View Full Version : Amazing Screw-On Head - SciFi Channel Animation
choisez
06-20-2005, 12:20 AM
From Aint It Cool News: (http://www.aint-it-cool-news.com/display.cgi?id=20509)
Comedy genius Bryan Fuller, who created both “Wonderfalls” and “Dead Like Me,” has been busy writing and producing his latest pilot, SciFi Channel’s animated half-hour “Amazing Screw-On Head,” which Fuller adapted from the comic book character created by Mike Mignola (“Hellboy”). It’s a supernatural Civil War-era comedy about an otherworldly U.S. operative who can screw his head onto a variety of mechanical bodies.
I’ve read the script, and am here to tell you it’s hilarity itself, a cross between “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” and the old “Wild Wild West” TV series.
Now comes word that the ASOH pilot has been completed. Here’s who’s playing what:
* The Amazing Screw-On Head: Paul Giamatti
* ASOH manservant Mr. Groin: Patton Oswalt
* ASOH archnemesis (and former manservant) Emperor Zombie: David Hyde Pierce
* Patience the Vampire: Molly Shannon
* Zombie henchwomen Aggie & Geraldine: Mindy “Frau Farbissina” Sterling
-Eddy
TheCableGuy001
06-20-2005, 12:30 AM
Now, when does it start?
morna
06-20-2005, 01:17 AM
wow that has a kinda serious ring to it... like it might actually happen
KOOL
Xequals10
06-20-2005, 01:54 AM
I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
Gary_B
06-20-2005, 01:59 AM
Oh great, now Emperor Zombie will sound like Niles Crane too. :rolleyes:
THE REAL kirk
06-20-2005, 03:04 AM
Sweet news indeed!
Can't wait.
Poe Ghostal
06-20-2005, 08:53 AM
I like the voice cast, at least.
Frustrating to be in the business and have heard so little about this. Especially since SciFi is supposed to be located somewhere in this building (it's a big building I work in). But last I heard they had just completed the recording of the pilot. Maybe that's what the report is based on, or maybe the recording I heard about was just some pick up lines or overdubbing.
hellboyone
06-20-2005, 09:47 AM
That cast is outstanding. Glad to see Patton Oswalt (one of my favorite comedians and a hardcore comic book nerd) getting in on something that might not suck (he was wasted in Blade 3).
R.
kid cthulhu
06-20-2005, 01:23 PM
Good news!
Glad to see this is actually being developed and not just a bunch of hot air.
Andrew Hein
06-20-2005, 11:04 PM
It's good to hear news about this. I just hope it ends up making it to air.
Brisco
06-20-2005, 11:08 PM
That cast is outstanding. Glad to see Patton Oswalt (one of my favorite comedians and a hardcore comic book nerd) getting in on something that might not suck (he was wasted in Blade 3).
I totally agree about Patton Oswalt! One of the very funniest guys out there. If there is one slightly negative thing to say about Kim Possible (and there's definitely not more than one!) it is that Patton was underused in his voice capacity. Hopefully he'll get more to do here. I'm still a little worried about the character changes (mainly Emperor Zombie being ASH's former valet) and I've never liked Molly Shannon in anything, but I do have faith in Bryan Fuller. So I'm looking forward to this!
Brisco
Petersen
06-27-2005, 08:10 AM
Siting Variety as a source, here is what superherohype.com has to say:
http://www.superherohype.com/news.php?id=3205
hellboyone
06-27-2005, 10:24 AM
So...aintitcool says the pilot is finished and superherohype says the pilot will be finished next year. Who's right?
R.
I'd trust Variety on this one.
hellboyone
06-27-2005, 11:38 AM
I figured that was the way to go.
R.
The voices are done but the pilot will probably not be done until December!
hellboyone
06-27-2005, 12:33 PM
I see....just some bad wording on the aintitcool post. Thanks for the clarity, Christine.
R.
shonokin
06-27-2005, 05:27 PM
Cinescape.com currently has some voice actor news about ASOH as well in their "todays news" ...
http://www.cinescape.com/
"The Sci Fi Channel has signed actor Paul Giamatti to voice the lead charater in a new animated series AMAZING SCREW-ON HEAD, which is based on the comic book by Mike Mignola. Giamatti joins a cast that already includes the voices of David Hyde Pierce, Molly Shannon and Patton Oswalt.
