"Masters Of Horror" has come and gone--well, almost, as the series will reach its official conclusion when Anchor Bay releases Miike's rejected (and thus unaired) installment "Imprint" this fall--so now, we can prepare for "Masters Of Science Fiction".
But expect far less controversial material, as the ABC network has picked up the anthology series produced by IDT Entertainment, which promises to feature adaptations of some of the most revered authors of the genre--science fiction, "sci-fi", scientifiction, "speculative fiction", whatever the hell they wanna call it these days.
Negotiations are currently underway to include works from Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury, Robert A. Heinlein, and my personal fave, Harlan Ellison for an initial season total of six one-hour episodes, to air in prime time. Sez IDT COO John Hyde: "ABC is the perfect venue for these interpretations of science fiction's seminal literary voices." Really? ABC?
Screenwriter Michael ("The Player", "The Rapture") Tolkin has signed to adapt and direct one episode, as yet unnamed. Discussions are underway to feature such works as Ellison's "The Discarded", "The Last Question" by Asimov, and for Bradbury himself to adapt his own "Dark They Were, And Golden-Eyed". Production begins this May in Vancouver. Maybe I'll pony up for that Rogers PVR after all...
