Pern on TV?

[Princess Ivy]

I keep finding vague references to the filming of the Dragonriders of Pern as a television series. From the references that I've found, it seems they will be filming it as a concept, rather than using the actual details of the books. But I can't find more than rumour and whimsey.
Has anyone got any concrete information on this?

 

[dwndrgn]

I haven't heard a thing but I've been working so much lately that I'm pretty much clueless these days. However, you've got me interested and I might have to forego a half hour of sleep now to do some research

 

[dwndrgn]

Well I found a tidbit here that says it was in production:
http://www.trektoday.com/news/310301_01.shtml

But then I found a truely fascinating list of upcoming possibles and ideas listed here:http://www.scifi2k.com/channel_news_home.html but it says (about halfway down the page, easiest is to 'find' Pern to get there, otherwise you'll get lost reading all the fascinating info listed )the series is dead now.

Despite the sad fact that this series seems to be dead, there do seem to be some interesting ones in the works. Don't visit that link unless you've got some time to spare because I almost couldn't tear myself away

 

[Princess Ivy]

that seemed pretty much what I found, much talk of an idea that died, but i've had some more recent info, sugesting its back on? meh, i don't know?

 

[Cheryl]

There's nothing in the works at present. It seems that the news of the series that almost came to pass (they had sets and were about to begin filming) has just slowly been percolating around the net, and as such sometimes people hear of the work on the series well before they hear it was canned, and thus it perpetuates further.

The reason for the demise of the WB production was creative differences beteeen writer Ron Moore and the producers. Apparently they wanted the dialogue re-written to have more of a Buffy or Xena feel to it, which Ron wasn't willing to do, so he quit.

I believe the McCaffrey's have gone back to the hope of having the series developed into movies rather than television, but at present that's wishful thinking as there's no contract with anyone to produce them.

 

[Princess Ivy]

there is so much in the books, that it would hae to be a series of films, like the harry potter series. i'd love to see a miniseries of film length episodes, which could then be developed into an independant tv series which moved away from the series into what happend after threadfall and the continued improvements to pernese society.

 

[Cheryl]

Latest news/rumor:

Apparently Anne herself said at DragonCon that there currently is another potential movie deal in the works, which includes involvement from an un-named Oscar-winning director who has read the books.

I'm not going to hold my breath, but it is promising news!

 

[Princess Ivy]

we can all hope. but htese rumors have been abou for so long. and i must admit, as much as i'd love to see a dragon on screen, i worry that it won't be what i've always envisoned myself.

 

[Esioul]

That's always a problem with books being turned into films...

I haven't read a Pern book for about four years, but I recall they were enjoyable- a film version might be worth seeing.

 

[Rosemary]

we can all hope. but htese rumors have been abou for so long. and i must admit, as much as i'd love to see a dragon on screen, i worry that it won't be what i've always envisoned myself.

That's how I feel about most of the films they make Princess. Although with todays computer imaging technology, I think it might look like the 'real' thing!

 

[Tim Bond]

lot of pern on tv (5)

so much it hurts, burns the eyes (7)

got to throw it out (5)

----------------------

sounds like a cool show -
hope the effects for the dragons are like all vivid

there was a computer animation cartoon with movement quality i liked (something about dragon stones and racing or something) alot better than most of the more 'realistic' ugly dragon movies visualy come up with lately - these are computer generated too - i think dragons can exhibit beauty and smoothness of motion and don't always have to be overly 'bumpy', chunky in step of movement like a brontosaurous, and plain monstrous.

if they make this series they could very well take advantage of the discription and coverwork in the series and redefine the possiblities of a dragon in our media much like the first vampire movie nosferatu got redefined by the later dracula movies.

 

[cyborg_cinema]

...all this talk of "pernos" and "pernography".

 

[Rosemary]

...all this talk of "pernos" and "pernography".

Dragons of PERN,cyborg

 

[Cheryl]

Latest news/rumor:

Apparently Anne herself said at DragonCon that there currently is another potential movie deal in the works, which includes involvement from an un-named Oscar-winning director who has read the books.

I'm not going to hold my breath, but it is promising news!

On a different report from D*Con they said it was an Oscar-winning producer, not director that's interested. Maybe he's both a producer and a director; I have no idea . Just figured I'd report this for accuracy's sake.

 

[Princess Ivy]

its been in the works for so long, don't know if it would happen at this stage, but for laughs, who would you cast?

 

[Mark Robson]

its been in the works for so long, don't know if it would happen at this stage, but for laughs, who would you cast?

Somehow, I think Ian McKellan would make a good Robinton. Don't know how musical he is, but he does the kindly smile well.

 

[Princess Ivy]

much as i don't like her or using big name stars, just because they are big name, Sarah Michelle Geller always reminds me of Lessa

and yes, Sir Ian might be good as robinton, or ben kingsly. imho a much underated star, and he does sing.

 

[SummerStorms]

Any recent news?

 

[Cheryl]

Nothing since DragonCon, last August. Of course if/when negotiations are ongoing, they can't be commented upon. But we've heard numerous times before that there are "interested parties" and "negotiations," but nothing has come close to materializing since the TV show deal fell through just before fliming began.