From Television Business International (via SciFi Guy)
Lionsgate to produce Anita Blake for IFC
27/10/08
US cable network IFC has commissioned Lionsgate to make a two hour sci fi pilot based on vampire novel Anita Blake.
The series, which is based on a series of erotic fantasy books by Laurell K Hamilton, is set to be executive produced by X-Files and Final Destination producer Glen Morgan.
Craig Cegielski, EVP, programming and sales, Lionsgate International Television, told TBIvision that the Rainbow Media-owned broadcaster will air the two hour pilot next year, before deciding whether to order a full season. "It's a sexier Buffy The Vampire Slayer," he says.
Hmmm... looks like it's more than just speculation this time, huh? But IFC?! How odd.
22 comments:
What worries me is the phrase "erotic fantasy books". I've only read book 1, but everybody keeps telling me the books don't get sexy until book 9 or 10.
At least HBO didn't pick it up. They'd just turn it into one big nasty f**kfest.
I've never heard of IFC.
interesting, not sure if I like the idea or not.
Well, see the sexxoring really didn't happen in the first books.
Now, we had the infamous bathtub scene with Jean Claude in one of them (I can never remember which one) and Anita and Richard FINALLY play stuff the sausage (literally) in Blue Moon. But mostly there were just sexual undercurrents until Narcissus in Chains.
So, yeah, calling it "erotic fantasy books" seems foreboding, but then again, like True Blood, they have to adapt the TV series from books that are 1st person POV. So even if ANITA isn't getting her groove on, that doesn't mean they won't have other characters going at it like rabbits. I mean after all, Jean-Claude does own the strip clubs. And we know that the vamps and weres are very sexual beings.
What REALLY bothers me is that LKH is a control freak when it comes to her stories. And rightly so, I can't fault her for that at all. But, assuming she demands tight control over the TV project like she did the comics, how the hell is she going to do both of those PLUS write two books per year? Frankly, I think the answer is "She can't" and I'll point to Blood Noir as an example of what happens when she doesn't have time to put her best effort into her writing.
Oh, and IFC is Independent Film Channel. That's why I thought it was weird.
If it is as good as True Blood I am sold!
Sarah, my fingers are crossed, but I personally think it all depends on whether the producers were already fans of ABVH (like Ball with True Blood) or they are just doing it because A) sex sells and/or B) they are just jumping on the True Blood bandwagon.
Actually, the same goes for whomever is developing the Patricia Briggs's Mercy Thompson production.
I hate to think that True Blood's success will mean we get a bunch of half-assed attempts to throw other popular Urban Fantasy stories up on the screen.
I think the True Blood train passed me by (its just too violent for me, I fast forward constantly)...
I don't know now if I will be happy to see other books I loved (and I did love the early Anita books, and you know how much I love the Mercy books) turned into shows... Books are very different from the visual, thats for sure.
wytherin
I know exactly what you mean, Wytherin. I have mixed feelings too. I mean I DO really like True Blood (although I would enjoy LESS Jason scenes more), but can lightning strike twice (or thrice)? I'm afraid that both the ABVH and Mercy Thompson books could be ruined, or at least leave me less than enthusiastic about the two series, if the productions aren't done as well.
Speaking of True Blood--- THREE episodes left in the season? WTF? That's not a season, it's a HALF a season!
well, its better to leave you wanting more, than wanting less... (I want less, with Jason).... I did find the Jason and the gay vamp conversations interesting though... He would be interesting if he kept his pants on more...
ONe of the things I don't like is that Eric is not as funny as he was in the books, and in the book, he was VERY interested in Sookie.. So all this talk about not finding her interesting bothers me...
wytherin
So, how did you like Swallowing Darkness? Or have you read it all yet?
wytherin
I just want them to give Eric some conditioner for that hair of his! Geesh! And because I'm so enthralled with Johanna Parker's narration of the audio books, it sounds WRONG for Eric NOT to have a Nordic accent.
