Bad Robot Plans Alcatraz Series

[Hunter Rider]

http://www.comingsoon.net/news/tvnews.php?id=69468

Source: Deadline
September 1, 2010


JJ Abrams is looking to produce "Alcatraz," a series based on the famous prison, reports Deadline.

The script, written by "Lost" vet Elizabeth Sarnoff, is currently being shopped around for a network but, outside of the title, very little is known as to the specifics of the project.

Currently, Bad Robot produces Fox's "Fringe" and will launch "Undercovers" for NBC this fall. The company is rumored to be in development on roughly a dozen theatrical projects as well including the upcoming Super 8 and a sequel to 2009's Star Trek.

Alcatraz is fascinating, I wonder if this will be a period piece.

 

[Asgard]

I think itd have to be. Seems like itd be a prison escape series.

On the other hand, the series could be about the re-opening of the prison to house the worst criminals today.

Either way, Id watch it.

 

[Sawyer]

If JJ and Bad Robot (as well as Sarnoff, who wrote a bunch of great LOST episodes) are involved, there's a pretty good chance that this will be great. Though I doubt they will, I'd love if they would shoot on location.

 

[Asgard]

No way. Theres ghosts in Alcatraz and I doubt any of the actors or crew wanna get ghosted.

 

[Shifty]

J.J. Abrams' Drama 'Alcatraz' Lands At Fox
By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Wednesday September 15, 2010 @ 7:00pm PDT

The network that gave us Prison Break is heading back to prison. Fox has picked up Alcatraz, the J.J. Abrams produced drama about the San Francisco Bay island. The project, which was written on spec and recently taken out to the networks, has received a pilot commitment by Fox which is already in business with Abrams on sci-fi drama Fringe. Alcatraz is described as "a show about mysteries, secrets and the most infamous prison of all time: Alcatraz." Lost executive producer Elizabeth Sarnoff penned the final script, while Steven Lilien and Bryan Wynbrandt (Kyle XY) wrote earlier versions. All 3 are credited as writers on the pilot, which Abrams, Sarnoff and Bryan Burk will executive produce. Lilien and Wynbrandt will co-executive produce. Abrams' Bad Robot Prods. is producing with Warner Bros. TV. This is the third consecutive year a spec from Bad Robot has landed a major commitment after interest from multiple networks. The first two scripts, Fringe and Undercovers, went to series on Fox and NBC, respectively.

Hopefully it doesn't air on Fridays.

 

[Shifty]

ALCATRAZ (FOX) - Danny Cannon ("Nikita") has been tapped to direct the much-ballyhooed drama pilot, about "mysteries, secrets and the most infamous prison of all time." Said hour comes from co-creators Bryan Wynbrandt, Elizabeth Sarnoff and Steven Lilien. J.J. Abrams and Bryan Burk also serve as executive producers via their Warner Bros. Television-based Bad Robot Productions.

Read more: Breaking News - Development Update: Friday, November 12 | TheFutonCritic.com http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/...friday-november-12-317515/8974/#ixzz15Z3fkrBl

 

[Shifty]

'Lost' Co-Star Jorge Garcia Cast In J.J. Abrams' Fox Drama Pilot 'Alcatraz'
By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Sunday November 21, 2010 @ 3:22pm

EXCLUSIVE: Big news for Lost fans: series co-star Jorge Garcia has joined another J.J. Abrams drama about an island. Garcia is set to play a lead on the Fox pilot Alcatraz, which is executive produced by Lost co-creator/executive producer Abrams.

The project, described to be "about secrets and the most infamous prison of all time," centers on a group of missing Alcatraz prisoners and guards who reappear in the present day. It chronicles the efforts of a team of FBI agents to track them down and unravel the mystery behind their disappearance thirty years prior. Garcia will play the hippy geek Dr. Diego Soto, the world's foremost expert on Alcatraz.

Actor-comedian Garcia, who landed his first TV series role on the CBS comedy Becker, rose to fame as one of the key cast members on ABC's hit drama Lost. He was the first actor cast in the Lost pilot, just like he is now on Alcatraz. The role of Hugo "Hurley" Reyes on Lost was tailor-made for him. Similarly, he was the first and only actor the producers of Alcatraz approached for the role of Dr. Soto. Garcia, repped by APA and KLWG Entertainment, guest stars on the Thanksgiving episode of CBS' comedy How I Met Your Mother tomorrow night. Garcia is the third Lost cast member eyeing return to primetime this season in a new drama series executive produced by Abrams. Michael Emerson and Terry O'Quinn star as former special ops agents in the project Odd Jobs, which landed at NBC with a put pilot commitment.

Alcatraz was written on spec by Elizabeth Sarnoff, who penned the final version, and Steven Lilien and Bryan Wynbrandt, who wrote earlier incarnations. The project, from Abrams' Bad Robot Prods. and Warner Bros. TV, was bought by Fox with a pilot commitment in mid-September, and greenlighted to pilot a week later. Sarnoff serves as showrunner and executive produces with Abrams and Bryan Burk. Lilien and Wynbrandt will co-executive produce and Danny Cannon will direct the pilot, which is slated to begin in January in San Francisco and Vancouver.

 

[DIRECTOR]

bring back Jack

 

[Prison Mike]

Sadly, Matthew Fox is done with TV for now...

 

[Hunter Rider]

I really like the premise and I'm glad to see Hurley getting more work.

 

[Sawyer]

Sadly, Matthew Fox is done with TV for now...

As much as I'd like to see him succeed on the big screen, I bet he'll be back on TV within the next 5-10 years.

But more Hurley = more

 

[Asgard]

Nice. Its scifi mystery.

 

[Prison Mike]

As much as I'd like to see him succeed on the big screen, I bet he'll be back on TV within the next 5-10 years.

 

[Sawyer]

He can Jackface me all he wants, it's gonna happen.

 

[Prison Mike]

He can Jackface me all he wants, it's gonna happen.

 

[superhero]

icouldn't stand undercover. i thought it was boring.

 

[Prison Mike]

Same here. I couldn't even sit through the entire pilot. I turned it off half way through.

 

[Hush]

Hopefully this is better then.

 

[Shifty]

The lead has been cast.
http://www.deadline.com/2010/11/j-j-abrams-fox-pilot-alcatraz-casts-lead/

 

[<(o_o)>]

Would definitely watch it if Evangeline Lilly was cast in the lead role, but maybe she could be a guest star at some point if it lasts long enough.

 

[<(o_o)>]

Would definitely watch it if Evangeline Lilly was cast in the lead role, but maybe she could be a guest star at some point if it lasts long enough.

 

[Nightwing 52]

..Sarah looks hot.

 

[TheComicbookKid]

That woman is awesome. She totally lit up the screen on Lone Star.

 

[superhero]

i couldn't stand under cover. ithought it was boring kind of ripping of mr and mrs smith. i never seen Fringe . it also comes on when show iwatch. i did watch it once ortwice.

 

[Crockett]

Great that Elizabeth Sarnoff is onboard the show as a executive producer and writer. She wrote/cowrote a few weak episodes ("Stranger in a Strange Land" for an example) and some really good episodes on Lost, "Two for the Road" and "The Man Behind the Curtains" comes in mind.