paul Blackthorne, Willa Holland, Colton Haynes, John Barrowman.
Comic Published By: Based on characters and Concepts by DC Comics
Now on its third season, Arrow got a rating boost with the aforementioned crossover with CW's other superhero show, The Flash. Depicting the archer Green Arrow from DC Comics, the show is not tied to the DC cinematic universe being developed by Warner Bros., but it's already featured dozens of other DC heroes and villains in its three seasons, and its success led to the spin-off Flash series, as well as the upcoming CW team-up series, DC's Legends of Tomorrow.
Powers
Status: Premiered in March, renewed for Season 2
Network: PlayStation Network
Stars: Sharito Copley, Susan Heyward, and Michelle Forbes
Comic Published By: Marvel Comics’ Icon imprint (previously Image Comics)
Sony broke new ground by launching an original series on its PlayStation Network the way Netflix and Amazon have done, and it was apparently successful enough to warrant a second season for the show (although showrunner Charlie Huston will not return). Powers is among the incentives Sony offers in its $50-per-year PlayStation Plus memberships, which include access to the show's episodes (as well as free games, discounts and other benefits). Based on the gritty comic of the same name, Powers follows a group of police detectives who investigate super-powered crimes and is aimed at adult audiences.
Daredevil
Season: 1 released, Season 2 coming in 2016
Network: Netflix
Stars: Charlie Cox (Daredevil), Deborah Ann Woll, Elden Henson, Vincent D'Onofrio
Comic Published By: Marvel Comics
The first of four exclusive Marvel series that are coming on Netflix, Daredevil was reportedly a huge success for Netflix. The show is now going to have a second season. A superhero who was blinded as a young boy but imbued with extraordinary senses, Matt Murdock fights against injustice by day as a lawyer, and by night as the super hero Daredevil in modern day Hell's Kitchen, New York City. Next in the Netflix series? A.K.A. Jessica Jones (see below).
Gotham
Season: 1 just ended, renewed for Season 2
Network: Fox
Stars: Ben McKenzie, Donal Logue, Jada Pinkett Smith, Camren Bicondova, David Mazouz
Comic Published By: Based on characters and concepts by DC Comics
Renewed in January, Gotham serves as a "prequel" of sorts to Batman, telling the story of Gotham City before there it had its Caped Crusader. The first episode depicted young Bruce Wayne's parents being killed and the case getting assigned to rookie cop Jim Gordon. Since then, viewers have been treated to origin stories for well-known Gotham gangsters and villains like Catwoman and Penguin, as well as early stories of Alfred Pennyworth, Jim Gordon and, of course, a young Bruce Wayne.
The Walking Dead
Network: AMC
Season: 5 ended in March, renewed for Season 6
Stars: Andrew Lincoln, Norman Reedus, Steven Yeun, Chandler Riggs, Lauren Cohan, Danai Gurira
Comic Published By: Image Comics, Skybound imprint
The March finale of the fifth season of The Walking Dead drew record ratings, and finished its highest-rated season yet. Set in the zombie apocalypse, the hugely successful show seems to only continue adding viewers. Of course, AMC is banking on the success of the Walking Dead franchise, as it's soon premiering Fear the Walking Dead, a spin-off series (see below).
Marvel’s Agent Carter
Season: 1 ended earlier this year, renewed for Season 2
Network: ABC
Stars: Hayley Atwell
Comic Published By: Based on characters and concepts by Marvel Comics
The character of Peggy Carter, who debuted in Captain America: The First Avenger, was at the center of this series, her story picking up after Cap is assumed dead in 1946. According to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Peggy Carter was one of the founding members of S.H.I.E.L.D. — an unusual role for a woman back in the '40s — so the series also ties into Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.. Peggy, who showed up in Avengers: Age of Ultron during a dream-like sequence, will be coming back to TV thanks to the recent announcement of a second season for Agent Carter.
Constantine
Season: 1 ended
Network: NBC canceled the show, but it's being shopped to other networks
Stars: Matt Ryan, Lucy Griffiths, Harold Perrineau
Comic Published By: DC Comics
Constantine features John Constantine, DC's wisecracking, British demon hunter and master of the dark arts. Although NBC just pulled the plug on the show, Deadline reports that Constantine isn't necessarily dead — that it could land at another network. To encourage that, the show's fans are using #saveconstantine on Twitter, including a few celebrities like already-self-described Constantine fan William Shatner. Interestingly, there have also been several CW stars tweeting support, including Joseph Morgan from The Originals, Mark Sheppard from Supernatural, and Arrow actor Stephen Amell (who offered to guest star if Constantine gets a season 2).
