Following a long development process, FX has finally greenlit a pilot for “Powers,” based on the graphic novels by Brian Bendis and Michael Avon Oeming.
The ongoing comic
FX may or may not have been encouraged by NBC’s decision to greenlight the pilot for Ronald D. Moore’s “17th Precinct,” which offers a similar premise.
Veteran TV writer Charles Eglee (“St. Elsewhere,” “Moonlighting,” “L.A. Law,” “NYPD Blue,” “Murder One,” “Dark Angel,” “The Shield,” “Dexter,” “The Walking Dead”) authored the pilot script.
Since the crash and burn of “Heroes” a year ago, it’s been a bad season for superhero series. Both ABC’s “No Ordinary Family” and NBC’s “The Cape” expect cancellation notices in the coming weeks. “Smallville,” which garners even lower ratings on the little-watched CW, is exiting the airwaves for good in May.
Nonetheless, TV producers – encouraged by a seemingly endless series of big-screen blockbusters based on the Spider-Man, Iron Man, X-Men and Batman comic books – continue to develop superhero TV shows. NBC has ordered David E. Kelley’s “Wonder Woman” to pilot and ABC is hard at work developing a new series version of The Incredible Hulk. Warner Bros. TV is scouring the characters owned by sister company DC Comics for a live-action superhero series to replace “Smallville.” An hourlong featuring the characters from “Sandman” is reportedly among the projects being contemplated.
Find all of Entertainment Weekly’s story on the matter here.
