I am – Hercules!!
I confess a lot of the enthusiasm for SciFi’s new “Flash Gordon” series kind of drained out of me when I learned writer-producer Pete Hume – whose credits include “Charmed,” “Relic Hunter” and “South Beach” – had been hired to run it. Other writers on the show include James Thorpe (“Beastmaster,” “Relic Hunter”) and Steve and Derick Martini (“South Beach”).
This report comes from someone actually employed by the production; see if his take enhances anticipation for the project:
Hi,
I'm busily working on the new Sci-Fi series "Flash
Gordon" up here in Vancouver. Happy to give you some
info though I'd prefer to remain anon.
The show has just completed shooting of episode 4. The
two hour pilot was directed by Rick Rosenthal
(Smallville), the second two episodes were helmed by
Paul Shapiro (Heroes). A rough cut of the pilot was
just sent to the network and the producers are
awaiting their reaction. Post is ongoing. What I can
tell you is that Eric Johnson (Flash) and the
producers are making an appearance at Comicon in
August. They will do a panel on the Sunday where they
are likely to show at least a 15 minute teaser of the
series.
I know there's been some debate regarding the tone of
the show. What I can tell you is that the series is
neither as far one way as "Charmed" or as far the
other as "Battlestar Galactica". The show has definite
light comedy moments (particularly romantic comedy
between Flash, Dale and the other women they
encounter) but it also has a fair bit of dark,
brooding drama. Ming is not the arch, Asian looking
incarnation that Max Von Sidow played in the 1980
movie. He's actually played by blonde haired Canadian
actor John Ralston as a sort of benevolent (in his
mind anyway) dictator. He's a Vladimir Lenin...very
much in control, motivated by his own personal agenda
and ideology...but capable of viciousness towards
those that cross him. Mongo is a fascinating and
terrifying place with a lot of intrigue between the
various factions (Cantons), Ming and their dependence
upon him for the scarce resource of water (which he
controls absolutely). Although the show is being done
on a tight budget the sets, wardrobe, props are all
amazing looking. The art direction for Mongo is
somewhere between the Imperial look of "Star Wars" and
the more post modern/medieval look of Carl's dream
world in "The Cell". A lot will hinge on the visFX
which I have yet to see.
All in all the show is quite promising...kind of a
"Young Indiana Jones Chronicles" meets "Dune" if you
can imagine that!
More later...
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