Sunday, September 23, 2007

Heroes: Origins - Big Screen Directors on the Small Screen

Yesterday my wife, a friend, and I had a Heroes-a-thon beginning in the late afternoon and extended into the evening as we watched episodes 3-10 of the first season of the popular show. Of course, we're very into it and have ten bazillion questions...so don't spoil anything in the comments.

Obviously impressed with show created by Tim Kring (pcitured right), my eyes were drawn to the story I was reading today about how NBC is bulking up season 2 of Heroes with a 6 week late spring segament called "Heroes: Origins." Origins will be a six stand alone episodes of the popular show where new characters will be introducted, as viewers see there super-powers and how the new character discovered their powers.

NBC chief Kevin Reilly says the Origins episodes will feel similar to the way the story and character of the waitress Charlie (Jayma Maye) was shown and developed. (Maye is pictured above).

There also has been talk that NBC will create an interactive element, allowing viewers to vote on which character will become a part of the regular story line.

What is making the Origins series less gimmicky sounding, is the fact that big screen directors are signing on to write and direct these episodes.

In July, Kevin Smith (Clerks, Chasing Amy, Mall Rats, Dogma) announced at Comic-con he's be writting and directing one of the episodes.

And now two other writer/directors have entered the Heroes: Origin line up...

Michael Dougherty
(X2 writer, with upcoming credits including writer/director of Trick r'Treat and writer of I, Lucifer).

The other big name...Hostel writer/directer Eli Roth (pictured right, who I wrote about earlier this year when Hostel II was released)

It's made me curious to wonder who else we write and direct these episodes? I would love to super-hero-loving author Michael Chabon write an episode! or how about Christopher Nolan? or Paul Greengrass? How about David Fincher?

10 comments:

Grete said...

Um, so I was reading your post about the character, Charlie, on Heroes... And even though I've only seen two episodes of Heroes, I totally knew that girl was Charlie. However, it's not because I recognized her from that show - it's because she plays a character named Charlie on Ugly Betty! (I watched the first season periodically online.) I guess she should've been named "Charlie" instead of "Jayma." :)

Glenn Dunks said...

Ooh, I love Heroes!

The thought of Eli Roth writing/directing an episode doesn't fill me with joy though. He would've had a field day with the Sylar storyline.

Anonymous said...

I Love Love Love Heroes...it's the best thing on TV!

kat said...

One of these days I need to sit down and watch Heroes in its entirety. I started last season and watched the first 2-3 but got tied up and missed the plot and then never jumped back in again.

It would be cool if Bryan Singer jumped in to direct. He's not averse to doing television, having directed the pilot of "House" and still being an exec. producer, in title at least.

It would also be a trip if David Lynch tried an episode. Obviously with "Twin Peaks", et al, he's okay with television too.

Westcoast Walker said...

I say bring on Josh Whedon for one of the guest episodes!

Westcoast Walker said...

Heroes is one of the best shows in a long time. For anyone who ever loved comic books at any point in their life it is ideal. My wife and I are drooling in anticipation of tonight's season 2 premier. I haven't been this excited about a network show in a while, and I am totally geeking out.

Thanks for the info about the guest directors, I didn't know about this.

Michael Parsons said...

I almost finished reading "I, Lucifer", but I put it down for too long and it got whisked away to good will.
Good book, interesting premise. Do not know how they can make a movie out of it. The devil comes to earth and inhabits the body of a man and becomes a screen writer.

Nice attack on Hollywood.

As for Hero's I wasn't a big fan....but since Veronica Mars is in it I may give it a chance.

Anonymous said...

I so enjoyed our weekend Hero's-a-thon. It was quite tempting to jump in to Season 2 tonight, but after getting to watch Season 1 on DVD, I just don't think I would have the patience to wait days and weeks in between episoides

RC said...

@grete...that's funny. jayma is a funny name.

@ kamikaze, i had a feeling you you would not be excited about Eli coming to the plate.

@kat, bryan singer or lynch are great choices!

maryt/theteach said...

RC, my husband and myself are participating in a "Heroes" marathon ourselves. We've watched Season One Discs 1-4 so far and are absolutely hooked.

We did the same with "24" and we're waiting patiently for this last season's discs to come out.

When we watch a program in this manner we stick to the DVDs and don't watch the program on TV when it's in season (i.e. we're not watching "Heroes" this season)

So thanks for the post.