As one crazy sci-fi experiment ends, another begins. Two of the executive producers of Fringe, J.J. Abrams and J.H. Wyman are working together on a new science fiction pilot. And this one will have robots!
The new show, currently untitled, will be set in the near-future. In this cop drama, police officers team up with human-like androids to solve crime (as first reported by The Hollywood Reporter). If the pilot makes it, we can expect this new program to air on FOX.
There are few other details available on this project, which would most likely debut in the 2012-2013 season if picked up. No actors are reported as attached yet.
What do we know? J.H. Wyman will write the pilot episode. He will then executive produce the series with J.J. Abrams and Bryan Burk for Bad Robot and Warner Bros. Television. Since this police drama will be set in the near-future, there may be some similarities to J.J. Abrams’ upcoming series, Revolution (airing on NBC this fall and also available to watch now, here on BuddyTV).
Of course, if we’re dealing with androids, there will definitely be electricity.
The concept of a futuristic cop drama is not exactly new in any format. This project immediately brings to mind films like Robocop as well as TV shows like Alien Nation. Will the new J.J. Abrams/J.H. Wyman project focus more on the procedural aspects of police work? Or will this be more of a character-driven story in which the humanity of an android cop would be explored (kind of like I, Robot — the book version, not the murderous film version)? Judging from the past works from these specific producers, character focus seems likely.
J.H. Wyman should have time to stay on top of his new future-robot-cop show in upcoming seasons. His current show, Fringe, is just about to begin its fifth and final, 13-episode season. As for J.J. Abrams, the man obviously likes to keep busy. This driving force behind shows like Felicity, Alias, Lost, Fringe, Person of Interest and others probably wouldn’t be happy without at least one new program each season.
Check back here for more updates on this pilot!
(Images courtesy of WENN, FOX and JH Wyman)
Senior Writer, BuddyTV
Laurel grew up in Mamaroneck, NY, Grosse Pointe, MI and Bellevue WA. She then went on to live in places like Boston, Tucson, Houston, Wales, Tanzania, Prince Edward Island and New York City before heading back to Seattle. Ever since early childhood, when she became addicted to The Muppet Show, Laurel has watched far too much TV. Current favorites include Chuck, Modern Family, Supernatural, Mad Men and Community. Laurel received a BA in Astrophysics (yes, that is possible) from Colgate University and a PhD in Middle Eastern Studies and History of Science from Columbia University before she realized that television is much better than studying.
