FOX orders 'Punisher' Pilot

Punisher_Spider-ManDeadline reports that the Fox Network has made a “put pilot commitment” to ABC Studios and Ed Bernero (CRIMINAL MINDS) for a TV adaptation of Marvel Comic’s The Punisher.
A put pilot commitment generally means that a network agrees to make and broadcast a pilot episode of  a series (subject to penalities if they fail to do so). Many pilots never make it to the air, “put pilot” projects often do.
THE PUNISHER is being “described as an hour-long procedural…   and a new take” on the comic book character, originally created by writer Gerry Conway and artists John Romita, Sr. & Ross Andru.
Initially an antagonist for Spider-Man (The Amazing Spider-Man #129 , February 1974), the conflicted, lethal vigilante later bcame seen more as a force for justice.
In the series, Frank Castle will apparently be a “rising star  detective with the New York Police Department,  who moonlights as the vigilante Punisher, seeking justice for those the system has failed.”
The comic book Frank Castle is a justice-obsessed Army veteran with no secret identiy, per se. He generally kills his criminal targets, usually organized crime figures. However, more colorful “super-villain” adversaries can become his focus at times. 
Ed Bernero will executive produce the pilot for ABC Studios, with  Marvel Entertainment. He also has a paranormal western, THE EYE in development at ABC.
FOX has also ordered a pilot of DC Comics’ supernatural avenger, THE SPECTRE.

PUNISHER: WAR ZONE
PUNISHER: WAR ZONE

The Punisher has previously appeared in the live action films THE PUNISHER  (1989), starring Dolph Lundgren, THE PUNISHER  (2004) , played by Thomas Jane, and  PUNISHER: WAR ZONE  (2008) with Ray Stevenson in the role.
The character has also been used on various animated Marvel shows, and featured in video games.

ABC's New Genre Shows

ABC announced its new show for the upcoming season. This includes two new genre-rleated programs, THE RIVER, which is scheduled for FALL 2011 on Sunday at 8:00 PM/7:oo Central, and THE RIVER, expected to bow mid-season 2012.

ONCE UPON A TIME, Click to Enlarge
ONCE UPON A TIME, Click to Enlarge

ONCE UPON A TIME — “From the inventive minds of LOST executive producers Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis comes a bold new imagining of the world, where fairy tales and the modern-day are about to collide. And they all lived happily ever after—or so everyone was led to believe.
Emma Swan knows how to take care of herself. She’s a 28-year-old bail bonds collector who’s been on her own ever since she was abandoned as a baby. But when the son she gave up years ago finds her, everything starts to change. Henry is now 10 years old and in desperate need of Emma’s help. He believes that Emma actually comes from an alternate world and is Snow White and Prince Charming’s missing daughter. According to his book of fairytales, they sent her away to protect her from the Evil Queen’s curse, which trapped the fairytale world forever, frozen in time, and brought them into our modern world.
Of course Emma doesn’t believe a word, but when she brings Henry back to Storybrooke, she finds herself drawn to this unusual boy and his strange New England town. Concerned for Henry, she decides to stay for a while, but she soon suspects that Storybrooke is more than it seems. It’s a place where magic has been forgotten, but is still powerfully close… where fairytale characters are alive, even though they don’t remember who they once were.
The epic battle for the future of all worlds is beginning, but for good to win, Emma will have to accept her destiny and fight like hell.
ONCE UPON A TIME stars Ginnifer Goodwin (BIG LOVE) as Snow White/Sister Mary Margaret, Jennifer Morrison (HOUSE) as Emma Swan, Robert Carlyle (STARGATE UNIVERSE) as Rumplestiltskin/Mr. Gold, Lana Parrilla as Evil Queen/Regina, Jamie Dornan as Sheriff Graham, Jared Gilmore (MAD MEN) as Henry, Josh Dallas as Prince Charming/John Doe and Raphael Sbarge as Jiminy Cricket/Archie.
ONCE UPON A TIME was written by Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz, who are also executive producers, along with Steve Pearlman (ABC’s V). The pilot is directed and executive-produced by Mark Mylod (ENTOURAGE).
 ONCE UPON A TIME  is from ABC Studios.”

