14 replies to this topic

[FoolishWanderer]

Yes, really. The CW is planning a Battle Royale show.

I haven't read the books or manga, but I've seen the movies. While I see how the story could fill a season, at the end, the game is broken. How does that lend itself to a second season? I can't imagine them adapting the second movie, it's something quite different than the first. Also, unless they show the organisers as the good guys and the teens as needing to kill each other, I can't see how they'd avoid breaking the game.

That's assuming this gets off the ground to start with. Which itself is a longshot.

[Clockstomper24]

Well, there two big problems I foresee. One, it's on network TV. Maybe you could get around that with some talented folks. But the fact that it's on CW means the cast will consist of white teen clothing models. Because nobody's asian on TV...especially if they can hold up Nikita and say they're not racist. Race bending is not cool.

[Turkish]

This is the CW so the show is more likely going to be Hunger Games-ish, moreso than truly Battle Royale. They'll want to appeal to that fanbase, who no doubt never even heard of Battle Royale until it was pointed out to them that their beloved HG isn't exactly an original concept. I'm also pretty confident that they will have a love triangle of some sort be the focus of the seris just like all of the other shows on the network. I doubt this show will really make it past the pilot though. If it does they'll pair it with The Vampire Diaries.

[Crim]

Due to the Hunger Gamers craze, this might make it past the pilot, then die a slow, painful death - much like The Secret Circle (based on books by the TVD author), which similarly tried to exploit interest in TVD.

There is no way this will be faithful to Battle Royale. None whatsoever, so it's hilarious that they are trying to go around the "HG-like show? Do want!" via the Battle Royale novels.

[tip and fall]

I could maybe see this show on cable TV, but the CW? Hell no.

But I might consider tuning in if they got someone like Malese Jow for one of the lead roles. I think she would have been a good Katniss, too.

[redshirtx]

The CW is/was already developing a seemingly similar project, The Selection, so this strikes me as hilariously extraneous. That said, considering the network's track record...I can totally see this as a midseason project, if they can get the rights cleared.

And that said: if this actually makes it to series, the best thing they could probably do is get Xander Berkeley as the supervisor/"games master."

[bulldawgtownie]

Just when I thought the CW was flirting with being good, oh well.

[Ankai]

I read the novel and saw both movies. I tried reading the manga, but it seemed too lecherous to me. In any case, I thought that the first movie and the novel each had things that I preferred over the other presentation, and maybe putting those elements together would make for an even better story. That said, a series on the CW would not be it. Maybe a 6-episode miniseries on HBO or something.

[Actionmage]

If it doesn't make it past the CW folks, maybe Starz could adopt the poor thing and let if be what it's meant to be: an uncomfortable story, GORE!tm my fave co-recapper), and lots of kids getting their kill/action moves on.

I don't know that I'd watch it, but if you are trying to adapt a story that has big elements that network tv tends to shy away from, even going to The CW seems silly, imo. Then again, maybe The CW is willing to do it up right?

Yeah, no. I think it's an interesting idea, and it could be done well. I just don't know if America is willing to 'hear' this story on a weekly basis.

[Ankai]

Starz would probably up the sex quotient of the story, which the movie toned down due to the ages of the characters, even in the uncut version. Then again, HBO might do the same. The CW would probably focus on the relationship stuff, which I guess made sense due to these being teenagers, but most of the that stuff seemed like tangents to the story.

I don't need the story to be super gory like Spartacus, especially since the movie was mostly spurts of CGI blood here and there. Still, there are moments that I don't think that the CW would go.

[Ravenwing263]

Malese Jow would be a great lead.

Well, there two big problems I foresee. One, it's on network TV. Maybe you could get around that with some talented folks. But the fact that it's on CW means the cast will consist of white teen clothing models. Because nobody's asian on TV...especially if they can hold up Nikita and say they're not racist. Race bending is not cool.

I'm pretty certain that the CW is about to become the only network ever to have two Asian lead actresses at the same time Yes, yes, both actresses have white fathers, but it's still a small break-through, albeit decades late.

[MethodActor05]

I really can't see how this would work. I saw the movie, and yeah- there's no way this could work as CW teen drama.

The author has to clear this, so that could be a big hurdle.

[bulldawgtownie]

The author has to clear this, so that could be a big hurdle

I have little doubt an author would prevent his or her book from becoming a tv series. A relatively small percentage of authors who are already very wealthy might do so but the majority would welcome a potentially lucrative revenu stream like tv.

[sintin]

Word is that The Selection pilot was so terrible that even the CW passed on it initially, so perhaps they feel it's worth it to have a backup cash-in/ripoff show.


While it's pretty damn awesome that the CW will soon have two shows headlined by Asian actresses, they still has a ton of issues with diversity across the network in general, plus the way minorities are treated on The Vampire Dairies is disgraceful, so I don't hold out much hope for their Battle Royale show in that regard.

Adding to the chorus that Malese Jow would be a great lead.

[tip and fall]

While it's pretty damn awesome that the CW will soon have two shows headlined by Asian actresses, they still has a ton of issues with diversity across the network in general, plus the way minorities are treated on The Vampire Dairies is disgraceful, so I don't hold out much hope for their Battle Royale show in that regard.

MTE. I can just see it now: Battle Royale will feature white leads, but have plenty of supporting POC. After all, considering the nature of the show, there has to be some cannon fodder. The black and Asian characters can flip a coin to determine who will get killed first.

Other possible scenario: If Malese Jow gets the lead, then everyone else will be white, the only exceptions being a few black folk as cannon fodder. Because having an Asian lead means it's a-ok to make everybody else whiter than Casper except for the black people you're gonna kill off.

...Er, not that I'm talking about any specific shows or anything.

Edited by tip and fall, Aug 20, 2012 @ 12:30 PM.