Terra Nova Discussion Thread

[WyldeMan45]

This sounds absolutely fantastic and apparently the artwork created to show FOX the direction they are going to take this is so incredible that the show has just about been confirmed for pickup and they haven't even shot any footage yet. Spielberg is using one of the folks behind Avatars effects for this as well. The awesome Kyle Chandler of Friday Night Lights fame has been rumored to be in talks for the lead, which I am very excited for. Considering the major hype around this project we should be reading some really big casting news over the next few weeks. I am definitely going to be keeping a very close eye on this project. Spielberg, Dinosaurs, Chandler.....three words I love to read!

From executive producers Steven Spielberg, Peter Chernin, Brannon Braga (24, “Star Trek: Enterprise”) and David Fury (“Lost,” “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”) comes an epic family adventure 85 million years in the making. Terra Nova follows an ordinary family embarking on an incredible journey back in time to prehistoric Earth as a small part of a massive experiment to save the human race. In the year 2149 the world is dying. The planet is overdeveloped, overcrowded and overpolluted. With the majority of plant and animal life extinct, devotion to science has brought mankind to the brink of destruction, but has also provided its only hope for salvation. Knowing there is no way to reverse the damage to the planet, a coalition of scientists has managed to open up a fracture in the space-time continuum, creating a portal to prehistoric Earth. This doorway leads to an amazing world, one that allows for a last-ditch effort to save the human race…possibly changing the future by correcting the mistakes of the past. The series centers on the Shannon family as they join the tenth pilgrimage of settlers to Terra Nova , the first colony of humans in this second chance for civilization. Jim Shannon, a devoted father with a checkered past, guides his family through this new land of limitless beauty, mystery and terror. Jim’s wife, Elisabeth, is a trauma surgeon chosen through a global lottery as a new addition to Terra Nova’s medical team. Josh is their son, mourning the girl he left behind, as he’s torn between two role models – his father and the charismatic Commander Frank Taylor, the leader of the settlement, and the heroic first pioneer through the time portal. Maddy, Jim and Elizabeth’s teen daughter, is as independent and adventurous as her parents, but her distrust of authority soon leads her on a dangerous path. In addition to blue skies, rolling rivers and lush vegetation, Terra Nova offers new opportunities and fresh beginnings to its recent arrivals, but the Shannons have brought with them a familial secret that may threaten their citizenship in this utopia. Additionally these adventurers soon discover that this healthy, vibrant world is not as idyllic as it initially appears. The areas surrounding Terra Nova are filled with dangerous dinosaurs, and other prehistoric threats, as well as external forces that may be intent on destroying this new world before it begins. But perhaps even more threatening than what lies outside the protective walls is the Shannons’ realization that something sinister may be happening inside Terra Nova as not everyone on this mission has the same intentions of how best to save mankind.

[detective392]

I can't wait for this show. Sounds really good and Spielberg is involved so it can't go bad. Just wish it was for the fall schedule or we had more then pictures to go on.

[WyldeMan45]

Originally Posted by detective392

I can't wait for this show. Sounds really good and Spielberg is involved so it can't go bad. Just wish it was for the fall schedule or we had more then pictures to go on.

Yeah me too. From what I've recently read just a few days ago, because of all the huge discoveries over the last several years of dinosaurs we never knew existed they are really working to bring us lots of new ones we've never seen before on film, so this has me even more excited. If there is one thing Spielberg can make even more awesome, it's dinosaurs.

[detective392]

Originally Posted by WyldeMan45

Yeah me too. From what I've recently read just a few days ago, because of all the huge discoveries over the last several years of dinosaurs we never knew existed they are really working to bring us lots of new ones we've never seen before on film, so this has me even more excited. If there is one thing Spielberg can make even more awesome, it's dinosaurs.

That sounds cool having new dinosaurs that have just been discovered.

[WyldeMan45]

Well just read a major bummer that Kyle Chandler has passed on this show......

[Gamma_Winstead]

Originally Posted by WyldeMan45

Well just read a major bummer that Kyle Chandler has passed on this show......

Why would a sane person do that?

[WyldeMan45]

Originally Posted by gamma626

Why would a sane person do that?

