Graphic Novel Adaptations Headline Syfy Slate

NEW YORK: Syfy's newly unveiled development slate includes adaptations of Frank Miller's Ronin and Robert Kirkman's Clone, among others, as well as a host of reality series.

The adaptation of Ronin, published by DC Entertainment, about a Japanese Ronin samurai who awakens in a futuristic, nihilistic New York in the body of Billy, a medical experiment, is being developed by Warner Horizon as a miniseries. Also in the works as a miniseries is Jonathan Hickman’s graphic novel Pax Romana, about a Special Forces team that travels back in time to ancient Rome on the eve of World War III to “fix” the future. It is a production of Universal Cable Productions.

On the series front, Universal Television is developing Clone, based on the graphic novel by Robert Kirkman, who is exec producing alongside Circle of Confusion's David Alpert. It focuses on retired soldier Luke Taylor, who discovers that a secret biotech program has created a clone of him. Universal Television and Universal Cable Productions are collaborating on an adaptation of Letter 44 from Jonathan Mostow (Terminator 3). Lev Grossman's book series The Magicians, about New Yorker twentysomethings studying magic, is being developed by Universal Cable Productions with exec producers Sera Gamble, John McNamara and Michael London.

Syfy has also unveiled an unscripted development slate that includes the tentatively titles Adam + Eve from Studio Lambert and all3media America, which places pairs of individuals in remote locations with no other human contact but each other for 90 days. From BASE Productions comes Alive and Alone (w.t.), a survival show with a different participant each week. Zero Point Zero Production's Billion Dollar Club (w.t.) is set in Silicon Valley. Family Affects (w.t.) is a workplace docuseries from Angel Valley Media about a family-run special effects pyrotechnics company in Hollywood. The family behind a haunted attractions company in NYC is the focus of Fantasy Makers (w.t.). Condé Nast Entertainment and Kinetic Content are partnering for the geek trivia battle Geeks Who Drink. The End is Near (w.t.) features people who believe in an impending apocalypse. Electus is behind Twins (w.t.), which tests fraternal twins who claim to have ESP.

Syfy has also ordered a new unscripted series, tentatively titled Town of the Living Dead, which is set for an October 7 premiere. The comedic docuseries follows a small Alabama town trying to complete their own independent zombie movie. It is produced by True Entertainment.

The channel also announced it is partnering with Space in Canada on the ten-episode Killjoys, a new show from Temple Street Productions, the outfit behind Orphan Black and Lost Girl. "With its explosive action, smartly-drawn characters, and fun and provocative story lines, Killjoys has all the ingredients to make it the perfect complement to our expanding slate of quality science fiction drama series," said Dave Howe, the president of Syfy. Also coming to the channel in 2015 is Sharknado 3, the third in Syfy's cult-hit TV movie franchises about flying sharks.