J.J. Abrams' Projects

Almost Human Trailer

2013-05-13T21:06:00.000-04:00

Fox officially announced their Fall 2013-2014 TV schedule and with it released trailers for their new shows including JJ Abrams' Almost Human series. The series is set to air on Mondays at 8/7c with Karl Urban playing a detective who is partnered with an android (Michael Ealy). The trailer, built entirely on the pilot episode, does show a lot of potential.

Abrams' Believe Picked Up By NBC

2013-05-09T21:17:00.000-04:00

JJ Abrams is currently 2 for 2 in series with Believe being ordered by NBC for the 2013-2014 season. Yesterday Fox ordered Almost Human to series. Below is the description of the show.

Levitation, telekinesis, the ability to control nature, even predict the future… Since she was two years old, Bo has had gifts she could neither fully understand, nor control. Raised by a small group known as the “True Believers,” the orphaned girl has been safeguarded from harmful outsiders who would use her forces for personal gain. But now that she is 10, her powers have become stronger, and the threat has grown more dangerous. With her life and future now in jeopardy, the “Believers” turn to the only person they see fi t to be her full-time protector. That is, once they break him out of jail. Tate, a wrongfully imprisoned death row inmate who’s lost his will, is initially reluctant – until he witnesses one of her extraordinary abilities. Bo sees people for who they truly are… and who they may become. Tate and Bo begin their journey, one in which trust must be earned. Traveling from city to city, every place they stop and everyone they meet will be changed forever. But they’ll have to keep going to stay one step ahead of the sinister forces after Bo’s power… because it will take a miracle to keep them safe forever. The powers of a young girl may hold the fate of our world in Believe, from executive producer J.J. Abrams (Revolution, Star Trek: Into Darkness) and executive producer/writer/director Alfonso Cuarón (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Children of Men). From Warner Bros. Television & Bad Robot Productions. Executive Producer/Writer: Mark Friedman. Executive Producer: Bryan Burk.

Fox Picks up JJ Abrams' Almost Human to Series

2013-05-08T22:22:00.000-04:00

TV Line is reporting that Almost Human has been picked up for the 2013-2014 season by Fox. The series, executive produced by JJ Abrams, stars Karl Urban, Michael Ealy, Lili Taylor, and Minka Kelly. The premise is "An action-packed buddy cop show set in the near future when all LAPD officers are partnered with highly evolved human-like androids." The exact number of episodes was not specified. Other series that Fox ordered is Rake (about self-destructive defense lawyer), Sleepy Hallow (modern take on the classic story), and Dads (to 30 something Dad's move in).

JJ Abrams Wants John Williams for Star Wars VII

2013-05-01T00:52:00.001-04:00

Once George Lucas gave up the reigns to Star Wars (a decision I suspect he regrets as Disney dismantles his empire as quickly as they can) and JJ Abrams took over, a epic ton of questions are being asked. One of those questions was would John Williams score the music or would Abrams stick with his long time music collaborator Michael Giacchino.

In a Berlin press conference to promote Star Trek Into Darkness, Abrams said "For Star Wars, it’s every early days to know, but I believe that going forward, John Williams will be doing that film because apparently he was there long before I was." Now this does not mean the 81 year old legendary composer will return as deals still need to be worked out and contracts to be signed but the director making Williams his first choice is a necessary step. Now for the other million questions...

JJ Abrams Optioning King Novel for TV

2013-04-26T21:42:00.001-04:00

Deadline is reporting that JJ Abrams' Bad Robot is in negotiations for the rights to Stephen King's 11/22/63 novel for use as either a TV series or miniseries to air on a cable channel. The story has school teacher Jake somehow going back to 1958 and deciding to use the time in between to prevent the assassination of President John F Kennedy on 11/22/1963. Right now in the "how much to buy this" phrase. After that its get a script, shop it to networks who will decide for series or miniseries and so forth so will be a while before major news on casting and the like.

