SciFi Channel has a new show in development for a fall premiere, but you may have already seen it on the Web.
No, this isn't another victim of online piracy; instead it's the Web series "Sanctuary."
But even if you have already seen the eight Webisodes available online,executive producer Damian Kindler guarantees that what is seen on the TV screen will be 98 percent rebooted.
Kindler told SciFi Stream that the show is going through major changes because the SciFi Channel wants "the scope and scale of the show to be very different."
First, the darkly gothic Gotham City-like feel will be replaced by a "deeper palette" in an effort to make the series more appealing to larger audiences.
Second, the visual effects will get a major overhaul. Kindler described what they originally did as "an R&D feasibility study," which involved rendering each Webisode in two weeks. Now they will have many more weeks to polish the visual effects.
But that isn't all. The show also is getting major concept and story structure changes for the two-hour premiere episode. Kindler described it as mostly new material, which he sees as a good thing for fans who already purchased the Webisodes.
"There are elements you will see reused and redone, but mainly I?d say most of it?s new," Kindler added. "And that?s important, because we built a really cool social networking community out there, and we want to say, 'I?m glad you liked all that. Now come and see the big, shiny new ? you saw the prototype, now come and see the working model.'"
Fans also can expect a Helen Magnus with more of a sense of humor. Plus, there will be more back story for Magnus, Will, and Ashley. And fewer flashbacks in the premiere.
Don't worry, though, the core of the series shall remain the same.
"It?s still the search for monsters, helping the monsters that need helping, protecting the world from monsters that are too dangerous to be allowed to be free," Kindler said reassuringly. "And it?s revealing the secret behind that work, which has to do with the future of the human race and why the monsters are the key to that future. There?s a very dark, incredibly powerful secret that Magnus is holding onto and responsible for."
Yes, Kindler is adding a conspiracy arc. The secret agenda will be revealed slowly over a long period of time.
The original model of a fan driven show with each episode first premiering on the Web, sadly didn't work financially. But the plan seems to now be a reboot for TV and then using feedback from fans via online social networks to help shape future TV episodes.
And SciFi Channel seems to really be backing "Sanctuary" in hopes of it being their new big thing. Kindler said that SciFi Channel wants "it to be a Friday night show, and we want it to compete with the SG-1s and Battlestars and Eurekas of the world. We don?t want it to be crappy like 'Flash Gordon' or 'Painkiller Jane.' I hope no one who likes those shows is watching this, but those shows aren?t around for a reason."
"Sanctuary" has been nominated for the 2008 SyFy Genre Award in the Best Web Production category. "Sanctuary" won in the same category in last year's SyFy Genre Awards. You can vote now by clicking here.
To read the entire review of the new series, visit SciFi Stream by clicking here.
Vote now for your favorite actors, television shows, movies and more in the 2008 SyFy Genre Awards! Find out all the details by clicking here, and watch a video showcasing all the nominees right here.
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