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Development: Simpsons producer working on YouTube sci-fi comedy; Quatermass reboot from Legendary; more
Do you like The Simpsons? Do you like obscure science fiction characters from the '50s and '60s? Do you like zombies on cable TV? If you answered yes to any of those three questions, then you might wanna check out today's development roundup!
Longtime Simpsons producer, David Mirkin, is working on an original sci-fi comedy series for YouTube entitled Jeff of the Universe, reports Variety.
He will write, direct, and executive produce the upcoming live-action show, which is set to be distributed by Dynamic Television.
“Many have desperately tried to keep the stunning, disturbing, life-changing secrets exposed in Jeff of the Universe from ever becoming public which is why I am so thrilled to be working with the brave folks at YouTube Premium and Dynamic Television. In addition, they are giving us a totally unlimited budget. At least that is what I am assuming," Mirkin said in a statement published by Variety.
Mirkin, who directed 2001's Hearbreakers with Gene Hackman and Sigourney Weaver, is also credited as a writer on The Simpsons Movie.
“David is an incredible storyteller who consistently creates these iconic characters and series. Getting to work with him and our great partners at YouTube Premium is really an out-of-this-world experience,” said Holly Hines of Dynamic Television.
According to Nerdist, Legendary Entertainment and Hammer Films are teaming up to reboot the fictional sci-fi scientist known as Bernard Quatermass on the big screen.
Almost comparable to Doctor Who in many ways, Quatermass was created by Nigel Kneale and starred in his own BBC serials in the 1950s and '60s. Over the years, the character fought all kinds of extra-terrestrial threats and was played by a number of actors like Reginald Tate, John Robinson, and Andrew Keir.
Hammer's involvement with the reboot is a very good omen as the production company has been with the property since 1955's The Quatermass Experiment.
David Farr (The Night Manager, Hanna) is on board to write the new movie's script, although no director has been chosen just yet. Simon Oakes (The Woman in Black, Let Me In) is attached as a producer.
This Sunday, just before the Big Game, you'll be able to catch the midseason premiere of The Walking Dead's ninth season a week early, writes Deadline.
Of course, you'll only be able to catch the episode title "Adaptation" if you subscribe to AMC Premiere, a digital streaming service that allows patrons to watch the network's original programming without ads. The episode will be available to subscribers for an entire week before it debuts on television.
A release like this is very much in line with a national event like the Super Bowl, which has become synonymous with big blockbuster trailers, celebrity-packed brand commercials, and true unexpected pop culture shockers. Just last year, Paramount dropped an entire Cloverfield movie (albeit a pretty bad one) on Netflix right after the game was over, an unprecedented piece of movie marketing.
The Walking Dead returns for the second half of Season 9 on Feb. 10 and will introduce the Whisperers as the main antagonists of the series.