"The story, set in the 1860's, will center on a Civil War-era secret agent (Giamatti) at the service of president Abraham Lincoln and an unsung hero who never made it into the history books. His special power is the ability to screw his head onto a variety of different bodies. Hyde Pierce will play Emperor Zombie, while Shannon will voice Patience the Vampire and Oswalt plays Mr. Groin.
"Jason Netter and WONDERFALLS's Bryan Fuller will executive produce. "
el seth
06-27-2005, 05:33 PM
"Yes, anything, only let us have progress!" ;)
hellboyone
06-30-2005, 08:11 PM
Anyone post this yet?
http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=20509
http://www.aintitcool.com/images/burlycrab2_small.jpg
R.
Petersen
06-30-2005, 10:54 PM
Isn't that Guy's work?
kid cthulhu
06-30-2005, 11:14 PM
Sure looks like it!
hellboyone
06-30-2005, 11:57 PM
The shading looks like Mignola, but I'm not sure.
R.
The shading looks like Mignola, but I'm not sure.
R.
Really? I don't see it.
hellboyone
07-01-2005, 09:26 AM
The hard blacks on the right side and on the bottoms of the arms with the little zig-zags is classic Mignola shading (less so these days, I admit). Not so much the gray marker stuff.
Christine? Can you confirm?
R.
Found this on Comics Continuum:
AMAZING SCREW-ON HEAD UPDATE
Sci Fi Channel has released a logline for the pilot episode of the animated Amazing Screw-On Head, based on Mike Mignola's creation.
Here's how the episode -- due in 2006 -- is described:
"A secret agent working for the U.S. government, Screw-On Head is a robot that screws his head onto a wide variety of bodies, and battles those who threaten our civilization. In the pilot, Screw-On Head faces off against his arch nemesis (and former manservant), Emperor Zombie."
Paul Giamatti provides the voice of Screw-On Head. The cast also includes David Hyde Pierce as Emperor Zombie; Molly Shannon as Screw's love interest, Patience the Vampire; Patton Oswalt as Mr. Groin, Screw's faithful manservant; and Mindy Sterling, who plays the dual roles of zombie henchwoman Aggie and Geraldine.
Produced by Kickstart Productions, the pilot was written by Bryan Fuller. Fuller and Jason Netter serve as executive producers, with Mike Mignola as art director. Chris Prynoski directs.
Maija
07-01-2005, 09:31 AM
Cool, cool drawing! I'd say Guy Davis though too. Mignola's style is much more about angles and geometry. He even draws organic forms like musculature mostly with straight lines. Davis is more curvy and scribbly. He only happened to feather a few shadows like Mignola, but I've never seen Mignola use light grey markers for shading (Davis does).
Mike Mignola as art director????
Unless they're giving him this title because they're basing the comic on his art, this would mean that Mike has a new 8-5 job since art directing on an animated series keeps you pretty busy.
Hmm. I sense a kernel but not the whole truth here.
Maija
07-01-2005, 09:39 AM
Compare and contrast:
http://www.indeestudios.com/hellboyweb/roger_kilt.jpg
...esp. shadows under kilt.
Looks like Davis' hand writing too.
Read about the director (http://www.kachew.com/dir/CP/page.html) of Screw-on Head here.
Don't jump to the conclusion that he'll make ASoH look like his past work. It's the creative sensibility and enthusiasm that's important.
hellboyone
07-01-2005, 09:43 AM
Compare and contrast:
http://www.indeestudios.com/hellboyweb/roger_kilt.jpg
...esp. shadows under kilt.
Looks like Davis' hand writing too.
Okay...I think that says it all. Although you'd think they'd mention Guy in the articles, they being for nerds and all...
Hey Ruta...shouldn't you be practicing your cat burglar skills instead of researching my bullshit? :)
R.
Here's info on one of the producers and the other comic properties that Kickstart Productions (http://www.kickstartent.com/execs.htm) has in the works.
kid cthulhu
07-01-2005, 10:40 AM
I hope Mike isn't art director on this, at least not in the 9 to 5 sense. It's bad enough that HB 2 will take him away from the comic art table soon enough.
Xequals10
07-03-2005, 06:21 PM
I e-mailed Guy to see if he really did the sketch. Here is his response:
"Yes, that's one of my drawings~ I did a handful of designs for the
Screw-On Head pilot and that was an early sketch to one of his bodies
from the the script."
Catlin
07-04-2005, 03:36 PM
Our local newspaper had an article on it this morning, so that made me even more stoked, if its popular enough to even get a blurb in the TV section.
