New STAR TREK rumoured to be set before 'The Next Generation'

I wrote something about recent rumours that have surfaced about Bryan Fuller's 2017 Star Trek TV series, so have a read over at Medium.com! Click here!

No DOCTOR WHO Series 10 until 2017, and Moffat's successor chosen!

Oh, wow! There's big news for fans of Doctor Who. Good or bad? That's down to personal opinion, but I think we can safely say the lack of new episodes this year is on the downside.

Sky buy exclusive European rights to Showtime programming

Sky yesterday announced a long-term licensing agreement with CBS Corporation to become the exclusive home of Showtime programming in the UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria and Italy. This new deal will affect all new and future TV series produced for Showtime, including their new TV series Billions and next year's highly anticipated revival of Twin Peaks.

Fox officially announce 24: LEGACY

It's 2006, right? No, it's 2016. I've checked my watch. But that hasn't stopped Fox turning back the clock today. They've announced the return of two defunct shows from their recent past, which we've been expecting to hear official confirmation of for many months now...

TALES FROM THE CRYPT returns; are we headed for anthology overload?

The marketplace is about to get very crowded, as U.S TV bosses remember how cool and popular the anthology genre once was... and could be again. I mean, given how many amazing television shows there are right now, jostling for your time, it's true that some very good shows are being forgotten about and cancelled (ahem, Hannibal). It's just impossible to watch everything, no matter how many friends recommend you something with a half-crazed fever in their eyes, even with the aide of modern-day catchup TV, box-sets, and streaming services.

It's official! Peter Jackson is directing an episode of DOCTOR WHO!

It's been nothing but a rumour for awhile now, stemming from the fact Peter Jackson (Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit) is a lifelong Doctor Who fan, but the video above confirms things: the Oscar-winning New Zealand filmmaker is going to be directing an episode! Nothing else is known yet, but it's implied he'll be travelling to Cardiff to film, and production won't be travelling to the Southern Hemisphere to take advantage of those epic Kiwi landscapes. (But I could be wrong! I sure hope I am.) I also presume Jackson will be doing an episode for Series 10 next year, and surely you'd only get a director of his stature for a big, expensive premiere.

All very exciting. There aren't many TV shows that could get a director like Peter Jackson to work for them. He must be waiving his usual fee, right?

Trailer: AMC's PREACHER

AMC have released the official trailer for their 2016 supernatural horror drama PREACHER, based on the cult comics by Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon. As you probably know, I'm a fan of these comics and looking forward to seeing the characters in live-action for the very first time. The footage here is... good. Interesting. There's actually not a great deal that looks familiar from the comics, which suggests the adaptation could be looser than we're expecting. And for non-fans, it's completely unclear that Dominic Cooper's character (preacher Jesse Custer) has the paranormal ability to impose his will on others, or that Joe Gilgun's character (Cassidy) is an Irish vampire. There's no sign of Jesse's girlfriend Tulip, either. (See comments below.) The trailer actually makes it feel like a religious twist on Cinemax's Banshee, with a Walking Dead Southern Gothic vibe. Maybe AMC are just trying to intrigue folk for now, and then seal the deal when the show's supernatural weirdness and graphic content starts to creep into the marketing? Anyway, this was promising. Looking forward to seeing more.

SUPERGIRL flies high in U.S ratings

I reviewed Supergirl in May as part of a summer preview, but just wanted to draw your attention to my archived review today, as the comic-book drama has just premiered on CBS in the U.S (to a whopping 12.9m viewers, making it the most successful new autumn series in the young adult demographic). It did have The Big Bang Theory as a lead-in, of course, which is the No.1 comedy in America, so how episode 2 fares is less certain. But I have a feeling this show's a real winner, and most other critics agree. Supergirl debuts in the UK on Sky1 this Thursday, 29 October @8PM.

NBC's AMAZING STORIES returning with HANNIBAL's Bryan Fuller in charge

Do you remember the anthology drama AMAZING STORIES that ran from 1985-87, executive produced by Steven Spielberg? It was the E.T generation's Twilight Zone, basically. Only 45 episodes were made before NBC cancelled it after two seasons, but during that time it earned 12 Emmy nominations and won 5. Well, it's coming back! And this time with Bryan Fuller (Pushing Daisies, Hannibal) replacing Spielberg as head honcho.

Trailer: Netflix's JESSICA JONES

After a lot of teasers, we finally have the full trailer for Netflix's next big original series: Marvel's Jessica Jones, starring Krysten Ritter (Breaking Bad, Don't Trust the B**** in Apartment 23) as the eponymous superhero-turned-detective. There's a surprising amount of Mike Colter (The Good Wife) as Luke Cage in this footage, too, who'll be getting his own spin-off soon. And it's a relief to know David Tennant will retain his native accent as mind-controlling villain 'The Purple Man'. Considering Netflix's Daredevil became the best small-screen superhero show earlier this year, I have high hopes for their follow-up. How about you?

JESSICA JONES season 1 premieres 20 November on Netflix around the world.

Trailer: BBC1's SHERLOCK - Christmas Special

The BBC have released the full-length trailer for this year's SHERLOCK special at Christmas. In an unusual move, the entire episode will transplant Sherlock (Benedict Cumberbatch) and Watson (Martin Freeman) to 19th-century London, apparently with no rhyme-or-reason. Just go with it, OK? Anyway, this looks fun, but there's no real insight into what the storyline is. The trailer just exists to make people double-take that the 'modern Sherlock update' has undone its own concept, to become just another iteration of a Victorian-era Sherlock Holmes. Does that sound too cynical? I don't mean it to be. It'll be amusing to see Cumberbatch and Freeman in more traditional roles, and the Victoriana will be like a warm blanket on a hopefully chilly Christmas evening. What do YOU think? Excited by this special, or a little nonplussed?

