CBR: Fox Developing "The Spectre" TV Series

[CBR News]

Fox has picked up the rights to DC Comics' The Spectre, with "John Doe" creator Brandon Camp writing a drama about an ex-cop serving in limbo who seeks earthly vengeance of behalf of the dead.


Full article here.

[StoneGold]

Deadman's still in the pipeline, isn't it? Odd, because when you strip away some of the more superheroey elements, which I'd assume they'd do, they don't seem that far off.


That said, the DTV cartoon short for Spectre was f'n amazing. Pattern it off that, and you've got something awesome that could possibly work in the mass media. Although I doubt they'd cast Gary Cole as Corrigan in live action.

[StoneGold]

And then the other obvious question -- do they have the balls to make Spectre literally the Wrath of God? Is it even a good thing if they do? Or go with the original, more generic, and potentially less offensive The Voice being his backer?

[kozmo]

I realize that it's Deadman at the CW, but Supernatural has been pretty blunt in their depiction of an absent God, rebel angels, and the supernatural effects of the fight between heaven and hell. As far as I know, there hasn't been any blowback or protests, and it's one of the CW's top shows.

It is very interesting to have the parent corporation of FOXnews developing this show. It would seem to fit CW more, except that I can see the CW feeling like they already have this show.

[Surtur]

Sounds like it could be interesting. As for having him as the wrath of God, I think a problem that is bigger then the whole controversy that might come with doing that is the power levels. How do you make someone a credible threat to the guy? With his power, he should be able to do nearly anything. So they might scale it back because of that. Or they could just set up some limitations.

It's a strange choice for a show, but a welcome one.

[ironfistrand]

I'm just glad that some one out there is doing something with The Spectre, with the recent 52 titles coming out and no Spectre title, this is a big welcome to one of DC's powerful and supernatural character:biggrin. But one thing that I'm sure that the fox will have to do is probably calm it down with the action, and gore factor and make it like an x-files mystery csi type show. But if the guns were all out for this show then it could really turn out to be something spectacular!!! Just hope they dont mess around with the costume, maybe a few tweakes but the colour scheme should stay!

[thwhtGuardian]

Deadman's still in the pipeline, isn't it? Odd, because when you strip away some of the more superheroey elements, which I'd assume they'd do, they don't seem that far off.


That said, the DTV cartoon short for Spectre was f'n amazing. Pattern it off that, and you've got something awesome that could possibly work in the mass media. Although I doubt they'd cast Gary Cole as Corrigan in live action.

I'm glad you brought up how awesome the DTV short was, ever since I saw that I've wished someone would do a kind of funky, dirty harry style, police procedural show with the Spectre, I would watch the hell out of a show like that.

[Romero]

I doubt the show could get the budget to do a real, existential, God-like Spectre if it wanted to.

That or the Spectre becomes a peripheral being or deus ex machina that helps the human characters solve a crime or crisis at the end.

I remember that fairly dull "Swamp Thing" show they did back in the 90s. The most of the Swamp Thing you would see is Abby or someone talking to him while he hid in foliage out in the swamp, until the very end he would have to come out and stop the bad guy with a punch or something.

[boyhangover]

I'd much rather see a Shadow Pact series with Detective Chimp, Black Alice, Blue Devil, Knight Master and Ragman Enchantress and Night Shade.

Cast Kay Panabaker as Black Alice
Kevin Durand as Blue Devil
Melinda Clarke as Enchantress
Alan Rickman as the voice of Detective Monkey.

[BeastieRunner]

I'm glad you brought up how awesome the DTV short was, ever since I saw that I've wished someone would do a kind of funky, dirty harry style, police procedural show with the Spectre, I would watch the hell out of a show like that.

Me too. And the show BETTER be like that.

[The Joker]

I could see this being successful. I haven't read a ton of the Spectre, but loved the animated short that DC put out awhile back, and am familiar enough to know it's a story of essentially a deceased detective, bonded with the Spectre, and returning to earth to punish criminals and such with ironic deaths. Keep it simple, where each show is fairly independent from the other (akin to Law & Order or CSI), and it may just have a very good chance at being a long running series.

[StoneGold]

Me too. And the show BETTER be like that.

It can't be. For one, they could never pull off the car sequence. And while they could try to do the early 80s style pastiche... I kind of doubt they would.


The other problem being it wouldn't be a 10 minute short.

[Frank]

Deadman's still in the pipeline, isn't it? Odd, because when you strip away some of the more superheroey elements, which I'd assume they'd do, they don't seem that far off.

I wouldn't be surprised if Spectre is greenlight because of Deadman. That's what happens usualy in Hollywood(including tv land). Powers and Alias are also greenlight so we're gonna get a lot of super-hero cop/noir shows in the upcoming years.

It's funny I came up with a revamp a couple of years ago in the DC Universe and the character was a mix of Spectre, Deadman and Phantom Stranger about a guy coming back from the dead and using his newfound powers to fight crime.

[worstblogever]

And then the other obvious question -- do they have the balls to make Spectre literally the Wrath of God? Is it even a good thing if they do? Or go with the original, more generic, and potentially less offensive The Voice being his backer?

I'd have to think they're going to dial back the Spectre's abilities somehow, or give Corrigan some kind of ability to still be in mortal danger. It takes a lot of the suspense out of a show if the protagonist can just wield the power of God's Vengeance to inflict a poetic CGI-induced punishment upon the antagonist to kill them or make them suffer at the end of every episode without facing any real threats themselves.

[Captain Smith]

Could be fun. I wonder if they would have some neat stuff like the mother who burned up her kids being incinerated by the flaming skeletons of such kids - brought back by the Spectre. All, while a judge yells for order and the court and Spec tells CNN he is the Wrath of God.

That would be a fun watch.