I have no idea at all. I figured Chandler would be a lock for this show. While that does come as a major downer for me, we might as well discuss our dream casting choices for the show. Think of your favorite actors who have appeared on tv before, and cast them in the 3 adult roles that we know about.

Jim Shannon: The devoted father with a checkered past, guides his family through this new land of limitless beauty, mystery and terror.
Number 1 Choice: Garrett Dillahunt (Don't care that he's been cast in a sitcom for the Fall, they begin shooting this summer and he could possibly be available.)

Commander Frank Taylor: The leader of the settlement, and the heroic first pioneer through the time portal.
Number 1 Choice: Clancy Brown (He's very talented, charismatic and a believable heroic type. Not to mention he was once the lead of Spielberg's Earth 2.)

Elisabeth Shannon: A trauma surgeon chosen through a global lottery as a new addition to Terra Nova’s medical team.
Number 1 Choice: Jaime Ray Newman (She's talented, beautiful and already proven she can play the beauty and the brains after her stint on Season 3 of Eureka.)

[WyldeMan45]

Really? Nobody else has any choices for casting that they'd love to see? Well anyways just read that the network is debating whether the dinosaurs will have colorful feathers, which, though apparently accurate based on new findings, sounds a bit like putting nipples on the batsuit.

[Lord_Stewie]

Update:

Alex Graves to Direct the Pilot Episode.

Fox hopes to have the expensive Steven Spielberg-produced time travel tale Terra Nova ready for midseason — the series came out of upfront week with a good deal of buzz even though Terra Nova still has not a single frame of footage to its name. In a step toward fruition, EW reports that the show has hired Alex Graves to direct the first of the thirteen-episode season order. Graves is no newbie to the sci-fi series launch: in recent years he has helmed the pilots for Fox’s Fringe as well as fellow timebender Journeyman on NBC.

Brannon Braga (24) was recently knighted showrunner for Terra Nova, which sends a family from the future back in time to the prehistoric era to roam amongst the dinosaurs. A lucrative offer was reportedly extended to Kyle Chandler (Friday Night Lights) to star, but he appears to have passed (darn). Hit the jump for a full synopsis.


Here’s the official synopsis:

In the year 2149 the world is dying. The planet is overdeveloped, overcrowded and overpolluted. With the majority of plant and animal life extinct, devotion to science has brought mankind to the brink of destruction, but has also provided its only hope for salvation. Knowing there is no way to reverse the damage to the planet, a coalition of scientists has managed to open up a fracture in the space-time continuum, creating a portal to prehistoric Earth. This doorway leads to an amazing world, one that allows for a last-ditch effort to save the human race … possibly changing the future by correcting the mistakes of the past.

The series centers on the Shannon family as they join the tenth pilgrimage of settlers to TERRA NOVA, the first colony of humans in this second chance for civilization. JIM SHANNON, a devoted father with a checkered past, guides his family through this new land of limitless beauty, mystery and terror. Jim’s wife, ELISABETH SHANNON, is a trauma surgeon chosen through a global lottery as a new addition to Terra Nova’s medical team. JOSH SHANNON is their son, mourning the girl he left behind, as he’s torn between two role models – his father and the charismatic COMMANDER FRANK TAYLOR, the leader of the settlement, and the heroic first pioneer through the time portal. MADDY SHANNON, Jim and Elizabeth’s teen daughter, is as independent and adventurous as her parents, but her distrust of authority soon leads her on a dangerous path.

In addition to blue skies, rolling rivers and lush vegetation, TERRA NOVA offers new opportunities and fresh beginnings to its recent arrivals, but the Shannons have brought with them a familial secret that may threaten their citizenship in this utopia. Additionally these adventurers soon discover that this healthy, vibrant world is not as idyllic as it initially appears. The areas surrounding Terra Nova are filled with dangerous dinosaurs, and other prehistoric threats, as well as external forces that may be intent on destroying this new world before it begins.

But perhaps even more threatening than what lies outside the protective walls is the Shannons’ realization that something sinister may be happening inside TERRA NOVA as not everyone on this mission has the same intentions of how best to save mankind.

Source.

Enjoy.

[WyldeMan45]

Originally Posted by Lord_Stewie

Update:

Alex Graves to Direct the Pilot Episode.

