Syfy picks up Arthur C. Clarke's Childhood's End as six-hour miniseries

Atlantis

Well Known GateFan
http://www.blastr.com/2014-9-3/syfy-picks-arthur-c-clarkes-childhoods-end-six-hour-miniseries


It’s been more than a year since we heard anything about Syfy’s potential Arthur C. Clarke adaptation Childhood’s End, but the network has finally given it a green light.

The six-hour miniseries adaptation was first put into development along with a crush of new projects early last year, and the studio has now pulled the trigger. The project will be produced by Michael De Luca (The Social Network) and Akiva Goldsman (A Beautiful Mind).

An interesting bit? It’ll be directed by Doctor Who alum Nick Hurran, and penned by Who writer Matthew Graham. They obviously already have some experience dealing with aliens, so this tale of a peaceful alien invasion that essentially turns the world into a near-utopia should be right up their alley.

Clarke published Childhood’s End in 1953, and the ambitious novel tells the story of alien Overlords who come to rule the Earth and end all war, but everything is not exactly as it seems. Their arrival sets off a whole new series of events that could eventually cost us the planet we call home.

Syfy president Dave Howe had this to say about the series to The Hollywood Reporter, which offers some hints about which direction they'll be taking the story:

“As we aggressively develop scripted programming over a diverse creative landscape, we want our content to reflect the greatest sci-fi stories from the past and the present. The powerful themes of Childhood’s End, from the fearsome price of peace and prosperity, to the very question of what constitutes a human being, remain fascinating and timeless. This will be the most ambitious project for Syfy in many years.”

Assuming Syfy manages to bring the book to the small screen, they’ll have succeeded where many have failed. Legendary director Stanley Kubrick tried to make it in the 1960s but couldn’t get the rights, and a version by Abraham Polonsky never made it out of the scripting phase. As late as 2002 Universal was kicking it around, with Kimberly Peirce attached to direct at the time.

There’s no specific timeline for when the series might arrive, but we’d think mid-to-late 2015 at the earliest.

Childhood%27s%20End.10.jpg
 

shavedape

Well Known GateFan
Looks like one to put on my book list. :)
 

SciphonicStranger

Objects may be closer than they appear
"This will be the most ambitious project for Syfy in many years"

He forgot Defiance and Dominion..... LOL
 

Joelist

What ship is this?
Staff member
I shudder to think how SyFy would implement this. Also it really is not a series type of book - not a whole lot actually happens in action terms after the very beginning.

OM I am sure is happy as this book has a connection to him.....
 

Overmind One

GateFans Gatemaster
Staff member
I shudder to think how SyFy would implement this. Also it really is not a series type of book - not a whole lot actually happens in action terms after the very beginning.

OM I am sure is happy as this book has a connection to him.....

Yes, it does. :)
 

Overmind One

GateFans Gatemaster
Staff member
I shudder to think how SyFy would implement this. Also it really is not a series type of book - not a whole lot actually happens in action terms after the very beginning.

OM I am sure is happy as this book has a connection to him.....

Well, I can see this as a series, but it would have to be a closed story like in the book for it to go over well. I do not think they could keep it interesting by deviating from the book too much (like they did with Under The Dome). The story has an arc that should not be flattened just to make it into a series. The premise could remind viewers too much of the last V series, and if political crap is thrown in then they could ruin it.
 

heisenberg

Earl Grey
I shudder to think how SyFy would implement this. Also it really is not a series type of book - not a whole lot actually happens in action terms after the very beginning.

OM I am sure is happy as this book has a connection to him.....
...but the series of 3 stories in the book.
 

Overmind One

GateFans Gatemaster
Staff member
The title of the thread answered my concerns perfectly. :) DOH! A 6 hour miniseries is EXACTLY how to do this story. You could not do it in two hours as a movie, but as a set of three two hour movies (trilogy) or 6 one hour long episodes, it will work quite well I think. Im excited to see this get done finally. :)
 

Atlantis

Well Known GateFan

Here is the trailer out december this year looks like its got the dude who played chief o'brien from star trek
 

Joelist

What ship is this?
Staff member
Not encouraging.
 

Overmind One

GateFans Gatemaster
Staff member
Oh I agree with you 100% it doesn't encourage me to watch the tv series based on what I saw from the trailer.

Agreed, but I know the story so I will not let that turn me off just yet. :)
 

ecgordon

Star's Hero
I normally avoid trailers since they are usually edited by someone in the promotions department rather than the producer/director, and a lot of times before some key scenes are even filmed. I also try to avoid all interviews, clips and other promos. I'll be watching this since it is one of my favorite books, and I'll always have that even if the series is disappointing.
 
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