Revolution Renews for Second Season

2013-04-26T21:34:00.000-04:00

Today NBC announced they are renewing Revolution for a 22 episode second season for the 2013-2014 season. The show was renewed along with Parenthood, Grimm, Chicago Fire, and Law & Order SVU. The show is executive produced by JJ Abrams.

Revolution Returns Tonight, Webisodes Conclude, 8 Minute Preview

2013-03-25T19:48:00.001-04:00

After a long 4 month break, tonight Revolution returns on NBC at 10pm EST. As a way to ease back in, the "Enemies of the State" webisodes conclude with parts 3-5 (part 1-2 here) as Neville hunts for others against the Monroe Republic. Those are below. After that is the 8 minute preview of the new episode that starts where the last left off - a now fully powered and armed military helicopter chasing the good guys.

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Abrams on Figuring Out Star Wars Approach

2013-03-25T02:11:00.001-04:00

JJ Abrams has started some of the promotional tour that will be part of promoting his next movie Star Trek Into Darkness. Of course when he talks to the press, the main focus is going to be his plans for Star Wars Episode VII that he is also directing. In a recent interview with Empire Magazine, this was no difference as he answered a few questions.

While he was able to approach Star Trek with a detached objectivity, how will he, as a huge Star Wars fan approach Star Wars' bold new era?
“I don’t know because we’re just getting started. So it’s a great question that I hope I’ll have a good answer to when I know what the answer is. There are infinitely more questions than answers right now, but to me, they’re not that dissimilar. Though I came at these both from very different places, where they both meet is a place of ‘Ooh, that’s really exciting.’ And even though I was never a Star Trek fan, I felt like there was a version of it that would make me excited, that I would think ‘that’s cool, that feels right, I actually would want to see that.

“How we were going to get there, what the choices were going to be, who was going to be in it – all of those things I knew would have to be figured out, but it was all based on a foundation of this indescribable, guttural passion for something that could be. It’s a similar feeling that I have with Star Wars. I feel like I can identify a hunger for what I would want to see again and that is an incredibly exciting place to begin a project. The movies, the worlds could not be more different but that feeling that there’s something amazing here is the thing that they share.”

Why change his mind on directing Star Wars
“My knee-jerk reaction was that I’m in the middle of working on the Star Trek movie and I can’t even consider it. But then time went by and I got further along working on the movie and getting to a place where I had done most of the heavy lifting. So when I met with Kathy Kennedy we just started discussing it and I was able to actually engage in the conversation. I went down to tell Katie, my wife, and I said ‘I had just a very interesting conversation with Kathy.’ That was the beginning.

“I will say that Steven [Spielberg] was very encouraging of Star Wars. It’s funny because I talked to him about it and it turned out he knew all about what was going on.”

Leads Cast for Abrams' Cop Drama (Updated)

2013-03-12T03:03:00.000-04:00

It seems that JJ Abrams has found his leads for his Fox buddy cop pilot. Friday Night Lights and Charlie's Angels hottie Minka Kelly has been tapped to play Valerie Stalh, one of the cops that works with John Kennex and his android parnter who will be played by Michael Ealy (Common Law). I assume the character will provide that female/romance angle that all cop shows seem to require. All that remains is to find who will play John Kennex. The pilot episode will determine if Fox will order additional episodes for the 2013-2014 season. The show currently remains untitled.

Update: The final cast member has been hired for this project that might be titled "Human" (lets hope not). Karl Urban (Judge Dredd, Star Trek) has signed on to play the cop John Kennex that is partnered with an android. This is the first regular television role for the actor that has done movies for the last decade or so.

