Alphas (Syfy) - News/Discussion/Speculation

[Madwelshboy]

Syfy green-lights Alphas

Syfy has given the green light to the 90-minute action-adventure pilot Alphas, which follows a team of ordinary citizens who possess hyperdeveloped neurological abilities, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The series comes from writers Zak Penn (X-Men: The Last Stand) and Michael Karnow and BermanBraun Television, the trade paper reported:

In its original incarnation as Section 8, the drama was first taken to NBC through BermanBraun's first-look deal there. After the network passed, the project sparked heated bidding among the other broadcast networks in summer 2007, landing at ABC with a six-episode production order for a possible midseason launch behind Lost.

The show was in preproduction, with writing on the first episode under way, when the WGA strike brought work to a halt.

After the strike, ABC's plans for Section 8 had to be altered. And creative differences over the show's sci-fi elements, with which ABC is said to have been uncomfortable, led to the project's departure from the network.

http://scifiwire.com/2009/08/syfy-gr...hts-alphas.php

[Madwelshboy]

'Lost' director for Syfy's 'Alphas'

Lost director and executive producer Jack Bender has signed a deal for Syfy's upcoming Alphas.

Bender, who directed the Lost series finale, will direct and executive produce the show, about a group of people who develop superior mental skills and work together to solve crimes, reports Variety.

The show will also follow the characters' personal lives and relationships.

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/ustv/new...ys-alphas.html

[DigiFluid]

Oh dear. An X-Men knockoff from the writer of the abomination 3rd film and anyone involved in Lost?

Pass.

[mr_kennedy]

'Lost' director for Syfy's 'Alphas'

Lost director and executive producer Jack Bender has signed a deal for Syfy's upcoming Alphas.

Bender, who directed the Lost series finale, will direct and executive produce the show, about a group of people who develop superior mental skills and work together to solve crimes, reports Variety.

The show will also follow the characters' personal lives and relationships.

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/ustv/new...ys-alphas.html

Sounds like Heroes might check it out

[knowles2]

I check it out.

[Wayston]

meh, doesn't sound either interesting nor original to be honest

[mr_kennedy]

When is this going to air?

[the fifth man]

I'll probably at least check this out.

[Madwelshboy]

Alphas - Latest Casting News

David Strathairn is in negotiations for the lead in SyFy’s action-adventure 90-minute pilot Alphas, directed by Jack Bender. Additionally, Ryan Cartwright is set to co-star in the pilot, from BermanBraun and writers Zak Penn and Michael Karnow. Alphas follows a team of ordinary citizens possessing extraordinary and unusual mental skills who take the law into their own hands and uncover what the CIA, FBI and Pentagon have not been able or willing to solve.

ICM-repped Strathairn would play the overseer/team leader/prescribing doctor and all around mother hen to the team: an eccentric, absent-minded professor at times, who is also a cunning and manipulative power-player willing to bend the rules in pursuit of his objectives. Cartwright will play a member of the team who has Asperger’s syndrome, an autism spectrum disorder. His Alpha ability allows him to "read" wireless transmissions passing through the ether - e-mails, cell phone communications, television signals, etc.

http://www.spoilertv.com/2010/06/alp...ting-news.html

[Dr. Harry Sullivan]

Malik Yoba And Laura Mennell Join Alphas cast - see link below -

http://scifiandtvtalk.typepad.com/sc...alphas.html#tp

[Madwelshboy]

Tweet from Ryan Cartwright:

First week shooting 'Alphas' done. Wow, it seems like a HUGE production. Felt like a little kid watching them block off half of Toronto

https://twitter.com/RyanCartwright/status/20588213512

[Madwelshboy]

Battlestar, Ghost Whisperer stars join the cast of Syfy's Alphas

Syfy has announced additional casting for its previously announced pilot Alphas, inking actress Azita Ghanizada to co-star in the wry action-adventure project from writers Zak Penn (X-Men: The Last Stand, The Avengers, The Incredible Hulk) and Michael Karnow, it was announced today by Mark Stern, Executive Vice President of Original Programming, Syfy and Co-Head of Content for Universal Cable Productions, which is the studio for the project. She joins previously announced cast members David Strathairn, Ryan Cartwright, Malik Yoba, Warren Christie and Laura Mennell. Additionally, Callum Keith Rennie has been signed to guest star in the pilot.

Alphas is executive produced by Gail Berman, Lloyd Braun and Gene Stein for BermanBraun Television and will be directed by Jack Bender (director and executive producer of Lost). Production is underway in Toronto.

continues:
http://blastr.com/2010/08/battlestar...a-ghosphas.php

[Madwelshboy]

Syfy orders 11 episodes of superhero action series Alphas

Remember the Syfy pilot we reported on more than a year ago, about ordinary citizens who gain extraordinary abilities? Well, Syfy must have been impressed by what it saw, because Alphas just got the green light for 11 episodes in addition to that 90-minute pilot.

Here's how an earlier Syfy press release described the series:

Alphas follows a team of ordinary citizens whose brain anomalies imbue them with extraordinary mental and physical abilities. Taking the law into their own hands, the unlikely team, led by Dr. Lee Rosen (David Strathairn) investigates cases that suggest other Alpha activity to uncover what the CIA, FBI and Pentagon have not been able or willing to solve. These gifted individuals must balance their quirky personalities and disparate backgrounds with their not always visible powers as they work to solve crimes, stop the ticking time bomb and catch the enemy.

continues:
http://blastr.com/2010/12/syfy-orders-11-episodes-t.php

[Madwelshboy]

Ira Steven Behr To Run SyFy Series 'Alphas'

Star Trek veteran Ira Steven Behr has joined Syfy's newly picked up series Alphas as executive producer/showrunner. Alphas, from BermanBraun, Universal Cable Prods. and writers Zak Penn and Michael Karnow, stars David Strathairn and follows a team of ordinary citizens who possess extraordinary and unusual mental skills. Behr will serve as an executive producer alongside Penn and BermanBraun's Gail Berman, Lloyd Braun and Gene Stein. The series' 90-minute pilot was directed by Lost director-producer Jack Bender.

Behr has an extensive sci-fi background. He worked on Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. On Deep Space Nine, he rose to executive producer/showrunner and wrote a total of 53 episodes, more than any other numbers. Behr also served as executive producer/showrunner on USA's sci-fi drama The 4400 as well as on the Straz's series Crash, based on the Oscar-winning feature.

http://www.deadline.com/2010/12/ira-...series-alphas/

[jelgate]

He if he can do to this show what he did to DS9 I'm optimistic for this show

[Spimman]

So is this a group of regular citizens that use mental powers to solve crimes? I'll give it a shot, but I'm skeptical.

[LtColCarter]

Interesting...at least it will give me something to watch this summer.

[Sp!der]

Nah, sounds to much heroes/4400 style! sorry guys, watched to much of these kind of shows!

[LtColCarter]

Nah, sounds to much heroes/4400 style! sorry guys, watched to much of these kind of shows!

Never could get into Heros...but I loved The 4400!

[Sp!der]

Never could get into Heros...but I loved The 4400!

Yes, The 4400 were great! I loved Joel Gretsch and her partner (forgot her name but she was good!) the first and second were the best, I cannot quite remember the third and fourth season...though..have to watch them again but it was definitley better than Heroes..!!!