US TV SF Pilots Round-Up

The Hollywood Reporter sticks it neck out to predict which new shows will get picked up for series next season

To be honest, the 2010/11 TV season in the US doesn’t look set to be a classic year for small screen SF and fantasy. There are few enough genre pilots in contention, and of those, not all will necessarily get made. But sifting through The Hollywood Reporter ’s predictions of which shows may actually reach our screens, here’s the news on the SF and fantasy front. And you never know, a couple of them might turn out to be the NEXT BIG THING (and we’re not just talking the dinosaurs in the Spielberg show).

Terra Nova – produced by Steven Spielberg, this show is, according to the article, “as much of a lock as a drama can be” (we think that means it’s a dead cert). Allegedly, Fox has already ordered 13 scripts. It features a family from 100 years in the future who travel back in time 150 million years to prehistoric Earth ruled by dinosaurs (hmm, is it just a modern version of Land Of The Lost ?). Star Trek ’s Brannon Braga is among the executive producers.

No Ordinary Family – a superhero comedy drama for ABC about a superpowered family, which is considered "solid” for pick-up. Showrunner is Greg ( Everwood , Dirty, Sexy Money ) Berlanti, and it stars Michael ( The Shield ) Chiklis as Jim (the dad) and Julie ( Angel ) Benz as his wife, a scientist who is described as “a gifted scientist who develops a power for superspeed”.

Betwixt – this one’s a teen supernatural drama from the home of teen supernatural dramas, The CW. Adapted from a novel by Tara Bray Smith, it’s the story of three “changelings” who save humans from evil (maybe they'll become ITV executives and axe Britain’s Got Talent ).

Dave Golder
Freelance Writer

Dave is a TV and film journalist who specializes in the science fiction and fantasy genres. He's written books about film posters and post-apocalypses, alongside writing for SFX Magazine for many years. 

Latest in TV
Pedro Pascal as Joel in The Last of Us
The Last of Us is "better" than 28 Days Later, says movie writer Alex Garland: "This is so much more sophisticated and moving"
Diego Luna as Cassian Andor in Andor season 2
Andor season 2 showrunner talks the much-anticipated Star Wars moment that we haven't seen on screen before: "It's a very significant part of our show"
Fallout
Fallout season 2’s dazzling and dystopian New Vegas is coming to life in a new leaked video
Diego Luna as Cassian Andor
The first three episodes of the best Star Wars show are now available to watch for free ahead of the Andor season 2 premiere
Penn Badgley and Charlotte Richie in You season 5
You season 5 trailer introduces Joe's new love interest and teases familiar faces in the final installment of the Netflix thriller
Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn in Joker 2
Wednesday star Jenna Ortega teases Lady Gaga's appearance in season 2 of the Netflix show: "It was just a really, really special environment"
Latest in News
Pedro Pascal as Joel in The Last of Us
The Last of Us is "better" than 28 Days Later, says movie writer Alex Garland: "This is so much more sophisticated and moving"
Atelier Ryza 3 protagonist closeup
JRPG producer says people prefer their anime girls to have thick thighs when the economy's in the tank, and he's not even joking a little bit
Diego Luna as Cassian Andor in Andor season 2
Andor season 2 showrunner talks the much-anticipated Star Wars moment that we haven't seen on screen before: "It's a very significant part of our show"
Skyrim
It took Skyrim players nearly 15 years to discover ingenious loot hack that completely changes the game and, uh, requires you to desecrate a couple corpses
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Indy hanging onto a vine as in Raiders of the Lost Ark
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle PS5 release date reportedly set for April after ESRB leak
Fallout
Fallout season 2’s dazzling and dystopian New Vegas is coming to life in a new leaked video