Last week, along with the reports about David Fury's departure from Stephen Spielberg's new television project Terra Nova, word started getting out about a possible casting decision that promises to be very interesting for the upcoming show.

According to those reports, noted character actor Stephen Lang (Avatar) was in discussions to join the cast in the role of Frank Taylor, the leader of the settlement of humans in Earth's prehistoric past. The word has come out now that Lang has been signed as the main villain in the show.

Terra Nova is a look into a future where the Earth is dying, and thanks to the miracles of technology and time travel, humanity is getting another chance via a new colony in Earth's prehistoric past. Jason O'Mara from the American version of Life on Mars" is Jim Shannon, the head of the family that this show follows. The only other known casting, besides Shannon and Lang, is Allison Miller (Kings) who plays Skye, a veteran of the colony who takes Shannon's son under her wing.

Concerns about the show have been expressed, with the departure of Fury, the apparently slow casting of the parts, and the deadline of May 2011 for a preview of the series. However, I am not ready to predict failure for this show yet, with the news that Brannon Braga has taken the reins of the show. While Braga's last outing, "FlashForward," bit the dust after only one season, I think this show still has a fighting chance.

The reason is the very thing that some are concerned about, namely the time being taken to get things right. The executives are showing no desire to rush to get a product finished, only to see history repeat itself.

The concept and story idea for the show shows great promise, but then again, FlashForward did also. Ultimately, the decision leaves the hands of the executives and cast and goes into the hands of a show's ultimate judge: the viewing audience. It appears, at least to this writer, that every effort is being taken to prevent this show to meet a similar fate.

All we can do is wait and see.