Sanctuary

[Geekyfanboy]

"Sanctuary" Moves To SCI FI Channel

The hit online series "Sancturary," starring "Stargate" alum Amanda Tapping has been optioned by the SCI FI Channel and given the go-sign, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The internet series is a huge online hit and the cable channel is hoping it will transfer that success to its network as well. "Sanctuary" will be the only TV series to use the same kind of fully green screen/live-action technology currently employed in motion pictures.

The series is written and produced by two other "Stargate" veterans Damian Kindler and Martin Wood. Wood has served as the series director. Sam Egan has executive producer duty.

The SCI FI Channel has committed to a 13-episode season that centers on Dr. Helen Magnus (Tapping) who, with her team of experts, hunt down and help non-human intelligent creatures living on Earth. As well as Tapping, all of the original cast from the series will be joining the television production.

"We were blown away by the level of quality they have been able to achieve on a Web budget," stated Mark Stern, SCI FI Channel Executive VP of original programming. "We loved the world they'd created, and we particularly loved their approach, since we had been looking for a way to apply the virtual-set CGI environment from films like '300′ and 'Sin City' to a television series."

Many insiders in the industry are seeing this move as proof of new channel President Jeff Zucker's promise to refocus the cabler's vision back to its name - SCI FI.

"Sanctuary," will debut on the network with a new 2-hr premiere episode that will introduce the already established web-characters to the television audience that may have not seen the series online. There will be enhanced footage from the webisodes used as well so that the transition from Internet to Cable is a smooth one.

CAST of "SANCTUARY"
Amanda Tapping - "Helen Magnus",
(Stargate SG-1, Stargate: Atlantis)
Robin Dunne - "Will Zimmerman",
(Species 3, Dawson's Creek, The Big Hit)
Emilie Ullerup - "Ashley Magnus",
(Battlestar Galactica)
Christopher Heyerdahl - "John Druitt".
(Stargate SG-1, Stargate: Atlantis)

[Rico]

This looked intriguing.  Cool they are giving it a shot on TV.

[Rico]

I really enjoyed the 2 hour premiere on Sci-Fi last night.  Well done, interesting story and characters, lots of cool stuff!  I'll definitely keep watching.  Here's a little taste of it....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKGWlK79uz0

[celestialteapot]

I've only seen the first episode of the web series (which I liked), but I definitely plan to try to catch the TV version - are they adapting the web stories for TV or is this a completely new written show?

[wraith1701]

Just watched the first 5 webisodes on youtube.  Pretty cool show!  It's hard to believe that the main character is the same woman from Stargate.  I'd forgotten all about her other role after the first 3 minutes.

- are they adapting the web stories for TV or is this a completely new written show?

Beats me.  That's a pretty good question, though...

[Rico]

I've only seen the first episode of the web series (which I liked), but I definitely plan to try to catch the TV version - are they adapting the web stories for TV or is this a completely new written show?

I'm not really sure as I didn't watch much of it on the web.  I think it's a bit of a mix.  Obviously they have had to string some things together to make them longer for TV and added more as well.  I will try and find out more.

[Geekyfanboy]

I finally watched all four episodes today.. I really enjoyed it. Now I have to catch up on Terminator SCC.

[Geekyfanboy]

Sanctuary Season Two OK'd

SCI FI Channel has ordered a second season of Sanctuary, its hit new show starring Amanda Tapping.

The channel gave a green light to 13 new hours. Sanctuary is slated to resume production in Vancouver, Canada, early next year for a 2009 premiere.

More than 3 million viewers tuned in to the premiere of Sanctuary on Oct. 3, making it the highest-rated original series premiere since Eureka debuted in July 2006.

Sanctuary stars Tapping as Dr. Helen Magnus, a brilliant scientist who holds the secrets of a clandestine population: a group of strange and sometimes terrifying beings that hide among humans.

The show also stars Robin Dunne, Ryan Robbins, Emilie Ullerup and Christopher Heyerdahl. Created by Damian Kindler (Stargate SG-1, Stargate Atlantis), Sanctuary's season two will be executive-produced by Kindler, Tapping, Martin Wood, Keith Beedie and N. John Smith.

[Feathers]

Now I'm annoyed. I've just found this on TV over here but it looks like this week was episode 11. For a 13 episode show, that's pretty far in to start watching.

Watch the last 3 or wait for reruns?

[Rico]

I'd wait - but that's me.  I don't like starting in the middle of something.  And there is a continuing story going on this even though some of the episodes are kind of one-shots.

[Dangelus]

Anybody catch the 'Cheeky Monkey' in a recent episode?

Maybe they have been reading the forums!

[Rico]

Anybody catch the 'Cheeky Monkey' in a recent episode?

Maybe they have been reading the forums!

LOL!  I caught that too!  I thought that was my 'title' and not Will's on the series - hehe!

[Feathers]

I'd wait - but that's me.  I don't like starting in the middle of something.  And there is a continuing story going on this even though some of the episodes are kind of one-shots.

If there's a continuing story arc going through I probably ought to wait it out and go through the whole show. I've sampled one of the episodes and it looks like the sort of thing I want to watch. Still, I might no be able to resist :)

[Feathers]

Yay! ITV4 are rerunning the entire series over the next 3 nights.

Just watching episode 3 now.

[Rico]

Season finale is on tonight here on Sci-Fi.