UPCOMING SERIES
Fear The Walking Dead
Status: To debut summer 2015
Network: AMC
Stars: Cliff Curtis, Frank Dillane, Alycia Debnam Carey, Kim Dickens, Mercedes Mason, Elizabeth Rodriguez
Comic Published By: Based on concepts from Image Comics’ Skybound Imprint
Taking place in the same outbreak as The Walking Dead (but in a different location — Los Angeles), this spin-off series will consist of six one-hour episodes and will premiere on AMC this summer. The show, which has a trailer out, already has a second season confirmed for 2016. (There's also been indication that there may be crossover characters, such as "Morales" (Juan G. Pareja) and another character introduced in the sixth season of The Walking Dead.)
Lucifer
Status: Series confirmed
Network: Fox
Stars: Tom Ellis, Lauren German, Lina Esco, Nicholas Gonzalez, DB Woodside, Lesley-Ann Brandt, Rachel Harris, Scarlett Estevez
Comic Published By: DC Comics' Vertigo Imprint
Fox just added this series to its line-up, with Californication's Tom Kapinos writing, and Underworld’s Len Wiseman directing the pilot. Lucifer Morningstar is a character from Vertigo’s Sandman series based on the Biblical character that became hugely popular in his own spin-off series by Mike Carey and Peter Gross. The series focuses on a Lucifer who is "bored and unhappy as the Lord of Hell," who "resigns his throne and abandons his kingdom for the gorgeous, shimmering insanity of Los Angeles, where he opens an exclusive piano bar called Lux." The drama will show Lucifer helping the LAPD punish criminals.
DC's Legends of Tomorrow
Status: Series confirmed
Network: The CW
Stars: Brandon Routh, Dominic Purcell, Victor Garber, Wentworth Miller, Caity Lotz, Ciarra Renee, Dominic Purcell, Arther Davill, Franz Drameh
Publisher: Based on characters and concepts by DC Comics
From Greg Berlanti, Andrew Kreisberg and Marc Guggenheim, this team series will take place in the same universe as CW's other two superhero shows, Arrow and The Flash (using some characters who already debuted on the existing show). With Davill playing time traveler Rip Hunter, the series will apparently involve time travel, as the heroes battle an "unstoppable threat" to "the planet," and "all of time itself," according to a CW description.
Supergirl
Status: To debut November 2015
Network: CBS
Stars: Melissa Benoist, Dean Cain, Helen Slater, Calista Flockhart, Mehcad Brooks, Chyler Leigh, David Harewood
Comic Published By: DC Comics
The series, which some might say is Devil Wears Prada meets, well, Supergirl, is being executive produced by Greg Berlanti (Arrow and The Flash), alongside Ali Adler and Sarah Schechter.. The series will have Kara Zor-El "Danvers" living on Earth for several years, adopted by the Danvers family, hiding her powers, but now ready to step up and be a hero, following in her cousin's footsteps. A 6+ minute trailer for the show was released during CBS's "upfronts," a showcase for upcoming projects.
Marvel’s A.K.A. Jessica Jones
Status: Filming underway, tentatively releasing December 2015
Network: Netflix
Stars: Krysten Ritter, Mike Colter, David Tennant, Carrie Ann Moss, Rachael Taylor, Eka Darville, Erin Moriarty, Wil Traval
Comic Published By: Marvel Comics
Jessica Jones is a superhero-turned-private eye (after suffering from PTSD) whose story was chronicled in the comic series Alias, and her show will be the second of four Marvel-based series on Netflix (after the debut of the aforementioned Daredevil, and before the later introduction of shows focused on Iron Fist and Luke Cage). Marvel recently revealed that Daredevil character Claire Temple could show up in any of the Netflix Marvel shows, which would further tie them together, at least until the four heroes will be part of the same universe and will eventually come together for a crossover mini-series titled The Defenders.
Iron Fist
Status: Series confirmed
Network: Netflix
Stars: None Yet
Comic Published By: Marvel Comics
There have been a lot of rumblings about Ryan Phillippe being considered for the title role, but no official news yet. Although it's expected that Iron Fist's show will focus on the same New York streets as Daredevil and A.K.A. Jessica Jones, the Marvel comics character is a martial arts expert who learned his skills and attained his superhuman energy in another dimension called K'un-Lun. (And K'un-Lun may have been teased in a subtle way during Daredevil season 1.) Whatever the official description of the show ends up being, the Iron Fist character will eventually be part of The Defenders mini-series.
Luke Cage
Status: Series confirmed
Network: Netflix
Stars: Michael Colter
Comic Published By: Marvel Comics
Based in the same New York-centered universe as the other three Netflix series, Luke Cage will be appearing in several episodes of A.K.A. Jessica Jones before his own show kicks off. Hodari Coker has been hired as showrunner, and will write at least the first two episodes.
