Sci-Fi Bulletin: Exploring the Universes of SF, Fantasy, Horror and Spy-fi!

Syfy are once again turning to graphic novels and fantasy literature for three new series and two miniseries which they are currently developing.

Clone will be based on the graphic novel by The Walking Dead’s Robert Kirkman and David Alpert, in which soldier Luke Taylor investigates a break-in at his house, and discovers the burglar is a clone of himself. Drawn into a vast government conspiracy when his wife is kidnapped, he must use all his combat skills and network of military contacts to get to the bottom of the secret biotech program that is responsible and the hidden agenda that goes all the way to the top levels of power. Dracula’s David Schulner is writing and executive producing the project alongside Kirkman and Alpert.

Star Trek and Terra Nova Rene Echevarria is executive producing The Letter alongside writer Jonathan Mostow, based on the Oni series written by Charles Soule which only premiered last October. According to Syfy, “It is tradition for the preceding President to leave a letter for the newly elected President on the desk of the Oval Office. In this letter, new President Stephen Blades learns this stunning secret: seven years earlier, NASA discovered an alien construction project in the asteroid belt. A crew of heroic astronauts was sent to investigate and they’re nearing the conclusion of their epic journey.”

Supernatural’s Sera Gamble is writing and executive producing The Magicians with John McNamara, based on Lev Grossman’s book series about a group of 20-somethings in New York who study magic and discover that the magical fantasy world they read about as children is real and poses a grave danger to Earth. Author Grossman tweeted that he would have “preferred that news to stay under wraps until Syfy decides if it’s actually going to make the show. But it’s still v cool.”

Frank Miller’s Ronin is the first of the potential miniseries, with Warner Horizon working on the story about a Japanese Ronin samurai who failed to protect his master from a demon, and awakens 800 years later in a futuristic, nihilistic New York in the body of Billy, a medical experiment. Now Billy/Ronin is chasing the demon, which has reawakened. Both parties want control of a sword with magical properties and will stop at nothing to get it back.

Matthew Federman & Stephen Scaia are writing and executive producing Pax Romana, based on Jonathan Hickman’s graphic novel about a Special Forces team that travels back in time on the eve of World War III to “fix” the future by altering the past. Their destination: Ancient Rome. Roman legions battle modern day attack helicopters, tanks and soldiers, “while thought-provoking themes are explored as the leaders of the expedition fight over their vision for civilization”.