CalumetK
May 23, 2006 @ 9:04 am
I read this little blurb that the
Sci Fi Channel is going to be starting a new series this summer, based on Jim Butcher's books. It appears that
Paul Blackthorne will be playing Harry Dresden, and they say it will be a sort of Rockford Files meets Harry Potter.
I wonder if they'll manage to convey any of the darker, psychological aspects of the books, or if it will just turn out to be your standard weekly detective show with a few vampires thrown in for effect? If they do it right, it could be fun, I think.
Anyway, here's part of the blurb:
The Dresden Files
A New Sci Fi Original Series
Coming Summer 2006
NEW YORK (Nov. 9, 2005) — SCI FI Channel has cast Paul Blackthorne (24, Presidio Med) to star as Chicago-based wizard and detective Harry Dresden in The Dresden Files. Director David Carson (Star Trek Generations) has been tapped to helm the project. Production on the two-hour backdoor pilot film is set to commence in Toronto later this month, with plans for a Summer 2006 premiere.
The Dresden Files is being produced by Lions Gate Television, in association with Nicolas Cage's Saturn Films (The Life of David Gale, Shadow of the Vampire). Hans Beimler (The District, Profiler) and Robert Hewitt Wolfe (The 4400, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine) will serve as executive producers alongside Cage; his Saturn Films partner, Norm Golightly; and Morgan Gendel (Law & Order, V.I.P.).
According to Cage, "Norm and I feel that Paul's passion for the part and talent will translate into a charismatic performance."
[...]
Based on the best-selling series of novels by Jim Butcher, The Dresden Files pilot, written by Beimler and Wolfe, tells the story of Harry Dresden, a Chicago-based private detective with extraordinary abilities. Where others see typical crimes of assault, kidnapping and murder, Harry sees otherworldly forces at work. He's a wizard, the real thing, the only wizard listed in the Chicago yellow pages. Whether consulting for the police on inexplicable crimes or following his own cases, Dresden does battle with the forces of darkness, always maintaining a wry sense of humor and a unique perspective on our world.
sef
May 23, 2006 @ 10:51 am
Butcher seemed happy with what he'd seen so far, so I'm hopeful.
hakirby
May 23, 2006 @ 7:04 pm
It most certainly should be fun. I used to be on a Laurell K Hamilton list with Jim Butcher and forty others, and that's how I heard about the books.
If he's happy, then, everything seems dandy. I've been wondering when and who would get round to doing them.
As long as there's no love potions!
sef
May 23, 2006 @ 7:16 pm
For those who didn't see, SciFi ordered 11 episodes of this! So they must have liked the pilot. I'm very much looking forward to seeing it, even if PB isn't my mental image of Harry.
CalumetK
May 23, 2006 @ 7:28 pm
Butcher seemed happy with what he'd seen so far, so I'm hopeful.
Yeah, that
is good news. Jim's certainly given the screenwriters a lot of good material to work with, and his approval makes me hopeful that they're staying reasonably true to the characters. This is so cool. Now I just wish they'd post the air dates. Hurry up, Sci Fi.
P.S. Eleven episodes ordered? Woo hoo! Thanks for the news
sef.
P.P.S. Shhhh,
hakirby, you'll jinx it by even mentioning love potions.
Vulpes82
May 24, 2006 @ 12:03 am
Yay! I'm glad they picked up those episodes. I'm really looking forward to the show.
selkie
May 24, 2006 @ 4:29 pm
Small internet. I was on the same Laurel Hamilton list when Jim's first Harry story was getting passed around back channel and he was reportedly looking for a publisher for it. I was never one of the cool kids who got the sneak preview though.
Hopefully they can keep the series sufficiently true to the darkness and complexity of the books, but still give Harry a little bit more happiness in life than the usual five minute intervals he gets. That, and they can do the demons in Walmart scene somehow in one of the episodes.
hakirby
May 24, 2006 @ 5:22 pm
I'd love to see the early Anita Blake books get filmed, but not holding out any hope. On topic, the "No Love Potions" comes from Harry's phone book entry.
sef
May 24, 2006 @ 6:47 pm
selkie, I don't think I'd expect the series to follow the books too closely at all. Probably the first book, maybe the first two, and just use those as background points.
