Torchwood season 4 will on Starz Channel
Yawn. I liked the aliens-of-the-week (sex aliens, fairies, circus people from the dead, etc). I liked its cheesiness and that it didn't take itself seriously. Apparently I was the only one.
'Torchwood' interviews with Starz chief Chris Albrecht, creator Russell T. Davies
Starz president and CEO Chris Albrecht is creating a fanboy's dream of a development slate. In addition to ordering a prequel for "Spartacus," the network is readying a new version of "Camelot" and just picked up the rights to BBC's alien-fighting favorite "Torchwood." Below, Albrecht talks about how "Torchwood" will evolve for U.S. audiences and more. Below that, "Torchwood" creator Russell T. Davies weighs in.
THR: What attracted you to "Torchwood"?
Albrecht: It was too good an opportunity to pass up. Each season of the show, the show has evolved and "The Children of Earth" was terrific as evident in it was just named a Television Critics Press Awards nominee. I'm interested in doing sci-fi and what I like a lot about "Torchwood" is it's a very classic sci-fi entry. It's all about the story, it's not about big effects. I thought "Children of Earth" evolved the franchise to a place where it could continue to evolve on pay TV with an American partner that could bring more production resources.
THR: And by that you mean "Torchwood" will have a larger budget?
Albrecht: Yes, it certainly will.
THR: What changes are in store for fans?
Albrecht: Well at the end of "Children of Earth," Torchwood was destroyed, so when we pick up in our world the need for Torchwood arises again. A lot of this story takes place in the U.S. as well with several characters that are in the U.S. intelligence forces and end up teaming up with Gwen and Captain Jack to deal with the situation at hand.
THR: So it will take place in the UK and the US?
Albrecht: As well as other locations.
THR: With "Camelot" and "Spartacus" and now "Torchwood," Starz is carving out a niche as a genre-friendly network.
Albrecht: It's on purpose. I actually think it's a good opportunity for pay TV. It puts us as an entry in the pay category that makes us different and it's something that will continue.
THR: Can you talk about "Camelot"? How will this version feel different?
Albrecht: I don't believe we've ever seen a King Arthur story that takes it from virtually the very beginning of the story and tells it as a series. Arthur is 19 at the beginning. It's a fresh look at often thought of as history but is certainly mythology and a classic archetypal story and its very much about adventure and romance. And it's very much about the coming of age of young man who brings ideals to a position of king which had been handled differently before. That notion of leaders bringing a new vision has been visited frequently throughout history, including very recently in the U.S., and our story will emblematic of those stories.
THR: What's the latest on "Spartacus" star Andy Whitfield's treatment and the prequel?
Albrecht: We're very pleased at the news that's coming from Andy and his representatives and we are very optimistic about future of "Spartacus." The prequel is a great statement about our commitment to this show and the audience. People are going to be very pleased with the story that will evolve in the prequel and it will probably provide more enjoyment for when Andy returns.
THR: Will "Party Down" see a third season?
Albrecht: We're not ready to make a decision. We're finishing up the last episodes of "Party Down" and "Gravity." We're going to sit down and look at our schedule. Certainly the critical response to the show has been terrific and we're proud to have it on.
And here's Davies:
THR: What's the new "Torchwood" like?
Davies: It's very much the next step. It's not a new version, it's not a reboot. We're simply moving countries. The show was previously a format show -- monster of the week. The breakthrough was "Children of Earth" and that it became one long story. It's not going to be 'Lost' and take 20 years to find out what's going on. It's going to have a most remarkable conclusion after 10 episodes.
THR: This was set up at Fox, what happened there?
Davies: We had a brilliant relationship with them. Thanks to them we were allowed to develop it and take it to Starz -- some networks don't allow you to do that, you know. They were very gracious. They have their new Steven Spielberg series ("Terra Nova"). Starz was waiting for us with open arms.
THR: Being on Starz would also allow you to have more grown-up content.
Davies: We're simply going to tell a good story. I wrote the pilot 7 months ago irregardless of network. BBC1 is a prime-time channel, but a brave channel. I don't worry about content.
THR: In "Torchwood" people know aliens exist. I take it that will be true in the United States as well?
Davies: Yes, in the "Torchwood" universe, you're in a place where aliens long ago went public. It's like with terrorists. We all know terrorists exist, but if you found yourself in a room with one, you'd be in for a profound shock. You're never in a position where you take it for granted. I absolutely guarantee that you can leap in as a new viewer and be able to find everything.
