'Heroes: Origins' Cancelled!

Basq

Terrible news really! A lacklustre second season so far has me greatly anticipating the 'Heroes: Origin' spinoff-type mini-series due to start early next year. Especially with writers attached like:

• Kevin Smith ('Clerks', 'Mallrats', 'Clerks 2', 'Chasing Amy', 'Dogma')
• Eli Roth ('Cabin Fever', 'Hostel', 'Hostel 2'
• Michael Dougherty ('X2;, 'Superman Returns')

And rumour is it's been stopped dead in it's tracks!

OK, so there's no official word is that it's cancelled but any familiar with TV knows that "pulled from the schedule" (with no foreseeable future airdate) means pretty much that.

Fears of a writers strike may have already contributed to a decision NBC made Wednesday to pull the highly anticipated spinoff miniseries of its hit "Heroes" from a midseason launch.

NBC declined comment, but "Heroes: Origins" is not going to get its six-episode run, which was expected to start as early as late April. While the network hasn't officially canceled the spinoff, producers of the series have been given no indication of when it might get a spot on the schedule.

Sources indicated "Origins" may be just the first of many projects lined up at the broadcast networks in 2008 that will get downgraded as a result of the potential strike, which could severely affect the TV industry. Budget allocations made months ago for a range of scripted programs, many of which will not be feasible without sidelined writers, will likely be reconsidered and potentially shifted to strike-proof material like reality and news programs.

"Origins" had been highly touted as a midseason addition since NBC's upfront in May, when then-entertainment president Kevin Reilly envisioned spelling "Heroes" when it took a late-season hiatus. The network had been promoting "Origins" well in advance of its premiere, noting the enlistment of such top directors as Kevin Smith and Eli Roth to write and direct select episodes.

However, it is also possible that NBC, now under the creative direction of Ben Silverman, may have seen its enthusiasm diminish for an expansion of the "Heroes" franchise given a pronounced ratings drop-off in recent weeks for the flagship series.

It is unclear at what stage "Origins" was in the preproduction process, though it is unlikely scripts had been completed.

Source: HollywoodReporter.com

AlmightyCushion

I was actually really looking forward to origins.

ixoy

Not a good sign is it? Although it makes sense if the ratings are droppnig (and almost deservedly so) in the last few weeks.

On a wider note - this writer's strike might seriously hamper our lovely TV shows

kevmy

ixoy wrote: »

Not a good sign is it? Although it makes sense if the ratings are droppnig (and almost deservedly so) in the last few weeks.

On a wider note - this writer's strike might seriously hamper our lovely TV shows

Indeed and worse than hampering our shows apparently it's marked a huge upswing in the amount of reality shows being signed up.

Apparently the last time it happened they threw a heap of clip shows together to keep the series running

Sad Professor

Bah, does anyone really care about this? Right now they need to be putting all they're resources into saving the mothership, which has been in a rapid descent since late last season. Doing a spin-off show so soon was a bad idea anyway. It was just quick cash-in by NBC and now they see the writing on the wall and they're cashing back out.

Basq

Sad Professor wrote: »

Bah, does anyone really care about this? Right now they need to be putting all they're resources into saving the mothership, which has been in a rapid descent since late last season. Doing a spin-off show so soon was a bad idea anyway. It was just quick cash-in by NBC and now they see the writing on the wall and they're cashing back out.

I, for one, really do care about it.

At least you can expect from those writers at least it'd be fresher than the muck the writers on 'Heroes' have been churning out as of late.

User45701

frak i was looking forward to non stop heroes now theres gona bit a mid seaosn break

Sad Professor

They may decide to integrate some of the ideas from those scripts into the main show however, so all is not lost.

Mark Hamill

HollywoodReporter.com wrote:

Budget allocations made months ago for a range of scripted programs, many of which will not be feasible without sidelined writers, will likely be reconsidered and potentially shifted to strike-proof material like reality and news programs.

This essentially means that instead of "Origins" we're getting more reality tv. I hope the Directors of NBC burn in hell for that.

Sad Professor wrote:

They may decide to integrate some of the ideas from those scripts into the main show however, so all is not lost

All is not saved either, though. If they decide to take too many of the new characters they would have had in "Origins" and put them in the main show, we'll end up with far too many characters and Heroes will turn into Lost (ie: too many characters=too many stories=not enough screen time for each character=show never goes anywhere)

Sad Professor

Mark Hamill wrote: »

All is not saved either, though. If they decide to take too many of the new characters they would have had in "Origins" and put them in the main show, we'll end up with far too many characters and Heroes will turn into Lost (ie: too many characters=too many stories=not enough screen time for each character=show never goes anywhere)

Frankly I could do with a little less of Peter, Hiro, Claire et al right now. They were great last season, now they're just boring.

They wrote themselves into a corner last season with Hiro, Peter and Sylar. They made them way too powerful and now they have to take their powers away, give them amnesia etc.

The thing about Lost is the writers are absolutely ruthless with the characters and don't hesitate to kill them off once they've run their course and replace them with someone new. This is no bad thing imo.

Anyway if this strike goes ahead we won't even get a full season of Heroes or anything else for that matter.

theprodigals0n

Massively disappointed at that. I was really looking forward to it. Hopefully this helps the main show get better though instead of the writers concentrating on this.

Fysh

Erm, while there's a bunch of disappointment that Origins may not get made now, it's worth bearing in mind that there's only really been 1 episode since the new season started that's been any good - maybe Origins getting cancelled combined with deservedly low ratings on the main show will serve to remind the suits in charge that the new material in the show hasn't been up to scratch, and they need to keep the show going if it's going to generate any revenue, rather than getting too far ahead of themselves planning spinoffs.

Overheal

and the dollar takes another hit; as hollywood goes to ****. I miss Jon Stewart already.

Peyton Manning

Its good news for us Jericho fans though. Should be a slot that the second season can fit into coming up in the new year.

Ivan

Jericho is still going?

I was sure that POS was cancelled ages ago. Oh well... did it get any better?

Peyton Manning

It was cancelled after the season 1 finale. But it had achieved such a cult status that one of the biggest (and brightest) campaigns to bring back a show was launched. Thousands of fans sent peanuts to the people at CBS that axed it (you'd know why if you watched the show!). So they gave the go ahead for 7 more episodes to be made. AFAIK, theyre ready to show, CBS are just waiting for a suitable slot for them and if they are a success, then they will give the green light for more to be made. I find most peoples problem with Jericho is that they werent patient enough. The first few episodes were a bit, well, bland to be honest. But the second half of series 1 is some of the best television I have seen.

User45701

Jericho is something i watch because its good/alright but its no

BSG
house
heroes
30 rock

and more shows but i seem brain dead todya

themadchef

Sickened, loved heroes first season...living for second to come to sky...but tbh the reviews it's getting are worring me slightly, still i am a heroes junkie and sorry to hear the spin off not going ahead. Thnaks for heads up on it.