Revolution Webisodes Part 1 and 2, Preview

2013-03-07T23:19:00.001-05:00

JJ Abrams' Revolution returns on NBC starting March 25 at 10pm EST and as a run up they have started posting a webisode series called "Enemies of the State" that acts as a kind of prequel as Neville begins his hunt for Miles who has just quit the Monroe Republic. The first two parts are below. In addition, Abrams himself introduces a sneak peak at the first minute of the return episode. The real question is can the series survive its six month hiatus, especially since NBC's ratings have achieved new record lows for network television? Are the kids, their behavior and response to circumstances still has childish and annoying as they have been for the first half of the season? Is a television shows capable of assuming that teenagers, much like adults, when faced with circumstances of life and death tend to be changed by those circumstances into something more mature and hardened rather then childish and reckless? Will the show begin answering questions instead of just adding new ones? I guess we will all start finding out in just a few short weeks.
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Abrams' Believe Casts Co-Lead

2013-02-14T21:57:00.000-05:00

JJ Abrams has found one of his leads for the pilot episode of Believe. Jake McLaughlin (Savages) has been cast as the protector of a young girl with powers who is being hunted by others. Assuming NBC likes the pilot, the show would get an order for the 2013-2014 season. I am curious to know how they plan on keeping what seems like a chase concept interesting over the long haul.

Abrams' Partners With Half-Life, Portal Studio

2013-02-07T03:25:00.001-05:00

JJ Abrams production slate continues to remain overflowing as he announced a partnership with Valve yesterday to create movies based on their video game properties. Valve is the video game studio behind the hit franchises Half-Life and Portal. “We’re going to figure out if we can make a Portal movie or Half-Life movie together,” [Valve head Gabe] Newell said. Considering Abrams will be busy with Star Wars for at least the next two years (really three since not a snow balls chance he can hit Disney's preferred Summer 2015 release date), safe to assume he will get Executive Producer credit while others will do the writing and directing.

Two Pilot Orders for JJ Abrams

2013-01-25T19:17:00.001-05:00

On top of the soon to be financial (and one hopes critical) windfall from becoming the next director of Star Wars, JJ Abrams can add two more potential shows to his to do list. NBC has ordered a pilot episode for "Believe" while Fox is producing the pilot episode for his future cop concept. The orders are only for the first episode of a potential series for the 2013-2014 season. From the pilot the networks will then decide if and how many episodes to order for the season. Believe is about the relationship between an ex-con who must protect a young girl who will develop unspecified super powers in seven years. The currently untitled cop show takes place in the future where a cop's partner is an android.

JJ Abrams Directing Star Wars?!? (Updated)

2013-01-24T17:20:00.001-05:00

After frequently denying rumors, it seems that JJ Abrams was not able to ignore the call from Disney to direct Star Wars: Episode VII. Multiple Hollywood websites are reporting that unnamed sources have confirmed that J.J. ~~is either in negotiations or~~ has signed the contract to direct the first film of the next set of Star Wars trilogies (with likely first dibs on doing all three if he chooses).

The script for the film is currently being written by Michael Arndt for a summer 2015 release date. If true that means that either Star Trek 3 will get pushed back until after Star Wars or more likely the directing reigns would be turned over to someone else with Abrams retaining executive producer credit. Assuming Abrams is able to get the kind of deal that Michael Bay got for Transformers (back end points, percentage of the movie and toy profits, etc.), he could make over $100 million from the first film alone, something that anyone would have a problem turning down regardless of their level of interest which is high with Abrams who said "Star Wars is one of my favorite movies of all time." Considering he wasn't even a fan of Star Trek when doing those two films, wonder what the result will be when it's something he loves. Disney nor Abrams have yet to confirm or deny these rumors.

Update: LucasFilm has officially confirmed JJ Abrams will direct Episode VII.

J.J. Abrams to Direct Star Wars: Episode VII
J.J. Abrams will direct Star Wars: Episode VII, the first of a new series of Star Wars films to come from Lucasfilm under the leadership of Kathleen Kennedy. Abrams will be directing and Academy Award-winning writer Michael Arndt will write the screenplay.

“It’s very exciting to have J.J. aboard leading the charge as we set off to make a new Star Wars movie,” said Kennedy. “J.J. is the perfect director to helm this. Beyond having such great instincts as a filmmaker, he has an intuitive understanding of this franchise. He understands the essence of the Star Wars experience, and will bring that talent to create an unforgettable motion picture.”

