Well, the moratorium on information is over now that MGM has announce the info
at San Diego Comic Con (which, sadly, I can't attend due to the press of work).

It was previously announced that I was writing the pilot 2-hour opener for a
series entitled JEREMIAH. What was not known, though speculated about, was the
show going to series. We got the go ahead right around the end of the year,
though I've had to be kinda quiet about it until now.

In brief: it's an order for 20 hours (the opening 2 hour movie and 18 hours to
follow) for the Showtime Network. We start formal prep next Wednesday, and
start shooting September 4th; after finishing the movie we then go right into
shooting the series. We've hired all our crew, we're in the very last stages
of casting (with several name actors up for various roles), and we're just
about ready to rock.

This is going to be a heavily dramatic series, character-oriented, with a
measure of action and humor as well. Because this is pay cable, they've taken
off the usual broadcast TV handcuffs and told me to take it to the wall
creatively, no restrictions, so I plan to do just that.

The series will debut on Showtime in January with a huge PR campaign. I still
kinda have to wait for Showtime before I can talk specifics about others
involved (writers, directors, cast, and so on). But in my view it's a terrific
team, and it's going to be a fun show.


jms

(jmsatb5@aol.com)
(all message content (c) 2001 by synthetic worlds, ltd.,
permission to reprint specifically denied to SFX Magazine
and don't send me story ideas)

Well, the moratorium on information is over now that MGM has announce the info
at San Diego Comic Con (which, sadly, I can't attend due to the press of work).

It was previously announced that I was writing the pilot 2-hour opener for a
series entitled JEREMIAH. What was not known, though speculated about, was the
show going to series. We got the go ahead right around the end of the year,
though I've had to be kinda quiet about it until now.

In brief: it's an order for 20 hours (the opening 2 hour movie and 18 hours to
follow) for the Showtime Network. We start formal prep next Wednesday, and
start shooting September 4th; after finishing the movie we then go right into
shooting the series. We've hired all our crew, we're in the very last stages
of casting (with several name actors up for various roles), and we're just
about ready to rock.

This is going to be a heavily dramatic series, character-oriented, with a
measure of action and humor as well. Because this is pay cable, they've taken
off the usual broadcast TV handcuffs and told me to take it to the wall
creatively, no restrictions, so I plan to do just that.

The series will debut on Showtime in January with a huge PR campaign. I still
kinda have to wait for Showtime before I can talk specifics about others
involved (writers, directors, cast, and so on). But in my view it's a terrific
team, and it's going to be a fun show.


jms

(jmsatb5@aol.com)
(all message content (c) 2001 by synthetic worlds, ltd.,
permission to reprint specifically denied to SFX Magazine
and don't send me story ideas)

To the various inquiries....

Yes, it will eventually be syndicated, but not for about 2 years.

Joe Dante is not involved due to other commitments, but another well known
feature film director is now attached to direct the pilot movie. (Again, I
can't give specifics on crew or cast until Showtime comes out with that
first...but I can say that there is a rather impressive pedigree of people both
in front of and behind the camera).

It will air in prime-time, on the Showtime network, and we have a heck of a lot
more money to play with than on B5...it's going to be a huge show.


jms

(jmsatb5@aol.com)
(all message content (c) 2001 by synthetic worlds, ltd.,
permission to reprint specifically denied to SFX Magazine
and don't send me story ideas)

To the various inquiries....

Yes, it will eventually be syndicated, but not for about 2 years.

Joe Dante is not involved due to other commitments, but another well known
feature film director is now attached to direct the pilot movie. (Again, I
can't give specifics on crew or cast until Showtime comes out with that
first...but I can say that there is a rather impressive pedigree of people both
in front of and behind the camera).

It will air in prime-time, on the Showtime network, and we have a heck of a lot
more money to play with than on B5...it's going to be a huge show.


jms

(jmsatb5@aol.com)
(all message content (c) 2001 by synthetic worlds, ltd.,
permission to reprint specifically denied to SFX Magazine
and don't send me story ideas)

>Yes, what is it about? Science Fiction? Fantasy? Western? Who or
>what is this Jeremiah?
>

Right around now in our timeline, a virus wipes out everyone on the planet over
the age of puberty (figure around 12-13).

It is now about 15 years later. Those who were once children have now grown up
and are in their late 20s on down. For 15 years, they have been living on the
scraps of the old world; now they must either continue the downward slide, or
begin to rebuild the world, taking responsibility for themselves and the world
and each other.

It is, oddly enough, a post-apocalyptic series about *beginnings* rather than
endings, about hope rather then despair. It is about the new world rising out
of the ashes of the old world, what shape that world will take, and who will
get to decide that shape.

More than that would be to give too much away.

jms

(jmsatb5@aol.com)
(all message content (c) 2001 by synthetic worlds, ltd.,
permission to reprint specifically denied to SFX Magazine
and don't send me story ideas)

>Yes, what is it about? Science Fiction? Fantasy? Western? Who or
>what is this Jeremiah?
>

Right around now in our timeline, a virus wipes out everyone on the planet over
the age of puberty (figure around 12-13).

It is now about 15 years later. Those who were once children have now grown up
and are in their late 20s on down. For 15 years, they have been living on the
scraps of the old world; now they must either continue the downward slide, or
begin to rebuild the world, taking responsibility for themselves and the world
and each other.

It is, oddly enough, a post-apocalyptic series about *beginnings* rather than
endings, about hope rather then despair. It is about the new world rising out
of the ashes of the old world, what shape that world will take, and who will
get to decide that shape.

More than that would be to give too much away.

jms

(jmsatb5@aol.com)
(all message content (c) 2001 by synthetic worlds, ltd.,
permission to reprint specifically denied to SFX Magazine
and don't send me story ideas)