Syfy Orders BermanBraun Pilot

PASADENA: Syfy has ordered the action-adventure pilot Alphas (working title), executive produced by Gail Berman and Lloyd Braun for BermanBraun Television.

The pilot is written by Zak Penn, whose credits include X-Men: The Last Stand and The Incredible Hulk, and Michael Karnow. Alphas follows a team of ordinary citizens who possess extraordinary mental skills. Production is slated to begin in early fall. 

"Alphas‘ unconventional approach to the traditional superhero genre couldn’t be a better fit for Syfy as we continue to build a programming slate of fun, imaginative entertainment," said Mark Stern, the executive VP of original content for Syfy and co-head of original content for Universal Cable Productions. "Zak and Michael’s dry, naturalistic humor, combined with Gail and Lloyd’s incredible producing leadership promise to make this a very special project." 

Syfy is also reteaming with director/producer Bryan Singer (Superman Returns, X-Men), who executive produced the channel’s 2005 mini-series The Triangle, along with producer Andrew Deane and Keith Addis, for an untitled six-hour limited series about the mysterious Mayan prediction for the end of the world. The project tells the story of a down-on-his-luck author/professor who goes on a worldwide adventure to uncover the mysteries surrounding the Mayan calendar and the potential apocalypse it seems to have predicted centuries ago. The project is written by Michael Petroni (Chronicles of Narnia: The Dawn Treader, Masters of Science Fiction: The Awakening) and Michael Bond (Passengers).

"We’re very excited to be back in business with Bryan once again, and feel this project, with the producing expertise of Keith and Andrew and the writing flair of Michael Petroni and Michael Bond, promises to be a real thrill ride," added Stern. "Given the debate, speculation and mystery surrounding the subject matter, it couldn’t be more timely."