SonicRage
07-16-2005, 02:04 AM
Thought this might be of some interest to you guys:
http://www.comingsoon.net/gallery/Comic_Con_2005/comiccon88.jpg
Xequals10
07-16-2005, 03:02 AM
Try it again. All I see is a red X.
JohnThompson
07-16-2005, 10:01 AM
Yes! I must have a copy of this poster! I love that tagline!
el seth
07-16-2005, 11:38 AM
Try it again. All I see is a red X.
Here ya go:
http://pages.prodigy.net/nlom/_images/comiccon88.jpg
Mike was signing those posters at the con. I met the character designer of Screw On Head at Mike's table. I've never seen Mike enthused about someone aping his style but he was excited about the work. It really was nice. They're trying to duplicate the look of the comic and the designs of some of the new characters and props were fantastic. We wasn't just copying Mike, he gets it. He can create new stuff that feels part of that universe.
Can't wait to see the show.
Xequals10
07-17-2005, 10:45 PM
I WANT one of those posters. Does anyone have an extra?
patrick r
07-18-2005, 12:05 AM
Sweet! Unfortunately, I'll have to wait for a DVD due to lack of cable t.v. Unless of course someone wants to record it for me. I'll trade a pint of blood per episode.
Come on. I know some of you NEED blood.
:evilsmile
Johann
07-18-2005, 01:38 PM
sweet poster, i hope someone was able to snagg a copy.
kid cthulhu
07-18-2005, 02:59 PM
Oh, that is just sweet on many levels!
Petersen
07-19-2005, 08:14 AM
There were hats too, but they had run out :(
And Petersen may be a bonus feature!
He was interviewed by the EPK crew (Electronic Press Kit). I think his quote was something like, "I think Mike Mignola is neat... uh, 'cause he draws neat stuff... neatly. And that's .... neat."
I'm sure he did the board proud.
JohnThompson
07-19-2005, 09:16 AM
There were hats too, but they had run out :(
Did you get a look at one of those? I'm curious to know what they looked like-- If anyone snapped a picture I'd love to see it.
They were khaki ball caps with an embroidered Screw-On Head head on the front. Sorry, no pics.
Petersen
07-19-2005, 09:36 AM
"And I'd like to say that the uh...caps..were um...cool and that...."
The Xenos
07-19-2005, 10:52 PM
Here ya go:
http://pages.prodigy.net/nlom/_images/comiccon88.jpg
*drool* To whoever has one of those, especially signed, I say one thing.
"Marry me."
-Xenos
hellboyone
07-19-2005, 11:20 PM
Caps??? Dag...missed that.
R.
el seth
07-20-2005, 05:27 PM
I'm seeing posters and a hat over on e-bay right now guys. I'd bid on the hat, but I have a freaking huge head and I'm not sure how well "get-screwed" would go over at work. Got a bid on a poster, though.
c'mon, i'm dying to see any pics of what the outcome might look like! anyone? aren't there any leaks or pics for press, yet?
like how mignola, will the characters look like.. how mignola will the atmospheres and backgrounds be? if not mignola, what then...?
I saw designs at the con and they were great. Mike was excited about them. The art direction mandate of the pilot was to put the page on the screen so it's definitely Mike's style.
The designer has a website which shows how talented he is but there's nothing from the show.
ainoko (http://www.ainokostudios.com)
allright, that sounds great! and yes, the designer seems to be talented aswell (just skimmed the site for the moment)! inspired by Mignola it seems...
Neil Hill
10-07-2005, 08:09 AM
You can see from the design sense (and thanks for that site link Tad) that he has a similiar asthetic to Mignola in how he lays out his b/w relationships, panel design, and panel flow.
This show should be interesting. Does anyone know an air date yet or has such a thing even been announced? Thanks! :)
Janshi
10-08-2005, 05:19 PM
The Amazing Screw-on-Head! Secret agent of Abe Lincoln!
I am so sold on that concept alone.
Adrammalech
10-09-2005, 04:21 AM
Very interesting. I've never raed any of the Amazing Screw On Head, but Ive always liked the look of it. I hope I get to see it when it airs. I tend to miss quite alot of things...¬_¬
Otto66
10-09-2005, 10:51 AM
Oh great, now Emperor Zombie will sound like Niles Crane too. :rolleyes:
Or like Abe. Take yer pick. :D
Petersen
10-10-2005, 09:59 AM
I'm anxious to see how the voices mesh with the images. While I really like all of ther performers...I wonder how they fit with the characters.
