SDCC '11: What Pilot Will FX Bring to Comic Con? 'Powers' or 'American Horror Story'

Okay—so just what “highly anticipated” pilot is FX going to present in Room 6DE at Comic Con?

The current programming schedule reads as follows:

9:30-10:30 FX Pilot Sneak Peek Screening— Surprise! Stop by for a special Saturday night sneak peek at one of FX's most highly anticipated pilots. At press time, details of this exclusive screening event were unable to be released by FX, so please check the room sign outside of Room 6DE for updated details. Room 6DE

The two most likely possibilities are American Horror Story or Powers.

Glee creators Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk have created another cutting-edge concept to television. In American Horror Story, Ben and Vivien Harmon (Dylan McDermott and Connie Britton) bring their children to San Francisco after their marriage struggles with the weight of a miscarriage and infidelity. Much of the story has been shrouded in mystery, but we learn that the family’s new home may also be haunted. Jessica Lange plays an overly curious neighbor who seems to understands the secrets of the Harmon’s residence.

Production ended on the American Horror Story pilot in mid-June, while Powers should have begun shooting in early July according to Brian Michael Bendis, who co-created the book from which it is adapted, with artist Michael Avon Oeming.

Powers is the story of two detectives in a world inhabited by costumed heroes, who investigate homicides related to victims with super powers. This is not, however, set in the world of Marvel or DC—Bendis and Oeming have established their own universe so that they may tinker with familiar archetypes who would otherwise be untouchable in those universes. Powers stars Jason Patric as Christian Walker and Lucy Punch as Deena Pilgrim.

We should be hearing which pilot will close Saturday night at Comic Con sometime prior to the big event. Well, at least just prior to the screening.

'Powers' has found it's Christian Walker

Hot on the heels of yesterday's news of Lucy Punch's casting as Deena Pilgrim in FX's pilot 'Powers', today news broke that Jason Patric (The Lost Boys, The Losers) has been cast as the male lead, Detective Christian Walker reports Deadline. With the core cast now complete, 'Powers' comes closer and closer to becoming a reality which is quite exciting for this longtime fan of the comic book series.

'Powers' is based on the critically acclaimed comic book series by Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Avon Oeming. The pilot is written by Charles H. Eglee and will be directed by Michael Dinner. You can catch up on the comic series via several graphic novels available at CheapGraphicNovels.com.

Max Beckman is a manager at Pulp Fiction in Long Beach, CA and CheapGraphicNovels.com. You can follow him on Twitter @CheapGNsdotcom and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pulpfictioncomics. Pulp Fiction can be found on the web at www.pulpfictiononline.com and at 1742 Clark Ave. Long Beach, CA 90815.

Casting Update for 'Powers' TV Pilot

Deadline is reporting that Lucy Punch (Dinner For Schmucks, Hot Fuzz) has been cast as the female lead FX's pilot 'Powers' based on the comic book series by triple-named duo Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Avon Oeming. Punch joins already cast actors Charles S. Dutton (playing Captain Cross) and Bailee Madison (playing the young girl Callista) will play Deena Pilgrim who, along with her yet-to-be-cast partner Christian Walker, work as homicide detectives in a world where "powers" (super-powered individuals) are prevalent. Punch will next appear in the feature film Bad Teacher, opening this Friday.

Personally, this casting news comes at somewhat of surprise to me. I do think Punch has great comedic chops (I actually saw a test screening of Bad Teacher several months ago and thought she was the best part) but I've never seen her in a more serious role. Previously, Katee Sackoff (Battlestar Galactica, 24) had expressed great interest in the role and she would have been absolute perfect. I'm disappointed she didn't get the part but I trust the people behind the show to get this right.

Max Beckman is a manager at Pulp Fiction in Long Beach, CA and CheapGraphicNovels.com. You can follow him on Twitter @CheapGNsdotcom and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pulpfictioncomics. Pulp Fiction can be found on the web at www.pulpfictiononline.com and at 1742 Clark Ave. Long Beach, CA 90815.

FX Greenlights Pilot for 'Powers' Series

Brian Michael Bendis has been dropping hints here and there over the last few months, but he made the official announcement over the weekend (via his popular Twitter feed) that FX had greenlit a pilot for Powers.

