Part 5: Greenlit!
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HBO Orders 10 Episodes of THE AUTHORITY - Based on Warren Ellis' and Bryan Hitch's Graphic Novel.
HBO has picked up The Authority for a full season and ordered 9 additional episodes on top of the already shot pilot. Based on Warren Ellis' and Bryan Hitch's graphic novel published by Wildstorm/DC. The Authority will start shooting this April in London at Pinewood Studios with additional filming on location and the season will air in spring. It's co-produced by the UK channel Sky, which also co-produced Game of Thrones. The cast includes Angel Harker, Isabella Garcia, Gavin Detori, Mei Jones, Ross Hunter, Simon Kowalski and Drew Shipley.
Here's how THR describes the series:
> The action-packed tale of a set of superheroes who decide to form a team to handle the world-spanning (alien or homegrown) threats that other superhero teams aren't equipped to deal with.
This is a really interesting one. HBO's previously shown it can handle hard medieval fantasy (Game of Thrones), vampires (True Blood), historical drama (Rome) and cowboys (DeadWood), but superheroes? Honest-to-god superheroes? In recent years, we've had Heroes on NBC and Smallville on CW. Wonder Woman never made it past the pilot stage. Superheroes in full spandex (or armoured rubber body suit) are a serious money maker at the box office, but so far they've shied away from full costume on the small screen. it'll be interesting to see how this goes. Warren Ellis is the writer of the box office hit RED about retired CIA assassins that starred Bruce Willis, Helen Mirren, Karl Urban and John Malkovich.
Bleeding Cool
THE AUTHORITY'S BEEN PICKED UP FOR A FULL SEASON!
You remember how we reported that Warren Ellis and Bryan Hitch's The Authority had been optioned for a pilot by HBO, starring Robin Hood's Angel Harker as Jenny Sparks? It's been picked up for a full ten episodes, so clearly they're doing something right.
First picture below of the interior of the Carrier with The Engineer working away at it, and it is *pretty*. We approve.
blahdiblah writes:
...I've just had a thought. A whole bunch of unsuspecting tv people are going to be exposed to Jenny. Can we pity them now?
Canarystyle writes:
Okay, now I'm seriously nervous. On the one hand: HBO. On the other: tv vs my fave comic series EVER. At what point are we allowed to make sacrifices to the great and mighty Internet Jesus?
HitchFan writes:
Is there any word on what story they're going with? Or whether they're using any storylines from the comic at all?
ONTD
HBO IS ACTUALLY DOING A SERIES ON SUPERHEROES
The Authority got picked up for a full season. Time alone will tell if it's a clusterfuck. Big ship. Powers. World-threats. Gay Superman and Batman. Bitchy sarcastic alcoholic Brits. Advance hints about the pilot say although it's described as 'Farscape meets Torchwood' the gay stuff is more toned down than Torchwood due to the gay World's Finest twosome being more old married couple than a Time Agent who could be done for a sexual harassment suit without even opening his mouth.
First released picture of the interior of the big-ass spaceship they operate from. The character in front of it is The Engineer (Isabella Garcia).
Gweeky
OOOOOO. SHINY.
>Heelboy
Meh. Looks like every console I've ever seen from Star Trek onwards.
NastaMouse
Is there a higher res pic of this? I really want to see what Angie's costume looks like besides the fibreoptic dreads. Glad they went with the metallic look, though.
Ricemonkey
WANNA SEE APOLLO AND MIDNIGHTER
>Fengal
here, let me fix that for you:
WANNA SEE APOLLO AND MIDNIGHTER SHIRTLESS
>>Meekat
I APPROVE OF THIS NOTION
SHIRTLESS APOLLO AND MIDNIGHTER FOR ALL
Skyfall
I still say this is going to be a massive clusterfuck. Superheroes no-one's ever heard of? At least most people had actually heard of Game of Thrones.
>HillenKeene
only the people who'd entered a bookshop. Most of the people I knew who watched GoT had no idea about the ending.
BlueHawaii
Oh christ, if they fail in portraying Jenny properly I am going to be *so* pissed off.
Sparksgal
image: Jenny Sparks looking pissed off. 'I refuse to wear one of those spandex body condoms. i don't have the tits for it.'
>Wingthing
A+++++1 I APPROVE OF THIS POST
>Heelio
DITTO
ONTD_AUTHORITY
This is the ONTD community for all your gossip and news needs for the HBO series based on Warren Ellis and Bryan Hitch's comic.
@AngelHarker
Greenlit! Oh yes. Now excuse me, I have to sit on @ShipDrew before he explodes in fanboy glee.
@AngelHarker
when other people say their other halves are bouncing off the ceiling, they're not dating dancer -martial artist -acrobats. :goes to get net:
@ShipDrew
GREENLIT OMG OMG I'm playing a @WarrenEllis character. :thud:
@RossHunter01
WHAT @ShipDrew SAID. I CAN DIE HAPPY.
@Zoommei
You can all fuck off. I have WINGS.
@Gavster
@Zoommei Are you going to say anything else?
@Zoommei
@Gavster WINGS WINGS WINGS WIIIIIIIINGS.
@StreetcarJr
All the commentary about Apollo I can find seems to be wanting my shirt off. Should I be worried?
@RossHunter01
@StreetcarJr It's all right, I'll protect you from the fangirls.
@StreetcarJr
@RossHunter01 Apollo = Superman. I can protect myself.
