Back in 2007, per io9, the Syfy Channel (When it was running under another name before they procured Michael’s website name) picked up a 90-minute pilot titled Alphas.
Alphas is penned by Zak Penn (X-Men: The Last Stand, Elektra, The Incredible Hulk) & Michael Karnow. It’s about ordinary citizens with extraordinary mental skills who take on cases that the CIA, FBI and Pentagon have been unable to solve. (And yes, that was a pun back there.)
OMG reports that Syfy has nabbed itself a director for the pilot in the form of Jack Bender. Bender was the primary director for Lost.
Initial reviews of the script were flat at best and folks were hoping that since it’s been sitting around since ’07, that someone has come along and tinkered with it. Maybe Bender can do that.
Syfy Press Release:
SYFY PILOT ALPHAS TO BE DIRECTED BY LOST DIRECTOR/EXECUTIVE PRODUCER JACK BENDER
First Project For Acclaimed Director After Wrapping LOST Series Finale
New York, New York – May 24, 2010 – Syfy has inked award winning director/executive producer Jack Bender as director/executive producer for the action-adventure 90-minute pilot, Alphas (working title) from writers Zak Penn (X-Men: The Last Stand, Fantastic Four, The Incredible Hulk) and Michael Karnow, it was announced today by Mark Stern, Executive Vice President of Original Programming, Syfy and Co-Head of Content for Universal Cable Productions, which is the studio for the project. Bender just wrapped six seasons as an executive producer and director on the critically acclaimed series LOST, and directed Sunday’s much anticipated series finale. Alphas is executive produced by Gail Berman and Lloyd Braun for BermanBraun Television and is slated to commence production in Toronto this summer.
Alphas follows a team of ordinary citizens who possess extraordinary and unusual mental skills. Using physical feats and uniquely advanced mental abilities, this unlikely team takes the law into their own hands and uncovers what the CIA, FBI and Pentagon have not been able or willing to solve. These gifted individuals must balance their quirky personalities and disparate backgrounds with their not always visible powers as they work to solve crimes, stop the ticking time bomb and catch the enemy.
“We are very excited that Jack has chosen to be part of ‘Alphas,’” said Stern. “His vision and expertise are perfectly suited to this project, and will truly elevate it.”
Bender is a film director, actor, television producer and screenwriter who was most recently a producer and lead director on the hit Emmy Award-winning series LOST. He has also directed popular shows such as The Sopranos, Carnivale, Alias and Boston Public. He is also an accomplished painter, sculptor and mixed media artist. Bender is represented by the United Talent Agency and Bob Myman at Myman, Abell, Fineman, Greenspan and Light.
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About Bruce Simmons
I've been writing newsletters since 1999. Of late, I've been focusing on the entertainment consumer angle on mostly the sci-fi, fantasy and action genres of TV, movies and books.
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