The Eisner-Award winning comic book series created by Bendis and Michael Avon Oeming is finally set to hit the small screen—can they really be called that anymore?

Powers is the story of two detectives in a world inhabited by costumed heroes, who investigate homicides related to victims with super powers. This is not, however, set in the world of Marvel or DC—Bendis and Oeming have established their own universe so that they may tinker with familiar archetypes who would otherwise be untouchable in those universes. Think Law & Order meets the Super Friends.

Powers is a perfect property for television because it lends itself to that format, with its long-form mysteries and character-driven storylines.

No word yet on when Powers will eventually air. Stay tuned.

'Walking Dead' Writer Negotiates for New 'Powers' Series

Powers is edging closer to coming to FX.

The Eisner-Award winning comic book series created by Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Avon Oeming will get the small screen treatment (it deserves). The fact that this is by the network that brought us Nip/Tuck and The Shield should bring consolation that the series would maintain its edge.

Powers is the story of two detectives in a world inhabited by costumed heroes, who investigate homicides related to victims with super powers. This is not, however, set in the world of Marvel or DC—Bendis and Oeming have established their own universe so that they may tinker with familiar archetypes who would otherwise be untouchable in those universes. Think Law & Order meets the Super Friends.

According to Vulture, former Walking Dead writer Charles H. "Chic" Eglee is currently negotiating to be a writer and executive producer on the new series. Bendis excitedly confirmed the rumor via Twitter yesterday, so the ball appears to certainly be rolling on the series.

Eglee has worked as a show runner on Dexter and an executive producer on The Shield; his writing credits include Murder One, Dark Angel, and NYPD Blue. Powers is right up the scribe’s alley.

This is exciting news for comic book fans as we begin to see more new properties picked up for television—Hulk, Wonder Woman, Cloak and Dagger, Raven and Batman are a small handful of characters with television projects in development at different studios.

Brian Michael Bendis Meets to Bring 'Powers' to FX

Brian Michael Bendis tweeted today about a meeting with FX for a Powers television series:

“on the plane home from LA. powers tv meeting all morning. it inches closer still. prez of fx says: i can smell it and i can feel it.”

Powers, created by Bendis and Artist Michael Avon Oeming, is a popular Icon series (which originated at Image) that has been running (almost) consistently since 2000. Powers is a sort of Law and Order set in the world of super heroes; the universe created in the book belongs to Bendis and Oeming so there are no familiar caped characters, just familiar archetypes.

Powers follows Detectives Christian Walker and Deena Pilgrim as they investigate the murders of “capes” (superpowered characters). Television is the perfect medium for Powers, which would lose the character development and unfolding mysteries that an ongoing show can allow.

I’m crossing my fingers that a Powers television series comes to fruition!

New York Comic-Con: Saturday's Announcements

Here’s a quick glance at today’s announcements from the New York Comic-Con:

More DC Universe cartoons are on their way. Of course we know All-Star Superman is coming this Spring. Next up are Batman: Year One, Frank Miller’s classic retelling of Batman’s first appearance, and Green Lantern: Emerald Knights, starring my personal favorite Lantern, Guy Gardner. Also a new Green Lantern cartoon series will be showing up on the Cartoon Network late next year.

Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Avon Oeming (Powers) are set to release a new creator-owned title under Marvel’s icon label: Takio, a book about super-powered siblings who don’t always get along. Bendis promises a much lighter book then fans of he and Oeming are accustomed.

Bendis, who really needs more work, is reuniting with Alex Maleev (Scarlett and Daredevil) on Moon Knight. They plan to redefine this character who could do with a little redefining.

A Powers series may be in the cards. If you haven’t read Bendis and Oeming’s post-modern look at superheroes, you’ve got some reading to do.

Andy Diggle and Adi Granov are working on next summer’s Astonishing Captain America. The book is set to come out in conjunction with the release of the big screen Cap adventure Captain America: The First Avenger.

The X-Men are finally ready to jump into the Heroic Age as they team-up with Spider-Man on the mean streets of Manhattan. This could be interesting, because the X-Men have rarely done much super-heroing. Let’s see if it’s a good fit.

Dark Horse introduced their Dark Horse Bookshelf app which removes the need for third party distribution fees of their digital books. The savings are being moved onto the readers—$1.49 per issue—and creators get to take home more change. 2011 should be an extremely exciting time for digital comic books!