I wonder if DHP will do the Niles voice that he is so well known for..or if he (or the voice director) will chose to make something new.
oliverojm
04-06-2006, 10:04 PM
any news on this? i heard the pilot wasn't picked up. are they still going to air the first episode tho? when?
oliver
Kelly Tindall
04-07-2006, 10:29 AM
any news on this? i heard the pilot wasn't picked up. are they still going to air the first episode tho? when?
Huh? But what? What now?
This has to be wrong... I really really need this show. There's almost nothing worth watching on anymore!
K.
el seth
04-08-2006, 12:13 AM
Yeah, what the crap. Link? Proof? And so on.
EDIT: Okay, people seem to be debating over at the imdb board:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0468445/board/threads/
Why does everyone take what's on www.imdb.com as the final word? They seem to be wrong with alot of things lately...
CBM
Xequals10
04-08-2006, 12:38 PM
I really hope that Sci-Fi starts running this soon. I REALLY want to see this series make it for at least a season or so. But I wonder why we haven't heard anything new?
Kelly Tindall
04-08-2006, 02:01 PM
The imdb message boards are full of angry 14-year-olds. At least, that's what it seems to me. Once in a while you get somebody who sounds like they know what they're talking about but more often than not it's, 'this movie is anti-american, u r ghay, brangelina roxxors', etc.
However, to answer Xequals' question, it sounds like the show's pilot has just been finished and delivered, so hopefully we'll hear something within the next month or so.
K.
oliverojm
04-09-2006, 11:51 PM
just in my defense, I didn't get that from imdb. a friend told me. granted, he probably saw it there, but i wasn't involved in the imdb.com thing.
i hope they show it soon. i'm really looking forward to it.
blacklist-da
05-02-2006, 07:14 PM
Sci-fi really NEEDS this show, they've been getting more and more disappointing. I hope the rumors that it hasn't picked up Screw-on Head are false.
Xequals10
06-17-2006, 05:12 PM
News update: http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0606/17/index.htm
Maija
06-17-2006, 05:26 PM
In the pilot, Screw-On Head faces off against his arch nemesis (and former manservant), Emperor Zombie,
What?!
Molly Shannon plays Screw's love interest, Patience the Vampire.
What?!
Rounding out the cast are Patton Oswalt as Mr. Groin, Screw's faithful manservant, and Mindy Sterling, who plays the dual roles of zombie henchwoman Aggie and Geraldine.
What?!
Okay, on that last one I can understand that they need to make more characters.
Nonetheless, I'm rather glad I don't get the Sci-Fi channel as I this doesn't sound... right. Sounds like they're trying to make it... make sense.
Blasphemy!!
hellboyone
06-17-2006, 07:59 PM
Nonetheless, I'm rather glad I don't get the Sci-Fi channel as I this doesn't sound... right. Sounds like they're trying to make it...make sense.
Blasphemy!!
I think this was the problem from the moment it was announced...even in the press releases they mentioned all kinds of stuff that reeked of relationships that didn't exist in the comic. However, I'm looking forward to seeing how close they mimic Mike's style in animation.
Elegance Liberty
06-17-2006, 08:00 PM
Eh, lots of things get lost or changed in any adaptation to a television show.
Myron L
06-17-2006, 10:35 PM
Just get this thing out !!!! End of story, dammit!!!!
Gary_B
06-17-2006, 11:07 PM
Okay, on that last one I can understand that they need to make more characters.
Nonetheless, I'm rather glad I don't get the Sci-Fi channel as I this doesn't sound... right. Sounds like they're trying to make it... make sense.
Blasphemy!!
I think this was the problem from the moment it was announced...even in the press releases they mentioned all kinds of stuff that reeked of relationships that didn't exist in the comic. However, I'm looking forward to seeing how close they mimic Mike's style in animation.
You guys did notice that they are basing an entire TV series on one skinny little comic, right?
Maija
06-17-2006, 11:39 PM
You guys did notice that they are basing an entire TV series on one skinny little comic, right?That is precisely the problem.
All that needs to be there is there. In the comic. Anything else is absolutely superfluous. :)
Gary_B
06-18-2006, 08:23 AM
spoilers
"This week on the Amazing Screw on Head - Our hero selects body #13 and, with his side-kicks Mister Groin and Mister Dog, pursues Emperor Zombie to the Aswam Valley to win back the stolen Kalakistan Fragment.