Sources: ONTD Post | Interview with the Head of Starz and RTD
'Torchwood' interviews with Starz chief Chris Albrecht, creator Russell T. Davies
Starz president and CEO Chris Albrecht is creating a fanboy's dream of a development slate. In addition to ordering a prequel for "Spartacus," the network is readying a new version of "Camelot" and just picked up the rights to BBC's alien-fighting favorite "Torchwood." Below, Albrecht talks about how "Torchwood" will evolve for U.S. audiences and more. Below that, "Torchwood" creator Russell T. Davies weighs in.
THR: What attracted you to "Torchwood"?
Albrecht: It was too good an opportunity to pass up. Each season of the show, the show has evolved and "The Children of Earth" was terrific as evident in it was just named a Television Critics Press Awards nominee. I'm interested in doing sci-fi and what I like a lot about "Torchwood" is it's a very classic sci-fi entry. It's all about the story, it's not about big effects. I thought "Children of Earth" evolved the franchise to a place where it could continue to evolve on pay TV with an American partner that could bring more production resources.
THR: And by that you mean "Torchwood" will have a larger budget?
Albrecht: Yes, it certainly will.
THR: What changes are in store for fans?
Albrecht: Well at the end of "Children of Earth," Torchwood was destroyed, so when we pick up in our world the need for Torchwood arises again. A lot of this story takes place in the U.S. as well with several characters that are in the U.S. intelligence forces and end up teaming up with Gwen and Captain Jack to deal with the situation at hand.
THR: So it will take place in the UK and the US?
Albrecht: As well as other locations.
THR: With "Camelot" and "Spartacus" and now "Torchwood," Starz is carving out a niche as a genre-friendly network.
Albrecht: It's on purpose. I actually think it's a good opportunity for pay TV. It puts us as an entry in the pay category that makes us different and it's something that will continue.
THR: Can you talk about "Camelot"? How will this version feel different?
Albrecht: I don't believe we've ever seen a King Arthur story that takes it from virtually the very beginning of the story and tells it as a series. Arthur is 19 at the beginning. It's a fresh look at often thought of as history but is certainly mythology and a classic archetypal story and its very much about adventure and romance. And it's very much about the coming of age of young man who brings ideals to a position of king which had been handled differently before. That notion of leaders bringing a new vision has been visited frequently throughout history, including very recently in the U.S., and our story will emblematic of those stories.
THR: What's the latest on "Spartacus" star Andy Whitfield's treatment and the prequel?
Albrecht: We're very pleased at the news that's coming from Andy and his representatives and we are very optimistic about future of "Spartacus." The prequel is a great statement about our commitment to this show and the audience. People are going to be very pleased with the story that will evolve in the prequel and it will probably provide more enjoyment for when Andy returns.
THR: Will "Party Down" see a third season?
Albrecht: We're not ready to make a decision. We're finishing up the last episodes of "Party Down" and "Gravity." We're going to sit down and look at our schedule. Certainly the critical response to the show has been terrific and we're proud to have it on.
And here's Davies:
THR: What's the new "Torchwood" like?
Davies: It's very much the next step. It's not a new version, it's not a reboot. We're simply moving countries. The show was previously a format show -- monster of the week. The breakthrough was "Children of Earth" and that it became one long story. It's not going to be 'Lost' and take 20 years to find out what's going on. It's going to have a most remarkable conclusion after 10 episodes.
THR: This was set up at Fox, what happened there?
Davies: We had a brilliant relationship with them. Thanks to them we were allowed to develop it and take it to Starz -- some networks don't allow you to do that, you know. They were very gracious. They have their new Steven Spielberg series ("Terra Nova"). Starz was waiting for us with open arms.
THR: Being on Starz would also allow you to have more grown-up content.
Davies: We're simply going to tell a good story. I wrote the pilot 7 months ago irregardless of network. BBC1 is a prime-time channel, but a brave channel. I don't worry about content.
THR: In "Torchwood" people know aliens exist. I take it that will be true in the United States as well?
Davies: Yes, in the "Torchwood" universe, you're in a place where aliens long ago went public. It's like with terrorists. We all know terrorists exist, but if you found yourself in a room with one, you'd be in for a profound shock. You're never in a position where you take it for granted. I absolutely guarantee that you can leap in as a new viewer and be able to find everything.
Sources: ONTD Post | Interview with the Head of Starz and RTD