Now, Wolfe probably has some direction he wants to take the show, and I have no idea if he's consulted with Butcher about it. But since Butcher hasn't finished the series, they're probably not going to overlap too much. (As an example: TV-Harry could be dealing with Bianca for an entire season, and his girlfriend -- and the ramifications there -- for the second. And then a lot of magic-of-the-week episodes.)
Edited because I typed something that caused it to post when I didn't mean to. Wonder what I typed...
selkie
May 24, 2006 @ 10:47 pm
There's reportedly a film development deal right now for the Anita Blake books. And Alan Ball's doing Charlaine Harris' Southern Vampire series for HBO. Good times for urban fantasy on the screen, it seems.
I'll jsut always have a soft spot for that Walmart scene, and it seemed like it could be too good of an S-Mart like visual to not work into an episode somewhere along the line.
hakirby
May 25, 2006 @ 7:12 am
I'll believe the AN deal when I'm watching it on the TV. When is the Southern Vampire thing due? Not read the books, but I'll watch it.
Topic? I'm glad Marsters turned it down. It was way to close to Spike, and I've liked seeing him on Smallville.
Astrogirl
May 26, 2006 @ 11:29 pm
I'll be interested in seeing how the special effects for Bob turn out and who they have performing his voice. Bob is one of the more beloved characters in the novels, so there's a lot of pressure on the director and effects guys to get the characterization just right.
(For anyone who doesn't know: Bob is Harry's wise-cracking, romance novel-loving, air spirit who lives in a skull and has an encyclopedic knowledge of all things magical, supernatural, and otherwise spooky. He gets most of the best one-liners in the novels.)
sef
May 26, 2006 @ 11:44 pm
Well, Bob is completely non-corporeal, right? A plastic skull with some glowing eye sockets will do the trick.
slydragon4
Jun 27, 2006 @ 10:30 pm
Actually, from my haunting of message boards, my understanding is that Bob's not going to be a skull in the TV series - he's going to be anchored in a flame in Harry's lab. It was apparently too difficult to animate the skull without it looking ridiculous. No voice actor has been announced for him, though pretty much the rest of the cast has been announced.
sef
Jun 27, 2006 @ 11:17 pm
Enh, that's fine by me. Riding Mister will be a bit harder to explain, but I'm sure they can do something.
Clytaemestra
Jun 28, 2006 @ 8:20 pm
I like Jim butchers books but why does this get to make it sci fi while Anita Blake doesn't?
Anita would rock.
Open Mouth.
Insert Foot.
hakirby
Jun 29, 2006 @ 5:59 am
If you read interviews or LKH's blog you'll find out that LKH is extremely protective of her character and what changes may be required for TV.
Butcher has different priorities.
It's nothing to do with this will be better than that. It's about how far the author is prepared to let the character out of their control for another medium, and how that sits with TV companies.
I welcome both characters to TV, but if Butcher's all I'm getting, I'll settle for that.
Chaotic Blue
Jun 29, 2006 @ 7:06 am
Isn't Anita Blake too much porn to be on sci fi? It would have to be HBO, Showline or something..
Clytaemestra
Jun 29, 2006 @ 8:05 am
The early Anita Books are not so pornish. Yeah, LKH has really become a soft core porn channel in her executioner books. I hate it. Yet I don't mind it at all in her Meridth books. Go figure.
I just miss the old Anita who was not so casual about sex. Oh well, things change I guess.
I hope they don't bastardize Butcher's book. I don't blame LKH at all for not wanting her characters to be butchered. Look at what happened to the League of Extraoridnary Gentlemen? They turned a great graphic novel and comic book into pure drivel. Sad times.
hakirby
Jun 29, 2006 @ 3:28 pm
I don't like the books after 8, but HBO are doing a pilot of the Charlaine Harris Sookie Stackhouse books.
