This is an interesting piece of late-breaking news. Elizabeth Sarnoff (Lost), co-creator/executive producer/showrunner of midseason series Alcatraz, is stepping down as showrunner. Not only that, but word is that some of the already-completed first seven episodes will now be re-written and re-shot.
Deadline first reported the news, and says that the change is due to creative differences, which explains the do-overs. Alcatraz will now be co-run by Jennifer Johnson (Cold Case, Lost) and feature writer Daniel Pyne (Fracture). Johnson joined Alcatraz after the pilot as a consulting producer. Two months ago, she was “quietly” elevated to executive producer and co-showrunner alongside Sarnoff. Pyne is coming in as an executive producer and co-showrunner.
They further report:
Sarnoff is expected to receive an executive consultant title on the show going forward. The behind-the-scenes showrunner turnover was a factor in WBTV and Bad Robot’s decision 2 weeks ago to put filming of new episodes of Alcatraz on hold and do reshoots on some of the 7 completed episodes instead. After completing some reshoots, the show is not filming at the moment, with the writers working on scripts and producers and directors prepping for additional reshoots as well as filming new episodes. Alcatraz, which features inmates from the infamous prison popping up in present day San Francisco, is slated to premiere in midseason in the Monday 9 PM time period, which also is being eyed for the new Kiefer Sutherland drama Touch. Fox is expected to announce premiere dates for its midseason series in the coming days.
Ouch. You don’t really want a new Kiefer Sutherland show breathing down your neck when you’re trying to secure a timeslot and rewriting and reshooting at the same time. In all honesty, though, I watched the first hour of Alcatraz at Comic Con and wanted so badly for it to be amazing, and it just wasn’t there. It was good, and I would definitely watch it, but here’s hoping they’re shooting for amazing.
We will, of course, keep you posted.