Netflix producing 12 more BLACK MIRROR episodes

Channel 4's BLACK MIRROR is returning next year, but it's now being produced for Netflix. The online streaming giant has bankrolled 12 new episodes from creator Charlie Brooker, but subscribers from the UK and Ireland won't have access. Instead, Channel 4 will likely continue to show the popular anthology series exclusively to its native audience, as they have the "first-look option" to do so.

PENNY DREADFUL adds Dr Jekyll to its gang of Victorian misfits

The currently-filming third season of Showtime and Sky Atlantic's Penny Dreadful will involve another character from Victorian literature: Dr Henry Jekyll, the mad scientist with a split personality called Mr Hyde, created by author Robert Louis Stevenson. Shazad Latif (The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Spooks) will play the iconic role, presenting a change to the character's ethnicity.

David Fincher's UTOPIA remake for HBO dies in pre-production

Fans of Channel 4's quirky and horrifying thriller Utopia were inconsolable last year, when it was announced the show wouldn't be renewed for a third series. While the final episode sort of works as an ending, the story was clearly intended to continue with a new dynamic. The only silver lining was the prospect of a big-budget U.S remake perhaps becoming a bigger commercial success, to potentially continue the basic story beyond where Channel 4's version left off. And while the idea of American remakes of English-language shows generally causes puzzled looks from English-speakers everywhere, the fact this one was being masterminded by David Fincher (Fight Club) and writer Gillian Flynn (Gone Girl), for cable heavyweight HBO, was enough to make me optimistic...

Trailer: FARGO - Season 2

FX have released the official trailer for season 2 of FARGO, which looks fantastic. I was a huge fan of the first season, but have been concerned about the idea of telling a completely different story each season. It's not working out too well for True Detective over on HBO, is it. Mind you, Fargo appears to have a much wiser strategy—because while the story, characters and even the decade's different (this takes us back to 1979), it's still all taking place in snowy Minnesota and works as a prequel for Keith Carradine's cop-turned-restauranteur Lou Solverson.

Trailer: HEROES REBORN

Where do you begin with Heroes? It was undoubtedly a game-changing show for NBC, albeit one heavily influenced by the success ABC was having with Lost—having confidence to utilise a very large ensemble and write interconnected storylines. It also borrowed heavily from comic-book mythology (often stealing ideas from Watchmen wholesale), to produce a first season that became an immediate phenomenon. And then it flushed the goodwill away with one of the worst second season slumps ever; although an industry-wide Writers' Strike and NBC's greediness didn't help (as they had to retain characters intended to die, who'd outstayed their usefulness, and kept being asked to produce more episodes than they had enough story for). Somehow, Heroes struggled on until season 4, before NBC were forced to end its misery.

Trailer: DOCTOR WHO - Series 9

The BBC released the official DOCTOR WHO trailer for Series 9 at San Diego Comic-Con today, but it was also made available online. I've embedded it above. Not bad, eh? At this stage in the show's history, it's harder for me to be blown away -- and this year doesn't have a new Doctor or companion to promote -- but the promo does have a different feel. Darker, a bit edgier. I'm sure there are lots for the eagle-eyed experts to spot, but obviously there's the return of Missy/The Master (Michelle Gomez), the shapeshifting Zygons, the faithful Daleks. And who is Maisie Williams from Game of Thrones playing? Could she be The Doctor's granddaughter? The twelve-part ninth series begins 19 September on BBC1/BBC America, which means it will end mere weeks before the Christmas Special airs.

Trailer: JONATHAN STRANGE & MR NORRELL

The BBC have released the official trailer for their upcoming adaptation of JONATHAN STRANGE & MR NORRELL, based on the 2004 Booker Prize-winning novel by Susanna Clarke. It concerns two Englishmen living during the time of the Napoleonic Wars, who both have magical abilities, but exist in an alternate timeline where their once-commonplace practices have become extinct. It stars Eddie Marsan (The World's End) as Norrell and Bertie Carvell (Babylon) as Strange, and looks superb. A co-production with BBC America, Cuba Pictures, Feel Films, Far Moor, Screen Yorkshire and Space, this miniseries is due to premiere sometime in May. What a treat!

AMC's PREACHER casts its unholy trinity

The cable network's adaptation of PREACHER, the notoriously vulgar and blasphemous 1990s comic-book, has cast its three leads, and they're a very intriguing lineup. Dominic Cooper (Agent Carter) has taken the lead as disaffected preacher Jesse Custer, who has the ability to verbally impose his will on people; Ruth Negga (Agents of SHIELD) will play Jesse's crack-shot girlfriend Tulip O'Hare; and Joseph Gilgun (Misfits) has been cast as alcoholic Irish vampire Cassidy. In addition, Ian Colletti is set to play supporting character Eugene Root, aka 'Arseface' (so-named because an unfortunate firearm accident disfigures him), Elisabeth Perkins (Weeds) has joined the lineup as Vyla Quinncannon (a scheming businesswomen connected to Jesse), and Lucy Griffiths (Robin Hood, True Blood) has been cast as Emily Woodrow (a no-nonsense mother of three who becomes Jesse's advisor).

Trailer: MTV's SCREAM – THE SERIES

MTV have given audiences a first taste of their new SCREAM television series, based on the successful film saga by writer Kevin Williamson and director Wes Craven. This confirms the series will be taking place in a different town, Lakewood, and begins with a cyber-bullying incident that leads to murder and triggers a killing spree. Not too much here that was funny or memorably gruesome, but I liked the self-aware narration about slasher movies not making good TV shows, and a brief glimpse of the new-Ghostface mask was promising. It resembles the iconic one (which they can't use because of a copyright issue), but with a rubbery Michael Myers vibe.