If it's crap... We'll tell you

Movie Spinoffs to Television

There has been lots of discussion on Spill about TV programmes made into movies, but what about the other way round?

Television shows based on movies are not new. There are stories and characters which have succeeded on the big screen only to continue that success with viewers at home on the small screen. Films like Alien Nation, The Sarah Connor Chronicles, and Blade have all spawned television series. Meanwhile M.A.S.H, Buffy, Stargate, and the Highlander programme have proven that they can sometimes gather enough of a fan base to warrant spinoffs of their own. Disney is well known for their animated films making the transition to television, with so many of their movie characters getting shows of their own.

Any characters you could just not get enough of in cinemas? Whose universe would you like to see expanded and explored on a weekly basis? Did we really need the Clone Wars cartoon?

What say you, Spillions! Forum’s open.

Tags: buffy, highlander, movies, spinoff, to, tv

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Emma Angel on October 29, 2009 at 3:33am: Would have been cool to see the boys from "Stand By Me" in a series. I'm sure they had plenty more stories to tell!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Lab Rat on October 29, 2009 at 4:02am: That's a great idea. I loved that movie and I always thought that the events of the movie were the beginning of their journey and not the end. A show like this could fit the niche previously filled by shows like The Wonder Years. And as a TV series, we would get a chance t see new acting talent develop as the series progresses.

Thanks, Emma!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Porter on October 29, 2009 at 3:46am: I would liked to have Blade runner as a TV Series. Not Deckard as a main character or even any of the Blade Runners. Just have the City of LA as the main character.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Lab Rat on October 29, 2009 at 6:11am: Future Noir. I love it!

I’ve always known that I wanted something like that done well ffor television. I hoped it might happen during the Cyberpunk boom of the eighties and it wasn’t until now that I really knew what I wanted. A Blade Runner series. BRILLIANT!! You’re right about the setting. Without the Deckard’s L.A. as a prominent feature it just wouldn’t be worthwile. The grit and grime, crowds, rain and "cityspeak" are a must.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Sav-vy-bag on October 29, 2009 at 4:34am: Funny People.

When watching the film at several points I couldn't help but ponder how this film would do if it was translated to a hbo comedy series rather than being a tedious film that could have ended at several points.
Each possible ending could have been the end of an episode.
A mix between Curb and Arrested Development.

Another one that comes to mind is District-9.

A series that would show the prawn's transition from home to Earth.
Maybe focus on Wikus van de Merwe, from evicting homes of prawns to living with them.
More into the relationships between the aliens and local Nigerian gang(s).
And when the the first season comes to its end we can witness the ventures of Christopher Johnson.
A lot can be done with a District-9 tv series.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Lab Rat on October 29, 2009 at 6:22am: I haven’t seen Funny People but I did catch the premier of District 9 down here.

I don’t think a prequel would be the way to go with a District 9 series. Not to say that it couldn’t be done, but my money is on a sequel (movie) being made and a series that took place between Christopher’s departure and return would be a solid format. It could be written to cover those foreshadowed three years (even if it airs for only one) and follow the story of Wikus during that time. We could continue to see the transformation form an outsider and enemy to an eventual teacher and leader of the Prawns. Christopher’s son also grows, at first taking care of Wikus and helping him to assimilate while being taught about the world outside of the containment zone. They develop a father/son relationship then the ideologies of the two diverge. Wikus, a human, wants to lead the Prawns back to their homeworld. Chris’ son, having been born on Earth, wants to stay and fight for rights and settlement. Conflict ensues…cue theatrical sequel.

I’m not sure about how you could further develop the gangs besides expanding on their depravity. They seen to be not much beyond a plot device in the movie and I fear the rapid succession of an episodic format would truly reveal them as such.

To be honest with you, I was just talking to my brother about this a few weeks ago and I have already got my fantasy plot together. So it doesn’t really matter if they don’t make it cuz I’ve seen it in my head.

Good pick, Sav.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Emma Angel on October 29, 2009 at 2:31pm: <--- wonders what else is in your head... :P; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Lab Rat on October 29, 2009 at 9:07pm: I have a habit of falling asleep in theatres, so from an early age I had to make up my own endings to movies. This gradually led to lots of "what ifs" and speculative fantasy about different characters and movie plots. It’s gotten to the point now that if I'm not satisfied with the direction a movie is heading, I’ll stop watching and finish it in my head.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Sav-vy-bag on November 13, 2009 at 7:42am: Not a prequel, jus' a more in depth look on what happened,
and a further look into their current living circumstances.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Lab Rat on November 13, 2009 at 8:52am: Yeah, I could see that. There's a lot that can be explored without over-exploiting the backstory.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Sav-vy-bag on November 13, 2009 at 7:54am: A televised series interpretation of 'The Terminator'

starring Gilbert Gottfried.
Terminator: The Gottfried Chronicles; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Lab Rat on November 13, 2009 at 8:54am: As long as Whoopi Goldberg gets to play Sarah Connor and Drew Carey is Kyle Reese.; ▶ Reply to This