But to keep this on topic, TPTB are doing what? for Bob? A flame? How hard is a talking light up skull? It doesn't need to move, just light up!
Aw, I'll miss the talking head aspect of Bob!
Aw, maaaan!
slydragon4
Jul 3, 2006 @ 8:20 pm
I hope they don't bastardize Butcher's book.
Jim's read the pilot script and visited the set - he says he's happy with it. And both the executive producers (Robert Hewitt Wolfe and Hans Beimler) are fans of the series, from what I hear.
But to keep this on topic, TPTB are doing what? for Bob? A flame? How hard is a talking light up skull? It doesn't need to move, just light up!
Yep, a flame. He'll be a spirit bound into a flame in Harry's lab, or so they say on the boards. The reason given was that there wasn't really a way to do the skull that didn't look stupid and/or cheesy, and stupid and/or cheesy was not what TPTB wanted to do. Bob's still the same character, it's just his medium that's different. (But then I tend to like it because I like fire in general usually. I'm that person who always pokes fire with sticks or wants to put more fuel on.)
hakirby
Jul 3, 2006 @ 9:26 pm
Every one gets caveman around fire.
I like that they are making the effort in the production values, rather than campy or cheesy, which it could easily have turned out. I saw Blade the other day, and let's say I won't see it again.
But I do feel that given that Bob is fucking hilarious, cheesy could have worked. He reads Harlequin books for God's sake. You can't get much cheesier than that. It would have been light relief, given the dark subject matter. The books don't shy away from how shit some of Harry's job is, and how it affects him emotionally.
Buffy never really did that. It was more, "Oh cool! Vampires!"
Clytaemestra
Jul 10, 2006 @ 7:59 am
When does this air?
Sumik
Jul 10, 2006 @ 11:03 am
The pilot is scheduled for sometime in January.
sef
Jul 18, 2006 @ 12:46 pm
Well, some update: SciFi.com
says that Butcher is happy with it so far (although, if you read between the lines, it also sounds like he was told to go away a bit :)). It also claims that it premieres
this summer... which is news to me!
Withacy
Jul 19, 2006 @ 8:33 am
TPTB are doing what? for Bob? A flame? How hard is a talking light up skull? It doesn't need to move, just light up!
Add me to the list of people not thrilled about Bob's change of medium. I had enough trouble trying to picture how Bob was reading those romance novels from a scull....but a flame just brings a whole new level of difficulty. I mean flame, paper - not mixy things.
I hope this doesn't mean they intend to get rid of the whole hedonistic side of Bob's personality. Half the fun of his personality is that he's a lascivious little perv.
I have to admit, I’ve become a bit of a Harry/Murphy shipper. I’m really not looking forward to a prolonged Susan the Almost Vampire saga.
hakirby
Jul 19, 2006 @ 8:48 am
Maybe Bob uses audiobooks now. Turns on the CD player by magic.
Zulfiya
Jul 19, 2006 @ 10:13 am
I have to admit, I’ve become a bit of a Harry/Murphy shipper.
Me, too. Although I can also see that it's the sort of workplace relationship that Will Not End Well.
It's like throwing sparklers into a campfire. It's very pretty... right up until
BOOM!
Geo Gal
Jul 19, 2006 @ 12:11 pm
Last night during Eureka, they listed The Dresden Files as coming soon. Maybe they'll move it up from January?
apocalipstick
Jul 19, 2006 @ 2:04 pm
Maybe Bob will read books by consuming them, ie; burning them up. That might be cool. His flame could change color and grow larger as the plot gets more.... interesting.
Don't know if I'm comfortable with the brunetting of Murphy. Not a big deal except that Butcher continually makes a point of her blondness. Also wondering about the timeline--will these episodes take place in some time frame between Fool Moon and Grave Peril, or will Susan already be kindaVamped?
slydragon4
Jul 19, 2006 @ 6:33 pm
Well, some update: SciFi.com says that Butcher is happy with it so far (although, if you read between the lines, it also sounds like he was told to go away a bit :)). It also claims that it premieres this summer... which is news to me!