George Lucas went on to say “I’ve consistently been impressed with J.J. as a filmmaker and storyteller. He’s an ideal choice to direct the new Star Wars film and the legacy couldn’t be in better hands.”

“To be a part of the next chapter of the Star Wars saga, to collaborate with Kathy Kennedy and this remarkable group of people, is an absolute honor,” J.J. Abrams said. “I may be even more grateful to George Lucas now than I was as a kid.”

J.J., his longtime producing partner Bryan Burk, and Bad Robot are on board to produce along with Kathleen Kennedy under the Disney | Lucasfilm banner.

Also consulting on the project are Lawrence Kasdan and Simon Kinberg. Kasdan has a long history with Lucasfilm, as screenwriter on The Empire Strikes Back, Raiders of the Lost Ark and Return of the Jedi. Kinberg was writer on Sherlock Holmes and Mr. and Mrs. Smith.

Abrams and his production company Bad Robot have a proven track record of blockbuster movies that feature complex action, heartfelt drama, iconic heroes and fantastic production values with such credits as Star Trek, Super 8, Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol, and this year’s Star Trek Into Darkness. Abrams has worked with Lucasfilm’s preeminent postproduction facilities, Industrial Light & Magic and Skywalker Sound, on all of the feature films he has directed, beginning with Mission: Impossible III. He also created or co-created such acclaimed television series as Felicity, Alias, Lost and Fringe.

Abrams Closes Deal on Lance Armstrong Story

2013-01-19T02:09:00.000-05:00

Only in America can someone cheat at sports and get rewarded for it. Sure Lance Armstrong will have to endure some slight humiliation but that is nothing compared to the money he already has received over the years and will likely continue to get with able assist from JJ Abrams and Paramount Pictures closing a deal for the screen rights to "Cycle Of Lies: The Fall of Lance Armstrong" that is currently being written by Juliet Macur who is a sports reporter for The New York Times. Since the deal just closed there are no specifics on director, writer, or anything else related to the project. The main lesson from cheating in sports over the years is that not only do cheaters win but they can even get movies made after them for doing it.

JJ Abrams, Ron Howard Parner on Movie

2013-01-18T06:35:00.001-05:00

Vulture is reporting that director Ron Howard (Frost/Nixon, The Da Vinci Code and more) and JJ Abrams will be teaming up soon for "All I've Got". Howard will direct, Abrams will executive produce through Bad Robot. The movie is based on a 2003 Israeli TV movie Kol Ma She'Yesh Li that is about a woman on her death bed given the choice of reliving her life with her first husband who had died in a car accident or remain dead waiting on her second husband of 50 years who she had three children with. The movie seems to follow a recent Hollywood theme of adapting Israeli television programing as was done with HBO's In Treatment and SHowtime's Homeland.

Fringe Series Finale Trailer

2013-01-16T01:56:00.002-05:00

Sadly JJ Abrams' Fringe ends its run this Friday with its final two hours starting at 8PM. Check out the trailer below.

Abrams Talks Mission Impossible V, Fringe and More

2013-01-07T01:40:00.001-05:00

While participating in the Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour to promote Revolution (returns March 25), JJ Abrams spoke with Collider about his other projects including Mission: Impossible, Fringe and more. The full interview is here, highlights below.

Highlights:
- Has other TV projects in the works but unable to talk about them yet.
- Looking for a writer for Mission: Impossible 5, said "we're a minute away from being able to discuss that."
- Not seen the Fringe finale but "the script was unbelievable. I think its going to be incredibly emotional. ...If it's not satisfying, I don't know what satisfying is."
- Futuristic robot cop drama not yet started casting.

