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What? The Billy Zane/ Kristy Swanson Phantom wasn't any good? Man, am I out of the loop.
The case of the dueling apparitions continues as Lee Falk's Ghost Who Walks is set to return in a TV movie/pilot to air on SCI FI (or SyFy) as 'The Phantom'.
Last summer word spread that father/son team Daniel and Charles Knauf were looking at revamping Falk's comic strip avenger for TV. Then, in December, the Australian producers of the previous 'Phantom' movie announced plans for a new feature film.
Now, the Hollywood Reporter tells us that SCI FI has approved three new mini-series from RHI Entertainment, one of which is 'The Phantom'. Each will apparently run for four hours.
"That there hasn't been a successful 'Phantom' leaves the door wide open for us, since nobody has made it their own yet," Robert Halmi Jr., president and CEO of RHI told The Hollywood Reporter.
The mini-series will serve as a back-door pilot, meaning if it scores well with viewers, RHI is poised to go to series with it. The Reporter article does not mention the Kanufs, but it sounds like the same project to us.
The other two shows discussed are a revamp of 'Alice in Wonderland' and an adaptation of Philip Jose Farmer's 'Riverworld'.
What do you think, Maniacs? Can The Phantom walk beyond the pages of the strip? What does SCI FI need to do to get this right? Post your comments below...
What? The Billy Zane/ Kristy Swanson Phantom wasn't any good? Man, am I out of the loop.
What? The Billy Zane/ Kristy Swanson Phantom wasn't any good? Man, am I out of the loop.
I would watch "The Phantom" on SyFy if it was done well. Riverworld as a series I think would be good too....the TV movie they did a few years ago showed promise but they put wayyyyyto much into that. A series would give more time to flesh out the story. Don't really care about a Alice in Wonderland show right now....or ever!!!
Sci-fi channel has not been watchable in years not since NBC purchased it! It is NBC's dumping ground for every movie and half baked TV show from all of their other stations! It all started when they first aired Cape Fear about 5 years ago, I think it was, a movie that they had already aired to death on every single one of their other stations! The next un-welcome guest was the inane ECW. Then all of the badly reinterpreted versions of already failed so called reality shows, which they continue to air and make new ones even though the genre fad is over and beaten to death. Dont get me wrong Sci-Fi Channel used to be my favorite channel it has had some great programming and produced some amazing shows, but none of it had to do with NBC. Battlestar for instance was created before they purchased the station. Now the station seems to crank out one horribly acted directed and cgi animated dog turds a week! I dont know hoe much their shelling out on this crap but im sure the amount put together could make much better programing. Did you see how awfully they reinterpreted Flash Gorden? My GOD! The Phantom wont be awful because people dont know the charecter. It will be because anyone who has ever attemted to make it turns it into crap! Put that together with the NBC controlled Sci-fi channels desire to go well below the bar when it comes to production values and your guaranteed a steaming pile of crap! I predict the new fancily named SY FY channel is heading the way of MTV (we dont give a damn how many times we air the same crap were making alot of money of these morons!). If it sucks theyll air it, and 20 times a day 7 days a week if they have to!
"...one of which is 'The Phantom.'" Three mini-series, not three Phantoms.
Ski, I agree with some but not all of what you said.
I agree that there "original movies" blow like a $10 whore (no offence to $10 whores) the stories are poorly written and the CGI sucks. Most of the actors are washed up nobodies while the rare good casting gets piss poor direction.However some of there original programming is good. I enjoy Ghost Hunters Eureka and Sanctuary. My problem is they never give shows I like a chance. I was hooked on Dresden Files as well as Panekiller Jane but they pulled them too soon while giving the before mentioned Flash Gordon a second chance.
This could be good. The phantom can solve the mystery of why the hell the sci-fi channel are now calling themselves "SyFy."
And the Bily Zane movie was cool. I'll have to watch it again.
As long as they take it serious. NOT like Sci-fi's horrible weekly movies. (though RHI usually does a good job.) I could kind of see this as a new 'Hercules/Xena" type show. But I like the idea of a maxi-series. So the story moves along to a point (without a bunch of "filler" episodes).
The main thing though is the outfit has to be redone. (while I'm kind of tired of the all Black (see x-men) outfits) The Purple tights in the jungle makes no sense.
I like that idea. Though the character has a rich history he proved previously he is not well known enough for box office success. A TV series could, especially on the Sci-Fi, uh SyFy channel. Robert Halmi and RHI have done great fantasy mini-series and would have the skill to make an elaborate look to it. Do a great story with lots of action with a good cast and I will watch.
How is it possible three different production teams say they have dibs on the Phantom? Who holds the TV/movie rights? Is the character in public domain?
Also didn't Sci-Fly already do an adaptation of Farmer's Riverworld?