Butcher's also said on his site he's happy with the pilot and that he had fun visiting the set to see the filming. And it's still Jamuary for the premiere; according to Robert Hewitt Wolfe, we'd only have seen the pilot in the summer if the show hadn't been picked up to series. Filming on the non-pilot episodes probably/maybe isn't going to start until October.
Maybe Bob will read books by consuming them, ie; burning them up. That might be cool. His flame could change color and grow larger as the plot gets more.... interesting.
Yes, very interesting!
slydragon4
Jul 19, 2006 @ 6:34 pm
Edited because double posting is annoying.
Zulfiya
Jul 20, 2006 @ 9:36 am
Now maybe I'll be able to find the book7 paperback in a bookstore. It's supposed to have been out for ages now, but I can't find it! And I can't bring myself to mail order just one book.
Withacy
Jul 20, 2006 @ 12:03 pm
About shipping Harry & Murphy:
Me, too. Although I can also see that it's the sort of workplace relationship that Will Not End Well.
It's like throwing sparklers into a campfire. It's very pretty... right up until BOOM!
Hmmm....I better use Spoiler black-out for anyone who hasn't read Proven Guilty (not about the book so much as the status quo when the book finishes):
I think Butcher has been building them up as the "real thing" pairing. He's been forshadowing a relationship that hasn't happened yet - and with Thomas telling Harry (after talking with Murphy) that both of them were idiots (both thinking the other one didn't really want anything to happen between them). I don't know - maybe I read too many romance novels WAY back in the day.
But another thing I see forshadowed (though with Butcher you can never tell) - I think Murphy is going to leave the police department. I just don't see someone as strong and driven as Murphy being able to accept for very long her position on the bottom rung of a department she used to head. So in the next book (or so) either something stunning is going to happen to put her back on top, or she's going to leave. But I can't even imagine what she'd do if she did leave.As for the commercial on during Eureka, I was disappointed to see the woman who had to be Murphy not only had Brown hair, she didn't look anything like a cheerleader with a cute little nose, and she was almost as tall as Harry! That's just unforgivable! I mean, screwing with Bob was bad enough, but Murphy? Hell, the Mutt and Jeff aspect of their appearance was a classic element of the series! What's next? Mister is a cute little tabby with a tail?!?!?
I don't know if I can take this!
slydragon4
Jul 20, 2006 @ 4:20 pm
I don't know, I think Murphy's actress conveys Murphy's personality really well. If it came to a choice of someone 'looking right' or having the right personality, I'd go for personality. (Also, I'm kind of amused by Susan's and Murphy's appearance being reversed.)
And rest easy about the kitty! According to Butcher, the show PTB did in fact find a 30-pound ginger tomcat for Mister. He's HUGE! He'll probably have the tail, though.
sef
Jul 20, 2006 @ 4:58 pm
Wow, that's impressive.
Also: agree about personality. Honestly, despite the prose, I always picture Murphy as a pretty little brunette with a permanent scowl.
katygrl
Jul 20, 2006 @ 5:29 pm
well, I have to pipe in, cause, hey, it's what I do. My roommate and I have a pet theory about Murph. We firmly think that she'll end up wielding the sword (and forgive me for massacaring the spelling) [i]fiddecelus[i/] (see! see! told ya!). Only, it will be a gun- as that would better fit Murphy's temperment. As for the Harphy ship- I don't know if they are shaping up to be an OTP. I'd like to see some scary, ass-kicking wizardess (What is the feminine of wizard? Is there one?) blow into town and start mowing down the Black Court. She wants nothing to do with Harry-she's so, so tired of dealing with pain in the ass wizards- and he's totally smitten.
It's my little bit of shore on Lake Denial and I'll defend it to the end of the Dresden series.
