At the end of last year, we brought you the news when Universal Pictures and SyFy Ventures joined forces to create Syfy Films. The new film company was said to create theatrical films under the SyFy brand that would be distributed by Universal Pictures. They planned to release two movies per year by 2012, and now it seems they have their first project underway.
Check out the press release below for all the details!
Official Press Release:
SYFY FILMS ACQUIRES FIRST PROJECT WITH WILD CARDS
Screenplay for George R.R. Martin’s Anthology of Fantasy Books to be Written by Melinda Snodgrass
NEW YORK and UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. – October 27, 2011 — Syfy Films
announced today that it has acquired the rights to a science-fiction superhero anthology called Wild Cards edited by George R.R. Martin. The ongoing anthology of 22 books was first published in 1987 and is based on stories by a consortium of science-fiction writers. Melinda Snodgrass will pen the script for Wild Cards which is the first acquisition for Syfy Films since its launch in December 2010. The announcement was made today by Syfy Film’s Senior Vice President of Production, Gregory Noveck.
“Wild Cards presents a terrific franchise opportunity given the volume of material from this compelling fantasy series,” said Noveck. “We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to develop a film based on the anthology’s supernatural heroes, and to be working with such talented and visionary writers as George R.R. Martin and Melissa Snodgrass.”
Wild Cards is one of the most successful and longest running, science-fiction book series. Its characters were developed with the goal of creating a realistic take on people with super powers and how they affect their daily lives. The series was conceived as a shared universe in which different authors contributed new characters and storylines to the overall mythos.
Martin and Snodgrass will serve as executive producers. Along with Martin and Snodgrass, original contributors include popular contemporary science-fiction writers Roger Zelazny (“The Chronicles of Amber”) and Walter Jon Williams (“Hardwired”). More recently a new generation of noted science-fiction and fantasy authors have contributed characters and storylines to this ever-growing universe. They include Cherie Priest (“Boneshaker”), Paul Cornell (“Doctor Who”), David Anthony Durham (“Acacia”) and Carrie Vaughn (“The Kitty Norville” series). The books have been translated into several languages and have been adapted into comic books and role-playing games.
About Syfy Films
Syfy extends its commitment to deliver high quality imagination based genre entertainment with the launch of Syfy Films, a joint venture with Universal Pictures. The new entity will leverage Syfy’s genre expertise to produce original theatrical releases from the worlds of science fiction, fantasy, supernatural and horror. Beginning in 2012, Syfy Films plans to release two pictures annually.About Syfy
Syfy is a media destination for imagination-based entertainment. With year round acclaimed original series, events, blockbuster movies, classic science fiction and fantasy programming, a dynamic Web site (www.Syfy.com), and a portfolio of adjacent business (Syfy Ventures), Syfy is a passport to limitless possibilities. Originally launched in 1992 as SCI FI Channel, and currently in more than 98 million homes, Syfy is a network of NBCUniversal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies. (Syfy. Imagine greater.)About Universal Pictures
Universal Pictures is a division of Universal Studios (www.universalstudios.com). Universal Studios is part of NBCUniversal. NBCUniversal is one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production and marketing of entertainment, news and information to a global audience. NBCUniversal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group and world-renowned theme parks. Comcast Corporation owns a controlling 51% interest in NBCUniversal, with GE holding a 49% stake.
..