@BellaGarcia
@StreetcarJr Speaking as the only person in lycra on set, I propose the Miss Piggy manouevre.
@StreetcarJr
@BellaGarcia Karate chop? Yeah, I'm down with that. :eyes @RossHunter01:
@RossHunter01
:sulks: @StreetcarJr is impugning my manhood.
@WarrenEllis
Yes, The Authority has been greenlit as a series. Watch it, my children. Or Jenny will get you in your sleep.
Screenrant
So, everyone's heard about HBO's new big show, The Authority? Got a bit more information on the characers for all those who haven't read the comic - and some questions we asked the actors at the photocall. Video below the cut.
First up, the character sheet:
Jenny Sparks: the spirit of the 20th Century. Controls electricity. Been fighting for a better world all her life.
Jack Hawksmoor : The God of the Cities. Evolved to live in the cities.
The Engineer, Angela Spica : Scientist who replaced her blood with nine pints of nanobots.
The Doctor : The shaman.
Swift : Shen Li-Min. The Winged Huntress.
Midnighter : Engineered to win every fight before he's fought it.
Apollo : The Sun God
Video:
Interviewer: "So, how would you describe this show?"
Everyone points at Drew and Ross. "Ask the fanboys."
"Really fanboys?" The interviewer asks.
Ross rubs his arm and grins. "Comics, man. they're awesome. I discovered Warren Ellis and never looked back."
"Yeah, same here." Drew says. "I got warped in my teens and I'm not sorry."
Ross scratches his arm again. "The Authority is... well, someone once described it as Farscape meets Torchwood, but that's only because we have a gay couple." he pauses. "And the rampant orgy involving the sex pollen and the possession by a bisexual alien and the long extended periods in Cardiff."
"And Jenny keeps appearing in an RAF greatcoat." Drew adds. "The costumers refuse to explain that one, considering Jenny was only ever in the secret service end of the army..."
"So, how would you describe your characters?" the interviewer asks.
Simon fiddles with an earring. "Well, Apollo and Midnighter were the first gay superhero couple in comics. Got a lot to live up to. Apollo is basically a giant solar battery. Like Superman, only more sun god like."
"Also prettier." Ross grins.
"Ignore him, you'll only encourage him." Simon says, pushing him in the head.
Mei puts her hands together in classic Mr Burns pose and taps her fingers together. "Mwhahaha. Wings. Mwhahahaha."
Gavin puts his hand over his face. "We haven't been able to get anything else out of her since she put the costume on. Did you even look at the script?"
"Wings." Mei says, folding her arms.
"The character?" He asks.
"Wings." She nods firmly.
"Can you tell the nice journalist what the story is?"
"Wings?" She asks.
He gives her a look. "Mei, what's two plus two?"
Mei counts on her fingers, and thinks for a bit, before answering. "Wings."
The interviewer coughs. "well, I think we got her opinion on it pretty firmly. Gavin?"
Gavin grins. "The Doctor is basically the shaman of the world. got plugged into the consciousness of the world by accident and now half the world is inside his head. He can see how you change things, which is magic."
Angel rolls her eyes. "General consensus is that he did way too much pot and went out the other side." She gets elbowed by Drew. "Oi, stop that!"
"I'm allowed as Official Fanboy." Drew replies.
"You are so not getting dinner tonight." angel retorts.
"Sorry, who does the cooking in our house?" Drew asks. "Anyway, your turn to answer."
"Okay, okay, slavedriver." Angel says. "Jenny Sparks was born on the stroke of midnight in 1900 and she can electrocute you from the other side of the country. She's been fighting for a better world against all the weirdness all her life, and now she's running a team to deal with all the really effing massive stuff no-one else can." Angel pokes Drew in the arm. "Okay, you can squee now."
Drew bounces in his seat. The interviewer coughs. "...Did you just bounce?"
He bounces again. "I'm playing a Warren Ellis character and my character's description is 'God of the Cities'. I can talk to and manipulate cities to my will. tell me how that's not awesome. I'm *allowed* to bounce."
"And from the fanboy in the red corner..." Angel says, pointing at Ross.
Ross smirks."Midnighter is Batman if Batman had been given enhancements to become the ultimate fighter and wasn't screwed up by childhood trauma." Pauses. "And had managed to bag this." He says, looping his arm around Simon.
"Lick my ear again, I kill you." Simon says.
"Shy about PDA." Ross sighs. "Isn't he cute."
"I have no problem with PDA, I just have a problem with you licking my ear." Simon replies.
The interviewer coughs again. "Um. Isabella?"
Isabella shrugs. "The Engineer replaced all her blood with liquid machinery. Do you know how many toys she can create just with a thought?" She grins. "Tony Stark, eat your heart out."
ONTD_Authority
Video. Cast video. OMG Cast video.
I just... *flails*. WATCH THIS.
kick_ass
Must... resist... urge... to... ship Ross and Simon.
...Who am I kidding. SHIPPING SO HARD.
>Fengirl
It's not like they're all over each other and handsy or... oh. wait.
Amyboo
:raises hand: I confess I would totally have Mei's reaction if I landed that role. WIIIIINGS.
>Leeloo
Fly, my pretties, fly!
Darkrumba
I have this urge to ship Jenny and Jack after watching Drew and Angel. And yeah, i find it totally cute that he cooks.
>Danman
Pretty sure you can plausibly argue that all of the Authority have shagged at one time or another, aside from Apollo and Midnighter.
>Magrette
Jenny is the queen of drunken shags. there's your excuse.