Source.

Enjoy.

Thank you very much for this update! My only concern at this point is Braga, he could make or break this show, and with his past track record of "Creativity" I'm leaning towards the latter if he isn't put in check right away.

[detective392]

Can't wait and really hope this get's done for midseason. Sounds really cool and I need a new dinosaur fix as there isn't much on since primeval ended and isn't due to return till 2011.

[STARSCREAM]

Originally Posted by WyldeMan45

Thank you very much for this update! My only concern at this point is Braga, he could make or break this show, and with his past track record of "Creativity" I'm leaning towards the latter if he isn't put in check right away.

+1. They should have opted for someone else.

[WyldeMan45]

Originally Posted by STARSCREAM

+1. They should have opted for someone else.

I hear there are also a lot of Trek fans who still harbor bad feelings about him as well.

[WyldeMan45]

Jason O’Mara May Board

It really is too bad that Kyle Chandler (Friday Night Lights) seems to have passed on the rumored lucrative offer to star in the prehistoric drama Terra Nova. But the creative team is headed in the right direction if they are reaching out to Jason O’Mara (Life on Mars). Deadline reports that the folks behind Nova — including producer Steven Spielberg and showrunner Brannon Braga (24) — want O’Mara to play Jim Shannon, a “devoted father with a checkered past.” The show follows the Shannons as they travel back in time from the year 2149 to the dinosaur era in an effort to escape an overcrowded, overpolluted future.

O’Mara was the best part of the ill-fated U.S. remake of Life on Mars. (The worst part? The last five minutes.) The Dubliner is totally deserving to be the centerpiece of an excellent weekly series, which Terra Nova is shaping up to be.

[Gamma_Winstead]

Eh, not sure if it's who I want but hey. He could surprise me.

Jewel Staite for Elisabeth Shannon!

[WyldeMan45]

Originally Posted by gamma626

Eh, not sure if it's who I want but hey. He could surprise me.

Jewel Staite for Elisabeth Shannon!

Yeah, I was one of those who didn't like Mars at all, so to think Kyle Chandler turned it down, and this is their second choice? Keep looking FOX.

I think they are supposed to have a teenage daughter so Jewel would have to play a lot older cause I think she's only a few years older than I am. I still remember way back watching her and Ben Foster on Flash Forward.

[WyldeMan45]

Well it's official, I just lost about nearly all interest in this project............

It's Official: O'Mara To Star in 'Terra Nova'

Jason O'Mara is finalizing his deal to star in Terra Nova, Fox's midseason series produced by Steven Spielberg and Peter Chernin. The pact had been in the works for the past two weeks.

Terra Nova, one of the highlights at the Fox upfront presentation, centers on the Shannons, an ordinary family from 2149 when the planet is dying who are transported back 85 million years to prehistoric Earth where they join Terra Nova, a colony of humans with a second chance to build a civilization. O’Mara will play Jim Shannon, a devoted father with a checkered past who guides his family through this new land of limitless beauty, mystery and terror. Alex Graves recently came on board to direct the pilot for the series, which is produced by 20th TV, DreamWorks TV, Kapital Entertainment and Chernin Entertainment.

[detective392]

Terra Nova will have a preview this May before premiering in Fall. I like how they do previews but hate waiting for the second episode afterwords. Really looking forward to this show though.

http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/08/02...all-2011/58788

[WyldeMan45]

Originally Posted by detective392

Terra Nova will have a preview this May before premiering in Fall. I like how they do previews but hate waiting for the second episode afterwords. Really looking forward to this show though.

http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/08/02...all-2011/58788

Wow, so only 10 months until a preview and than 15 months until it premieres. Utterly ridiculous......I won't even remember this project by that point. You'd think they where making Batman 3 or something. It's been 6 weeks since they cast O'Mara and still haven't cast a single other person?

[primitiveskin]

At least now I know why all of the Terra Nova panels were cancelled at Comic-Con, since they still haven't shot their pilot, unlike Spielberg's Summer 2011 series on TNT, Falling Skies, which was at least able to cut a trailer from their pilot. If they're looking to air the Terra pilot in May, expect the second episode to be screened at Comic-Con next July, which was also the strategy used for Glee's rollout.