U.S. Torchwood on FOX?

[Kit]

Scary news from Syfy:

Bad news with some good news: Fox—the TV network that killed Firefly and Dollhouse and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles—is developing a U.S. version of the hit Doctor Who spinoff series Torchwood.

The good news is: Doctor Who revitalizer and Torchwood creator Russell T Davies is writing the script for the pilot. And Capt. Jack Harkness himself—John Barrowman—might star!

How bad can it be?

Here's how The Hollywood Reporter's Live Feed blog reported it:

Unlike U.S. adaptations that have gone awry, Torchwood fans can take comfort that the original producing team is on board. In addition to Davies, exec producers include Davies' producing partner Julie Gardner (former head of drama at BBC Wales for the show's first season) and Jane Tranter (another BBC vet, now exec VP programming and production at BBC Worldwide Prods. in the U.S.).
Also, some of the current cast—most likely John Barrowman, who plays the immortal Capt. Jack Harkness—might star if Fox orders Torchwood to pilot.


The story goes on to say that the U.S. version would be more globally focused, with stories that go beyond the more localized stories of the original, which centered on Cardiff, Wales, and the United Kingdom.

Who's betting Fox soft-pedals Captain Jack's omnisexuality? Or his relationship with Ianto? Or any sex at all?

And this raises the tantalizing question: Since Torchwood exists in Doctor Who's universe, would we eventually see an Americanized Doctor? Traveling in what, a Bell-Telephone-booth-shaped TARDIS?

What do you think of a U.S. Torchwood? On Fox?

[Curufea]

I think the key sentence here is

How bad can it be?

About one in twenty shows "re-imagined" for an American audience do not instantly become parodies.

[The Professor]

Jan 20, 2010 0:10:59 GMT Curufea said:

I think the key sentence here is

How bad can it be?

About one in twenty shows "re-imagined" for an American audience do not instantly become parodies.

How bad?

Captain Jack Harkness, recast with Rob Schnieder.

[JohnK]

Hullo, Curufea,

Jan 20, 2010 0:10:59 GMT Curufea said:

I think the key sentence here is

How bad can it be?

About one in twenty shows "re-imagined" for an American audience do not instantly become parodies.

The problem isn't that it will become a parody. the real problem of doing Torchwood on American tv is a question of whether it will remain faithful to the basic concept, or whether the American tv producers and executives will turn it into something that isn't recognisable to the original.

[The Professor]

I would hope that with RTD and crew on board, it would try and stay as faithful to the original as possible. Alebit broadcasting rules/regs do seem a bit stringier here than in the UK.

I'm wondering what that means for Season 4 in the UK and how an american spinoff would work with it (Different continuity?)

....And will RTD be mining my campaign ideas for plot? j/k

[Curufea]

On Fox? The network that gives as the most distorted right-wing "as close to news as possible without actually being news"?

I'd have more faith if it was on HBO or Showtime.

[Rel Fexive]

If it's a different Torchwood having different adventures but in the same over-setting it doesn't really matter how bad it is. If it's good then that's, well, good. It's if they try and say that 'our' Torchwood 3 doesn't exist and this one does instead that there'll be problems - but that doesn't seem likely. It needs to be it's own thing rather than replacing anything that already exists; it needs to be CSI NY rather than, um.... sorry, don't have any examples of the opposite.

So yeah, literally an American Torchwood would be the best way to do it.

[da professor]

A US branch of an organisation created to serve the British Empire in the 19th century?
Some explanation needed by whoever makes it.

[Curufea]

It's on Fox - the US Torchwood will be constantly at odds with the Evil Empire, all the bad guys will have British accents, all the sex will be heterosexual and between long-term or married couples. All the violence will be more explosive and bloody.

[da professor]

And judging by Fox's track record it will either be poorly done or cancelled mid-season because the execs don't think their audience will understand it.
Not that I'm bitter over how they've treated other works of sci-fi.

[whichdoctor]

*cough*Firefly*cough*

The weird thing about Fox is that their newsroom has a right-wing agenda, but shows like "The Simpsons" still air on the network. It's whatever makes them money. What the heck is RTD thinking, anyways? Doesn't he realize that the gay agenda stuff will never fly on Fox?

[ugavine]

Mar 27, 2010 3:37:51 GMT whichdoctor said:

*cough*Firefly*cough*

The weird thing about Fox is that their newsroom has a right-wing agenda, but shows like "The Simpsons" still air on the network. It's whatever makes them money. What the heck is RTD thinking, anyways? Doesn't he realize that the gay agenda stuff will never fly on Fox?

And there has already surfaced rumours that Fox want Captain Jack to be straight! US Torchwood, fair enough, but include Captain Jack and take-away one of the basics of his character? C'mon!

[whichdoctor]

Check my last post. It looks like Fox folded on the idea.

[Kit]

Apr 22, 2010 13:18:42 GMT whichdoctor said:

Check my last post. It looks like Fox folded on the idea.

Indeed.

According to The Hollywood Reporter's Live Feed blog:

Fox has decided not to pursue a U.S. version of the UK cult hit. The network was developing a stateside version of the "Doctor Who" spinoff, a prospect which divided fans.
"BBC Worldwide Productions and the FOX Broadcasting Company have mutually agreed not to progress together with a 13-episode serialized 'Torchwood' format," said BBC Worldwide in a statement. "We are currently in discussion with several interested networks."