Marvel’s The Defenders
Status: Series confirmed
Network: Netflix
Stars: Charlie Cox, Krysten Ritter, Michael Colter
Comic Published By: Marvel Comics
The culmination of the previous four solo series, The Defenders will bring together Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Iron Fist and Luke Cage for an Avengers-style team-up in a shorter mini-series on Netflix.
PILOT STAGE
Titans
Status: Pilot ordered
Network: TNT
Comic Published By: DC Comics
The pilot for Titans will reportedly be shot in the late summer of 2015, after being delayed by co-writer Akiva Goldsman's busy schedule. According to early reports, the team will be young adults — not "Teen" Titans — and will focus on a Dick Grayson who has moved away from Gotham to work apart from Batman (similar to the creation of his Nightwing identity from comics). Word is that Starfire and Raven will join Nightwing on the show, and a recent report said fans would also see a TV version of Hawk, Dove, and a Barbara Gordon who is wheelchair bound — which, if it holds true, makes the team four women and two men.
Riverdale
Status: Pilot ordered
Network: Fox
Publisher: Based on characters and concepts from Archie Comics
The drama series will star high school students Archie, Jughead, Betty, Veronica and the whole Riverdale gang and is being developed by Warner Bros. TV with Greg Berlanti (Arrow, The Flash). Although Archie is best known as an all-ages comic, the TV show's description reveals that the series is more aimed toward teens, exploring "the surreality of small-town life — the darkness and weirdness bubbling beneath Riverdale's wholesome facade."
Outcast
Status: Pilot ordered
Network: Cinemax
Stars: Patrick Fugit, Philip Glenister, Gabriel Bateman
Publisher: Image Comics’ Skybound Imprint
According to the official description, Fugit plays Kyle Barnes, a young man who's been plagued by possession since he was a child. When he searches for answers, he uncovers something that threatens humanity. The comic wasn't even released when Cinemax grabbed the rights to the TV show. Robert Kirkman is writing the pilot and producing with David Alpert of Circle of Confusion and others. Adam Wingard has been tapped to direct the pilot.
Preacher
Status: Pilot ordered
Network: AMC
Stars: Ruth Negga, Joe Gilgun, Dominic Cooper, Ian Colletti, Lucy Griffiths, Elizabeth Perkins
Publisher: DC Comics’ Vertigo Imprint
Based on the gritty series by Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon, Preacher is finally heading to pilot. The fan-favorite series has been elusive for TV and film development, but the project is casting and set to film a pilot. Writers and executive producers Seth Rogen and Adam Goldberg are developing for AMC, as the network looks to follow up on their comic-book-turned-hit-TV-series The Walking Dead. Breaking Bad's Sam Catlin has been announced as showrunner, and Neal Moritz and Vivian Cannon as executive producers.
Global Frequency
Status: Pilot ordered
Network: Fox
Publisher: DC Comics' now-defunct WildStorm Imprint
Another pilot commitment from Fox, this time with a Warren Ellis series that already had a (different) pilot declined by The WB. Fox is bringing in a pair of veterans of action and genre to try to finally make it work. Jerry Bruckheimer is producing with Rockne S. O’Bannon (Farscape) writing the pilot. Warren Ellis is also executive producing. (It's also worth noting that O’Bannon is a writer on Constantine.)
IN DEVELOPMENT
Sex Criminals
Status: Part of a TV development deal with creators
Produced by: Universal TV
Publisher: Based on Matt Fraction/Kelly Sue DeConnick series
Universal signed a two-year television deal with Fraction and DeConnick to develop comic book properties for TV, with Sex Criminals reportedly up first. The comedic comic is about a couple that are able to stop time when they have sex, so they use the power to commit crimes.
Lazarus
Status: In Development
Produced by: Matt Tolmach
Publisher: Image
Lazarus, the Image Comics series from Greg Rucka and Michael Lark, is set in a dystopian world where 16 wealthy families rule. Each of the families has a Lazarus — a protector who's unable to be killed. The series follows one of them, Forever Carlyle, as she protects her family (while giving the creators an outlet for social commentary on class divisions). Rucka is reportedly writing the pilot.
The Disciples
Status: In Development
Produced by: Wes Craven, Universal Cable Productions
Publisher: Black Mask Studios
Announced before the first issue even came out, The Disciples TV adaptation is being developed by comic series writer Steve Niles (of 30 Days of Night fame), with horror legend Wes Craven. The comic tells the story of a religious cult on a moon of Jupiter and detectives investigating the disappearance of a politician's daughter.
