It’s an “epic family adventure 85 million years in the making”, promised Fox as it unveiled the first artwork from Terra Nova, an action-adventure series from Steven Spielberg which the broadcaster claims will be ”one of the most ambitious shows ever created for television.”
Terra Nova, which appears to give more than a nod to Avatar, follows an ordinary family on an “extraordinary journey back in time to prehistoric Earth as a part of a massive expedition to save the human race.”
Set in 2149, the earth is dying due to the usual, man-made environmental excesses. Fortunately a “coalition of scientists” has found a way to “fracture the space-time continuum” (they must be watching Doctor Who re-runs) and send our chosen pilgrims, the Shannon family, hurtling back in time to Terra Nova, on a mission to correct the mistakes of the past.
They encounter an idyllic, utopian landscape which may not be as it appears (very Avatar) and it wouldn’t be Spielberg without the Shannons running for their lives from angry dinosaurs and other prehistoric nasties.
The buzz around Terra Nova, co-produced by former News Corporation executive Peter Chernin, is expected to be huge. Yet to enter production, Fox says it will “strategically” employ the show in Spring next year. Given budgetary restrictions it’s easy to see why the network decided to axe the expensive 24 with this juggernaut on the way.
The jewel in Fox’s “upfronts” schedule for next year, Terra Nova cannot hide fears that American Idol, which suffered a 10 per cent audience slump last year, may be on a permanent slide.
Fox admits that it hasn’t yet been able to replace Cowell, who has quit Idol judging duties to focus on turning The X Factor into a global hit. “There is no bigger question for the summer,” admitted Peter Rice, chairman of entertainment for Fox Networks Group.
Rice added that Fox needed to find someone with Cowell’s music industry credibility who can also entertain the audience. Jamie Foxx is a possible but can Fox persuade Sir Elton John, previously no fan of the talent show format, to become the new Idol king?
The results show will also be cut back half-an-hour, a sign that audiences may be wearying of the tendency of talent shows to stretch a point.
With just a couple of new family-friendly sitcoms in the mix – and The Simpsons just keeps on going – Fox has been conservative with new commissions. But after moving the next season of Glee to follow Idol on Wednesday nights and Terra Nova in the locker, the network isn’t short of home banker blockbusters.
Beehive will give regular updates from the US network TV “upfronts” as they happen.
Well this is the most exciting news of all time!
I enjoyed Avatar (with the exception of all the ridiculous profanity.
I’m looking forward to this, howbeit I was expecting Terra Nova to get a Autumn 2010 release but patience is quite in order.
I’m pleased to see FOX getting a show that’s aimed at the whole family and at the same time an epic action adventure tale with morals to be learned regarding the Environment and our relationship to it. We need more Environmental-esque Avatar tales!