Withacy
Jul 21, 2006 @ 10:18 am
Interesting theory! I was wondering who was going to end up with the third sword. They certainly draw attention to that sword in the latest book. Of course, given that Harry seemed to be pulled toward some kind of faith in this story, I thought they might be going in the direction of Harry getting the sword....not that I like that idea.
But Murphy getting it makes total sense. She's certainly fearless - brave to a fault in the face of monsters and such. They certainly mentioned her faith in the last book - not only Harry mentioning, but showing her praying and crossing herself. And her career has taken a big step backward. I think it makes a lot of sense, now that you mention it!
But I don't know about the idea of it turning into a gun. I'd say that really lacks a sense of the mythical nature of the thing. Plus, guns are usually portrayed as useless things against magic - I just don't see a magical gun....sorry.
hakirby
Jul 21, 2006 @ 4:48 pm
Heh. Plainly you don't watch Supernatural.
apocalipstick
Jul 21, 2006 @ 9:32 pm
I stand foursquare behind Withacy. Murphy's already got a gun. I wanna see her whip out a big, blazing sword. Hella cool.
slydragon4
Jul 21, 2006 @ 9:36 pm
If Murphy gets the sword, I want it to stay a sword, too. I think it'd be a nice symbolic thing of her completely joining the supernatural world instead of continuing to make it try and obey 'normal world' rules.
But I also have to add that I am a big freak and am choosing to cling to the highly-crackpot-insane 'Marcone gets the sword' theory.
apocalipstick
Jul 21, 2006 @ 9:43 pm
skydragon4 ,
That's out there, but I can see it and I think Butcher has foreshadowed enough that it wouldn't be completely out of character. Might even be cooler than Murphy.
slydragon4
Jul 21, 2006 @ 10:23 pm
apocalipstick,
Hee, thank you! I always like the crackpot-insane theories that can be looked over and judged "well... maybe...."
In all reality, I also wouldn't be surprised if the sword goes to an entirely new character. Michael does mention that the Knights usually get scattered around the world a bit. I don't know that the sword would go to someone in Chicago since Michael's already there.
Withacy
Jul 25, 2006 @ 8:41 am
Which is why I don't think MOLLY will get it! (Though the thought briefly crossed my mind.)
Fredericks
Nov 12, 2006 @ 11:12 am
Apparently they started filming on the series a couple of days ago (11/9). As I finally got through Proven Guilty and am anxiously waiting for White Knight I'm plenty psyched about what'll I'll find in January. I'm also hoping Thomas makes an appearance, although it'd probably call for the whole White/Red/Black explanation.
Rina99
Nov 12, 2006 @ 9:49 pm
Okay, I just read about this on zap2it. Sounds cool, but I just want to be sure that there isn't some stupid "romance" plotline that dominates. A little is okay, but after Buffy I find that I have a very low tolerance for "true love" storylines.
CalumetK
Nov 13, 2006 @ 8:50 am
Apparently they started filming on the series a couple of days ago (11/9).
That's great news,
Fredericks. Thanks for the update...I've been wondering whether they were really going to go forward with the show.
slydragon4
Nov 21, 2006 @ 5:45 pm
Okay, I just read about this on zap2it. Sounds cool, but I just want to be sure that there isn't some stupid "romance" plotline that dominates. A little is okay, but after Buffy I find that I have a very low tolerance for "true love" storylines.
As far as I know, there isn't. Erring on the side of caution since I'm not sure:
Susan Rodriguez is a love interest of Harry's in the books, but for the TV series she's being de-emphasized since the show tests better with Harry single and if she's overused she comes off as a Lois Lane clone.In other news, has everyone seen
this? We have our premiere date and timeslot!
Sumik
Dec 13, 2006 @ 4:59 pm
I've been enjoying the promos that they've shown so far. (Two of them are up on Scifi's webpage for the show.)
c3k
Jan 16, 2007 @ 6:34 pm
Sci Fi's got a game up on their site now for the show. I havent played it yet, because I need to read all the rules, but it looks like a fun twist on pool.
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