Unnamed X-Men TV Series
Status: In negotiations between Marvel and Fox
Network: Fox
Publisher: Based on characters and concepts by Marvel
Reported in January, this series has Evan Katz and Manny Coto from 24 involved as producers and showrunners, with Patrick McKay and JD Payne, who recently did a draft of Star Trek 3, involved as writers.
Static Shock
Status: In development for digital release
Network: Warner's new digital production unit
Publisher: DC Comics and previously Milestone Comics
While there haven't been too many details about this project, it's part of Warner Bros.' digital production unit, called Blue Ribbon Content. Warner unveiled a development slate in October 2014, and among the many potential series was a live action version of Static Shock, the teen, African-American hero who started in comics, but is also known for an animated series on Cartoon Network.
Winterworld
Status: In development (as of April 2014)
Network: XBox Entertainment
Publisher: Based on Chuck Dixon and Jorge Zaffino's Winterworld series
Winterworld was announced as part of ambitious slate of television series as part of a new initiative from Microsoft's XBox division (along with a TV adaptation of Warren Ellis' Gun Machine prose novel). This series, developed by IDW, is described as a "limited event live-action series" featuring Dixon and Zaffino's end-of-world polar scenario. Circle of Confusion's Dave Alpert, who also produces The Walking Dead for AMC, is attached as an executive producer.
Krypton
Status: In development
Network: Syfy
Publisher: Based on characters and concepts by DC Comics
Reported by The Hollywood Reporter (an announcement that was retweeted by DCE executive Geoff Johns, which amounts to an official confirmation), Krypton follows the Man of Steel's grandfather as he "brings hope and equality to Krypton, turning a planet in disarray into one worthy of giving birth to the greatest hero ever known." David Goyer (who also did Constantine and is involved in Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice) is executive producer along with Ian Goldberg, who's writing the screenplay.
Five Ghosts
Status: In development
Network: Syfy
Publisher: Image Comics
Frank J. Barbiere and Chris Mooneyham's series turns the treasure-hunting trope on its head with a supernatural twist — Fabian Gray can access the ghosts (and their respective skills) of a famous Archer, Detective, Wizard, Samurai, and Vampire from out of literary history (you can probably make the connections yourself). Genre veteran Evan Daugherty is writing the pilot, and will EP alongside Chris Bender and Jake Weiner of BenderSpink.
Dreadstar
Status: In development
Network: Unknown (being developed by UCP, a subsidiary of NBCUniversal)
Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment, formerly Marvel’s Epic line, First Comics, Malibu Comics & Image Comics
It was recently reported that Jim Starlin reached a deal for his creator-owned, space opera series Dreadstar, to be developed as a TV series. The comic followed the titular character as the captain of a spaceship and crew caught between two intergalactic empires at war.
Pax Romana
Status: In development (as of summer 2014)
Network: Syfy
Publisher: Image Comics
David Alpert of Circle of Confusion is producing this Jonathan Hickman comic TV series, with writers Matthew Federman and Stephen Scaia penning the pilot. The series follows a modern Special Forces unit traveling in time to ancient Rome to prevent World War III.
Clone
Status: In development (as of summer 2014)
Network: Syfy
Publisher: Image Comics’ Skybound Imprint
And more Skybound, and yes, this is being produced by Robert Kirkman and David Alpert of Circle of Confusion. Joining them is the writer of the comic book, David Schulner, who is also producing and is writing the pilot. The story centers on a man discovering a burglar in his home, who just so happens to be a clone of himself. Things quickly escalate with multiple clones, a deeper conspiracy, and the threat of impending death.
Ronin
Status: In development (as of spring 2014)
Network: Syfy
Publisher: DC Comics
Last heard about in April 2014 (so possibly not happening), Frank Miller's DC series Ronin is being developed as a mini-series at Syfy, with Warner Horizon Television and DC Entertainment. The show takes place eight centuries after a Japanese Ronin samurai failed to protect his master from a demon. He awakens in modern day New York, in the body of a medical experiment named Billy, and must face the demon again and control the magical sword they both seek.
Letter 44
Status: In development (as of spring 2014)
Network: Syfy
Publisher: Oni Press
Based on a comic book by Charles Soule, the series revolves around a newly-elected president, Stephen Blades, who learns of a secret mission for first contact that was launched by his predecessor and is about to end. Jonathan Mostow of Terminator 3 will write, executive produce, and direct the pilot. Eric Gitter of Scott Pilgrim is also producing.
Scalped
Status: In development (as of spring 2014)
Network: WGN America
Publisher: DC Comics’ Vertigo Imprint
Based on Jason Aaron and R.M. Guera’s 60-issue comic, the show is described as a crime noir set on a Native American reservation. Doug Jung (Banshee) is writing the pilot and executive producing for Warner Horizon Television.