You know, I'm thinking back to my first impressions of Bill-- he was kind of creepy looking, sorta death-warmed-over (hee). But he's gotten livelier (pun intended) since he's been with Sookie, especially when he looks at her. So I'm wondering if that same subtle change will come over Eric as he's around Sookie more. I just can't believe that the change in Bill wasn't intentional on Ball's part.
And no, believe it or not, I haven't even STARTED Swallowing Darkness yet! *GASP* I KNOW! But 1) I'm crazy busy with work, so 2) when I've had time to read, I've been finishing Amy Lane's Little Goddess series (which I can't rec enough and WILL be reviewing).
well bev, get with swallowing that darkness... lol... The only person I know who has read it, hated it... but of course she reads all of them and hates it so its not surprising... Even when I don't agree with your take, I feel your pretty fair... I know I will read it eventually, but I am not in any hurry...wytherin
Just finished it. And OMG! This was a different LKH writing it! It was nearly ALL plot and intrigue. And she pretty much tied up every major plot thread she'd been building towards in all the previous books. Yet it's NOT the last book.
And I'll leave you with that until I write my review. ;-p
Hmm, I would watch an Anita Blake show (even though I stopped reading the books after Anita changed)
After the train wreck of True Blood, I don't think I can trust anyone trying to make AN into a show.
A movie would be cool, though.
I dunno Seneca, I think I'd rather see it as a TV show. For me, a large part of the ABVH appeal is getting to know and becoming attached to the characters.
But, let me say that I wouldn't want it as a network or even basic cable show.
i'd love to see it as a tv series rather than a movie.. personally i dont think the first few books did the series justice, and if you throw an audience into say the 7th book or so they'd be totally confused... atleast with a tv series they can scoot around better than a movie... what i want to know is... WHEN IS THE PILOT GOING TO AIR AND WHO IS PLAYING ANITA???
i really hope the show will be good. im a die hard fan an i know ill e expecting a lot. ive always thought it would be awesome if they made a show out of it. i was shocked when i found out about true blood. i really like all those too and they did really good about it jason could be less of a whore on that tho hehe.... but its ok. we'll see how it goes. ive got my fingers crossed.
i really hope that this will be at least half as good as the books and sticks to the story and character descriptions more. but i have a bad feeling it will end up like the dresden files in that no one really looks or behaves as the characters in the books and the stories don't correspond to the books at all. i hope to god i'm wrong though cause i really would like to see this in action.
oh what is this bout mercy thompson series being made into tv i've not heard that one, any info? x
Personally, I hope they don't make it exactly the same as the books. I'm not sure about everyone else on this forum, but I hate watching an exact copy of things. I prefer that they either change a lot of things, or change nothing. If they change a lot of it, it's like watching a completely new series. If they only change a few things, then you can't help but notice and pick at those changes, like what happened with Twilight. I like it when the story's regurgitated in a slightly different way, so you never can /know/ for sure exactly what's going to happen.
It's a good idea if they do it right. However, when it does get "sexy" I don't know how IFC would pull it off. The sex is linked to so much of the power... and I just don't see how they're going to air that.
...and yes, I agree that it'd be much better as a series than a movie. There's too much that happens, you can't cram it all in to 2 hours. However, once it gets to the later books, it's all sex, no plot. It's basically vampire smut... and really I have no clue how'd they do that? Maybe fake their way through it and pretend that something happens? Or maybe change networks to Playboy? :P I'm still kind of excited about it though.
I'm actually anticipating the tv series... besides it does'nt get 'erotica' until after Blue moon... so there's like 7 books to work on until they need to change the script... alittle... :)
But the down side is... no Micah... no Nathaniel... no Damian... lol! Focus on Jean Claude and Richard only when they are both kind of 'powerless'
Anyway... i've got nothing to complain about coz my fav character's Edward aka Ted Forrester :P
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