Fox is going all in on adaptations, from reimagining classics like Lethal Weapon and The Exorcist to a new season of Prison Break
New Fall Dramas:
Lethal Weapon
The trend of reviving long dead beloved franchises in the form of television is as alive as ever in Fox’s fall drama lineup. The first? Lethal Weapon. Sans Danny Glover and Mel Gibson, of course. Damon Waynes Sr. and Clayne Crawfordare taking over as Riggs and Murtagh respectively in this over-the-top remake full of cheesy one liners and explosions as we’ve come to expect.
The Exorcist
Continuing the trend is The Exorcist, adapting itself from the 1973 horror classic. Fox’s version focuses on a paranoid mother, her frightened priest and what looks to be a good deal of teen drama added to the mix. The show does not look to be taking much more than the name from the original Exorcist, which may bode well for the creativity of the project. On the other hand, lodes of diehard horror fans will lump this into the unfaithful remake pile that grows ever larger with each passing year.
New Fall Comedies:
Son of Zorn
Zorn is just like you and me, except he’s animated. In Roger Rabbit style, Zorn (voiced by Jason Sudekis) is a cartoon character, with an art style resembling ’90s cartoons like He-Man, existing in a live action world. Zorn’s responsibilities include reconnecting with his son and wife, handling himself in an office setting, and stopping the powers of evil from destroying the world. It’s a heavy task, but Zorn is up for the challenge in this unique stylish comedy.
Fall Musical Event:
Rocky Horror Picture Show
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=outmDIi29Bo
This teaser for The Rocky Horror Picture Show special doesn’t show us much, but it doesn’t need to. With Laverne Cox perfectly cast as Dr. Frank-N-Furter, this romp is sure to be a spectacular amount of fun for diehards and Rocky Horror virgins alike. Did I mention Tim Curry is making a special guest appearance?
New Midseason Dramas:
24: Legacy
Corey Hawkins stars as the Jack Bauer stand-in in this new race against the clock. Premiering after the Superbowl, Legacy will take on the same format as original 24, with all new characters. Kiefer Sutherland is nowhere to be seen, but his name is on the producer list so one can hope for the style to be consistent with the original.
Star
Lee Daniels’ (Empire) latest endeavor is a look at stardom and race in the music industry. Headlined by Queen Latifah, the new drama looks to be one of Fox’s most intriguing. With an original soundtrack to boot, Star promises a new take on the musical genre of television.
Pitch
Pitch is classic sports drama with a twist. An underdog working their way to the top to be the very best, but this time it’s a woman *gasp*. The show tells the story of Ginny Baker (Kylie Bunbury), who is on her way to becoming the first woman to play in the MLB. Pitch is an interesting and progressive twist on tropes that could turn out to be quite the underdog story itself.
APB
APB is ludicrous. A Chicago millionaire witnesses the death of his best friend and proceeds to buy a district and reboot it as his own private police force. Mixing a revenge fueled anti-hero with questionable motives, with high ‘tech’ (an APB app for the cops to use), APB has al the tools in its arsenal. The end result could be an awesome cop show, or a long-forgotten attempt that goes out of style in a heartbeat.
Midseason Event Series’
Prison Break
The ever divisive NBC show is back on television. Prison Break is bringing the big guns to Fox, with Wentworth Miller, Dominic Purcell, and Sarah Wayne Callies all returning for this special ten episode event. Michael is returning from the dead and ending up in Morocco in the season premiere, and where it goes from there… well it’s sure to be a prison… and some kind of break out.
Shots Fired
Shots Fired is giving us a sense that Fox at least sort of has a finger on the pulse of the American public. Clearly based on recent events, the show follows a Black police officer who shoots a young white man in the American south. Before the town has a chance to grapple with this tragedy, the neglected murder of an African-American teen is brought to light. It seems to be an interesting look into the criminal justice system, let’s hope its as blunt as it needs to be.
New Midseason Comedies
The Mick
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQ6Jg5i_pqc
From the producers of co-star (Kaitlin Olson) of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia comes The Mick. Mickey is a brash party animal who stumbles upon responsibility in the form of her sister’s children. Turns out they are just as rambunctious as she is. Hilarity is likely to ensue.
Making History
Making History is a time travel adventure from Phil Lord and Chris Miller (Last Man on Earth, The Lego Movie). Adam Pally stars as the time traveling bro who has an obsession with colonial America and its women. The comedy looks to induce time travel paradoxes unseen on most television shows, unless of course you’ve seen Rick and Morty.