  THE RIVER — “THE RIVER follows the story of wildlife expert and TV personality Emmet Cole. Emmet set course around the world with his wife, Tess, and son, Lincoln, while filming what would become one of the most popular shows in television. After he goes missing deep in the Amazon, his family, friends and crew set out on a mysterious and deadly journey to find him.
Famed explorer Dr. Emmet Cole (Bruce Greenwood) went looking for magic deep in the uncharted Amazon and never returned. The shocking truth about his disappearance is out there, somewhere, just waiting to be discovered.
To the millions of kids who grew up watching his nature show, Dr. Cole was a hero. To his own son, Lincoln (Joe Anderson), he was more of an enigma. Now, six months after he vanished, Lincoln is finally ready to bury the past when Dr. Cole’s emergency beacon suddenly goes off. At the urging of his mother, Tess (Leslie Hope), Lincoln reluctantly joins her on a search for his father. To fund the rescue, they agree to let Dr. Cole’s cagey ex-producer, Clark (Paul Blackthorne), film the mission documentary-style. The mixed crew of old friends and new acquaintances includes the sexy and resourceful Lena (Eloise Mumford), loyal mechanic Emilio (Daniel Zacapa) and lethal bodyguard Captain Kurt Brynildson (Thomas Kretschmann).
THE RIVER stars Bruce Greenwood (STAR TREK) as Emmet Cole, Joe Anderson (THE TWILIGHT SAGA” BREAKING DAWN)  as Lincoln Cole, Paul Blackthorne (LIPSTICK JUNGLE) as Clark, Paulina Gaitan as Jahel, Leslie Hope (24) as Tess Cole, Eloise Mumford (LONE STAR) as Lena, Shaun Parkes (THE MUMMY RETURNS) as Adjay, Thomas Kretschmann (KING KONG) as Captain Kurt Brynildson and Daniel Zacapa (RESURRECTION BLVD.) as Emilio.
THE RIVER, from Amblin’s Steven Spielberg, Daryl Frank and Justin Falvey, showrunner/executive producer Michael Green (HEROES, KINGS), is also executive-produced by Oren Peli (creator of PARANORMAL ACTIVITY), Zack Estrin, Jason Blum and Steven Schneider.
Teleplay by Michael R. Perry and Michael Green, story by Oren Peli & Michael R. Perry and Michael Green.
The pilot is directed by Jaume Collet-Serra and produced by ABC Studios.”

Del Toro and Eick to Produce HULK TV?

hulk_transDeadline.com reports that Guillermo del Toro (HELLBOY) and David Eick (BATTLESTAR GALACTICA) are in talks to produce the new HULK TV series for ABC Studios and Marvel Television, both now owned by Disney.
According to the article, the two will hash out the story for the pilot, which will be written by David Eick. It seems it will be an origin story featuring an  energetic, 20-something Bruce Banner. 
Subject to his schedule, De Toro would direct the pilot, and design the look of the Hulk, likely a combination of prosthetic makeup, animatronic puppets, and CGI as needed.  
The series, intended for the ABC Network possibly in Fall 2012,  would be Guillermo del Toro’s first TV production.

'No Ordinary Family' – Trailer

Here’s a trailer and ABC’s description of their upcoming series NO ORDINARY FAMILY.

The Powells are about to go from ordinary to extraordinary. After 16 years of marriage, Jim and Stephanie’s relationship lacks the spark it once had, and their family life now consists of balancing work and their two children, leaving little time for family bonding.

During a family vacation set up by Jim in an attempt to reconnect, their plane crashes into the Amazon River. But this is where the fun starts for the Powells, as they soon discover that something’s not quite right. Each of them now possesses unique and distinct superpowers.

But saving and savoring their family life will be equally important, as they try to find purpose for their new powers and embark on a journey to find out what defines and unifies them. The Powells are a totally relatable family who happen to be a little bit amazing.

Michael Chiklis (The Shield) stars as Jim Powell, Julie Benz (Dexter) as Stephanie Powell, Romany Malco (The 40-Year-Old Virgin) as George St. Cloud, Tate Donovan (Damages) as Mitch McCutcheon, Autumn Reeser as Katie Andrews, Christina Chang as Yvonne Cho, Kay Panabaker as Daphne Powell and Jimmy Bennett as JJ Powell.

The pilot was written and executive-produced by Jon Feldman. The series is executive-produced by Feldman, Greg Berlanti, Morgan Wandell and David Semel, who also directed the pilot. Joe Hartwick, Jr. serves as producer. No Ordinary Family is from ABC Studios.

NO ORDINARY FAMILY will air Tuesdays, 8/7 Central

Legend of The Seeker Canceled?

LSeeker_2webAccording to EW’s The Ausiello Files ABC Studios/Ghost House Pictures’ LEGEND OF THE SEEKER has been canceled.

The New Zealand-produced syndicated fantasy show, based on Terry Goodkind’s Sword of Truth book series has run only two seasons.

EW attributes the series’ apparent demise on the fact the Tribune Group’s local stations had dropped the series, and that ABC Studios have been unable to find a new home for THE SEEKER.
Unless an unanticipated white knight appears to save the day, Richard Cypher and Kahlan Amnell’s quest is over.
Pictured: Stars Craig Horner and Bridget Regan.