Tune in next week when our hero selects body #13 and, with his side-kicks Mister Groin and Mister Dog, pursues Emperor Zombie to the Aswam Valley to win back the stolen Kalakistan Fragment."
:)
Kelly Tindall
06-18-2006, 09:34 AM
It sounds great, I can't wait for it, give me the show, please sir I want some more, any day now, okey-dokey?
Screw-On Head.
-K.
hellboyone
06-18-2006, 10:38 AM
You guys did notice that they are basing an entire TV series on one skinny little comic, right?
Yes, smarty. :) The setup is all there in the comic. There's a need for other creators for the show to make sense for a mass audience (which the book doesn't, and beautifully so) and they did just that by making all the characters related in one form or another. It's the old Tim Burton's Batman dilemma: "I made you so you made me!" NOOOO!! The Joker didn't have to have anything to do with Batman, and vice-versa, for them to exist in a movie together. Throwing comic book logic out the window throws the fun of this book out the window. Hopefully, they kept the sense of humor and at least some of the absurdity that made the book so goddamn good.
Maija
06-18-2006, 11:46 AM
The magic of the original comic for me is its complete, absolute, out-of-left-field-carried-by-an-African-swallow absurdity. If we had a thread asking people what their favourite Mignola story is, mine would be Amazing Screw-On Head, hands down.
Please refer to my avatar and User Status for just how deadly serious I am about this. :)
<<<
It is a self-contained masterpiece that does not need to be expanded upon. Yes, they need to pad it out and come up with other stories and characters to make a tv series, and that's the problem. I was willing to give them the benefit of the doubt and thought "Well, maybe they can do what Mike Mignola himself has said he cannot do, and write a sequel to ASOH". (I know I damn well couldn't. Most painful writing experience, ever. *shudder*) However, it appears that they're going to try to draw connections between the kooky disparate elements and that just kills the central charm of the book. It's astonishing in its randomness! It has a delightful "WTF?!" at every turn!
I mean, I don't know how the hell you can follow up three horrible old women and a monkey.
I'm especially afraid that they might actually reveal the secret origin of Screw-On Head in the animated series. That would be the nail in its coffin for me. But I'll continue to give them the benefit of the doubt, with trepidation, until I hesitantly watch an episode.
el seth
06-18-2006, 12:33 PM
Here's my deal: as long as they did a panel-for-panel breakdown of the comic, I would be happy. Then they could do whatever they wanted after that.
But really, if they're going to do a show, they are going to have to invent new stuff. I'm ready to go into it with an open mind.
Otto66
06-18-2006, 12:46 PM
It is a self-contained masterpiece that does not need to be expanded upon. Yes, they need to pad it out and come up with other stories and characters to make a tv series, and that's the problem.
Hmmm... wasn't there a fan-fic done...:D
Petersen
06-19-2006, 09:19 AM
Sounds like some over-working was done to the concept....but I'll reserve final judgement until I see it.
In better news, this may mean an animated ASoH action figure (please make it a 12" old style gi joe where the # in the center of his chest sends the head flying!!!!)
Otto: There was...but she didn't truely want to do it...felt like overworking her favorite comic that needed no further tales told....I approached her about doing a 2nd fan-fic, she declined..and truthfuly, I'm glad she did :)
Otto66
06-19-2006, 09:03 PM
Otto: There was...but she didn't truely want to do it...felt like overworking her favorite comic that needed no further tales told....I approached her about doing a 2nd fan-fic, she declined..and truthfuly, I'm glad she did :)
Sucks. Just pulling her chain a bit.:D
"Sides, with yer art and ruta's story, it was damn fine work. Much better
written than that tripe Fitz had to work with.
I'm all for ASoH action figures. Can just imagine the calls to Toys-R-Us.
"Hello. Do you have Mr. Grion in stock?":eek: :D
shonokin
06-20-2006, 09:52 AM
Sucks. Just pulling her chain a bit.:D
"Sides, with yer art and ruta's story, it was damn fine work. Much better
written than that tripe Fitz had to work with.
I'm all for ASoH action figures. Can just imagine the calls to Toys-R-Us.
"Hello. Do you have Mr. Grion in stock?":eek: :D
IF they can just make ASonH out of die-cast metal. Like some of the ol' Micronauts back in the day.
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