JJ Abrams to Produce Spec Script

The Star Trek sequel may be in post-production but that isn't stopping JJ Abrams from signing on to produce another movie. According to Variety the untitled project "described as a contained thriller with sci-fi elements, though story details remain under wraps." The script is from Josh Campbell (remake of The Killer) and Matt Stuecken (associate producer on GI Joe Retaliation). The movie will be made through Abram's Bad Robot production company for Paramount. Abrams will likely just have executive producer credit but if the itch strikes he could direct it as likely will wrap up most of his post-production work on Star Trek 12 by the end of the summer or early Fall. (via TrekMovie)

Abrams' Revolution Trailer

Sunday NBC announced its planned schedule for the 2012-2013 season when it starts next Fall. While it will likely be adjusted over the summer, right now JJ Abrams' Revolution is set for Monday at 10pm EST. The series is a post-apocalyptic story set 15 years after some mysterious electromagnetic pulse eliminates all electricity on the planet, essentially forcing modern humanity to live as if still the 19th century. Below is the official trailer for the film and NBC's description of the series. If the series can live up to the promise of the trailer, it could be the hit of the season. As long as they don't get stuck on humanity and individual character angst that tends towards the annoying rather than interesting. NBC's full schedule is here, trailers for the new shows here.

Nimoy Explains Fringe Return

Even though Leonard Nimoy has technically retired from acting, it doesn't mean he still doesn't get the itch. Nice thing about retiring is get to do what you want, when you want. Nimoy returned to reprise the role of William Bell that he has been playing off and on over the course of Fringe but never with as much screen time as he as been getting over the last three episodes. Before it was a brief scene or a line here and there. As season four draws to a close with the finale tomorrow, he has more to say about the role and why he returned as io9 reports. Even better, he is willing to return for the final season.

He was excited to play a villain
Originally, said Nimoy, "the character of William Bell was supposed to be ambivalent," with a lot of mystery about whether he was a good guy or a bad guy. "We couldn't quite figure out what his motivation was." But after it was settled that Bell was basically a nice person, "the mystery of William Bell was explained," and it seemed like there was noplace to go with the character. But when he heard they were going to turn Bell into a baddie, it sounds like his excitement returned, because "I could play aspects of a character that I haven't played in a long time."

Fox Cancels Alcatraz

Yesterday, Fox announced that JJ Abrams' Alcatraz has been cancelled. The writing was on the wall for a while now as the show continued to decline in ratings and Fox went ahead and allowed its season finale to air back in March. Usually when that happens the show is toast even if the network is not willing to make it official yet. There are exceptions but it is pretty rare. Oddly, the show that replaced it "Touch" has been renewed even though its ratings are not much better. Likely Alcatraz was done in by so-so cast and the bad guy of the week formula that wasn't terribly interesting. On the bright side, Abrams' Revolution was ordered by NBC for next year.

Nimoy and Noble Promote Fringe Season Finale

This Friday brings the season finale of Fringe and they are going out with style as Leonard Nimoy returns as William Bell. He made the surprise reprisal of the character last week as the apparent big bad of the season. His goals remain unknown however. The character had died in the previous season but considering Season 4 brought about the creation of a new universe with a new history it does stand to reason his character may not have died in the reboot. Below is a video of Nimoy and John Noble talking about working together on Fringe and after that is the "movie trailer" for the finale. Fringe will return for its final 13 episode season in the Fall. (via TV Line)

NBC Orders Revolution for Fall Schedule

EW is reporting that NBC has ordered JJ Abrams' executive produced series Revolution for the Fall TV schedule. Where on the schedule has not yet been the determined. Revolution is a high concept idea that answers the studio's executive demand of "We need something like The Walking Dead!". In this case instead of living in a world of zombies, it is a world without electricity as a group attempts to survive after society suddenly being plunged into the 1900s once again. The cast includes Giancarlo Esposito (Once Upon a Time), Andrea Roth (Rescue Me), and Billy Burkes (Rizzoli & Isles).

I want to be enthusiastic but between Terra Nova, Falling Skies and The Walking Dead I have grown a bit tired of stories that essentially focus on how humans tend to kill humans as a means to survive but hey there is hope because our cast will demonstrate the best of humanity as they...yada yada yada. It has been done to death already in the last year alone. Even children know that people will do horrible things to survive and others will not. It doesn't have to be the thrust of every single story in one of these TV series. Hopefully Abrams will surprise me and add a new dramatic angle on surviving a post-apocalyptic landscape.