BBC1 plans Marvel comic-inspired superhero series
Exclusive: BBC1 is lining up a superhero series for a prime-time Saturday night slot.
Superpower is being penned by former Doctor Who director Joe Ahearne, whose writing credits include episodes of This Life, the Channel 4 sci-fi series Ultraviolet and the forthcoming BBC1 supernatural drama Apparitions, which he has also directed.
Scripts for the series have been commissioned by the Corporation and Ahearne told The Stage that Impossible Pictures, the company behind ITV’s Primeval, is on board to make it. The writer said each episode of the show would have a stand-alone story, as opposed to featuring cliffhanger endings each week.
He said being a fan of Marvel comics had inspired the series, which he insisted would not be like any other superhero-themed shows being made for television.
“It is a new and original superhero idea which is not a send-up. All the super hero stuff that is on TV in this country - ITV’s No Heroics, My Hero - British TV is happy to do if it is a send-up, but no one has done it for real. There is a particular gimmick in mine, which I won’t give away, but it means it will be refreshed every episode,” he revealed.
Production for the show has not yet been given the green light, because Ahearne said BBC producers were waiting for a gap in the popular teatime slot, which is currently occupied by Merlin. A third series of Robin Hood, which also occupies the Saturday evening prime-time slot, is set for broadcast in 2009.
A BBC spokeswoman confirmed Superpower was in development with the BBC, but could not reveal further details.
To contact the Stage news team email newsdesk@thestage.co.uk or call 020 7403 1818, selecting option 2 (editorial) followed by option 1 (newsdesk).
If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication".
Follow The Stage on Twitter and Facebook to get the latest entertainment industry news to your desktop or mobile.
External links
The Stage Online is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Latest news
- Old Vic transfers Noises Off into the West End
- London’s Old Vic Theatre is to transfer its production of Noises Off into the West End for a limited season this summer.
- Shakespeare’s Globe casts Samantha Spiro
- Samantha Spiro is to appear in The Taming of the Shrew at Shakespeare’s Globe this summer.
- Chichester’s Rattigan double-bill transfers to West End
- The Chichester Festival Theatre productions of The Browning Version and South Downs are to transfer to London’s…
- Arts workers need more training and investment, says government
- The creative industries suffer from an “under-investment in human capital”, have too few training opportunities and…
- Oscar nominees stretch UK-trained success to 24 years
- Kenneth Branagh, Gary Oldman and Janet McTeer are the latest British-trained actors to be nominated for Oscars,…
- Actors and viewers demand better TV credits
- Thousands of television viewers have backed an actor-led campaign calling on broadcasters to give performers more…
Content is copyright © 2012 The Stage Media Company Limited unless otherwise stated.
All RSS feeds are published for personal, non-commercial use. (What’s RSS?)