Mega-producer J.J. Abrams and Supernatural creator Eric Kripke are teaming up on a new project for NBC entitled Revolution. The network committed to a pilot today.
The pair combine to make a one-two punch of high profile names for the hopeful new series. Details are being kept close to the vest at this point, but given Abrams’ penchant for action and Kripke’s tendency towards creepy suspense, would-be viewers have a lot of material to speculate on.
Abrams will have three concurrent series on television at the beginning of 2012: Fringe and Alcatraz on Fox and Person of Interest over at CBS (check out our reviews of the Fringe and Person of Interest premieres, and a trailer of Alcatraz from the 2011 Comic-Con panel). J.J. is making quite a lot of team-ups as of late: Super 8 paired him with Steven Spielberg, and Person of Interest with The Dark Knight writer Jonathan Nolan.
Kripke has been hard at work on Supernatural since 2005 with an excellent season 7 premiere on Friday. Notably, Warner Bros (who will be developing the Revolution pilot) tapped him for a CW adaptation of DC comics super-spook Deadman.
NBC could certainly use a hit, and big names behind the project can only help – after The Playboy Club, the network’s fall heavy-hitter, drew lukewarm reviews and poor ratings in its debut last week. With dependable shows like Law & Order: Special Victims Unit seemingly petering out after long runs, NBC is betting on supernatural/sci-fi thriller Awake to pep up its mid-season.
Bad Robot, Abrams’ production studio, has an almost unbeatable record in recent years. Though not all of its shows are unqualified hits (see the enjoyable but quickly cancelled Undercovers), an Abrams-backed show has a better chance than just about anything of making it to an initial season order. Support from the small but fiercely loyal Supernatural audience can only boost the odds in Revolution‘s favor.
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Revolution is in the pilot stage at NBC. Expect casting announcements in the next couple of months.
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