Logo

New Syfy Project Brings Together Science-Fiction Heavyweights

Feb 11, 2013  •  Post A Comment

Syfy announced that it has signed a deal to adapt a Hugo-winning novel, and the project brings together a number of heavyweights of the world of science fiction.

Deadline.com reports that the cable channel is adapting the novel "The Man in the High Castle" by Philip K. Dick. The book won the Hugo Award — given annually to science fiction and fantasy works — in 1963. Dick worked almost entirely in the sci-fi genre, focusing on political, psychological and metaphysical themes.

Frank Spotnitz of "The X Files" will write and executive produce, while Ridley Scott’s Scott Free will produce with Headline, Electric Shepherd Productions, which is the production arm of Dick’s estate, and FremantleMedia International. Scott is best known for the sci-fi classics “Blade Runner” and “Alien,” along with more recent features including “Prometheus” and the Oscar-winning “Gladiator.”

The novel was originally set up at the BBC as a miniseries in 2010, the story notes. Dick’s book is an alternative history, with a timeline that has Nazi Germany and Japan winning World War II.

2 Comments

  1. Interestingly, the article fails to point out that Blade Runner is ALSO based on a Philip K. Dick story, “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep.”
    Even more exciting than using Dick as a source material is the involvement of Frank Spotnitz as show runner. He’s responsible for some truly great hours on X-Files.

  2. With all the really great (and eminently adaptable to visual media) SF stories available, why do they continue to try (and continually fail) to adapt the esoteric work of writers likePhilip K. Dick?
    The films based on Dick’s work bear so little resemblance to their literary origins, they may as well have not bothered… although I’m sure the Dick estate liked getting the money.

Leave a Reply to WriterGuy Cancel Reply

Email (will not be published)