Abrams Believe Begins Casting

2012-12-08T00:42:00.002-05:00

Deadline reports that one of JJ Abrams' TV pilots has begun the casting process. Announced back in September, the currently titled "Believe" is part of a partnership with Harry Potter director Alfonso Cuaron. The series is "about a girl in possession of a great gift/powers — which will come into their own in seven years — and the man who is sprung from prison to protect her from those trying to hunt her down." It seems the green light to pay and film the pilot is contingent on who is cast as the lead character of 10 year old Bo and an older adult male.

Abrams Taps Director for God Particle

2012-11-30T18:10:00.000-05:00

JJ Abrams and his Bad Robot production company are moving forward on "God Particle" by hiring Julius Onah as the director of the film. Up to now Onah has mostly directed short films like Big Man among others. The story is step on an abandoned space station after Earth vanishes.

Revolution's Season So Far

2012-11-26T19:36:00.000-05:00

Tonight at 10pm on NBC the mid-season finale of Revolution will air. The show will then take an extended hiatus, not returning until March 25, 2013. As a result this one is expected to have a whopper of a cliffhanger to keep you wanting to come back for more. In the video below, Executive Producers and co-creators JJ Abrams and Eric Kripke introduce a video that recaps the season so far and teases tonight's episode.

Abrams Sales Pitch for Revolution

2012-11-12T22:18:00.001-05:00

It seems the sales pitch for NBC's hit TV show Revolution started simply enough with executive producer JJ Abrams asking NBC executives the question "...imagine right now that everything stopped." Before reaching that point though, it really started with co-creator Erick Kripke imaged a sword fight in a coffee shop, "I wanted to take everything I love about Lord of the Rings — swords and swashbuckling and quests and damsels in distress — put all that deep nerd fantasy stuff on the American highway." From that Kripke developed a story around a super virus killing most of the country with the focus on Charlie's quest to save her brother.

Abrams decided that a super virus was too much like Stephen King's The Stand and changed the concept to surviving a nationwide blackout based on another idea for Bad Robot to develop. Abrams liked the idea of no devices because, "[Characters] can communicate instantly, they can research things, they can jump on a plane and be anywhere. Writers contort themselves to eliminate cell phones from scenes. And one of the beautiful byproducts of Kripke’s idea is that there’s no longer that immediate access."
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JJ Abrams Opts Out of Star Wars

2012-11-12T21:47:00.001-05:00

It seems that directing Star Trek is enough "Star" for JJ Abrams as he doesn't seem interested in directing Star Wars: Episode VII that Disney has announced for 2015 release. Most of Hollywood's biggest names have expressed disinterest in directing the next Star Wars films but probably for everyone willing to pass there are a few dozen that would jump at the high risk, high reward project.

"Look, Star Wars is one of my favorite movies of all time,” J.J. gushed. He added, “I frankly feel that – I almost feel that, in a weird way, the opportunity for whomever it is to direct that movie, it comes with the burden of being that kind of iconic movie and series. I was never a big Star Trek fan growing up, so for me, working on Star Trek didn’t have any of that, you know, almost fatal sacrilege, and so, I am looking forward more then anyone to the next iterations of Star Wars, but I believe I will be going as a paying moviegoer!"

JJ Abrams Buys Rights to Beastlies

2012-11-01T21:38:00.000-04:00

It looks like JJ Abrams is joining the children entertainment business with the television and movie rights purchase of "Beastlies". Beastlies are cute monster, hand made one of a kind statues created by Leslie Levings. They are made from polymer clay, sculpted and hand painted by the artist. So while they look like toys, they are not. At least for now. The cute designs are ideal for a children's television show or movie, with the Rugrats coming to mind as the marketing model to follow. The toy line, video games, book deals and more that is guaranteed to follow is going to make Abrams and Levings a ton of money.

Revolution's Map of the Ex-USA

2012-10-17T21:58:00.002-04:00

In the 15 year future of JJ Abrams' Revolution where civilization was forced to pre-Industrial Revolution technology, the United States is no more. As a map released by NBC shows, the country has been split into six major regions. So far the story has been focused on the "Monroe Republic" but it turns out the South has become the Georgia Federation, Texas...remains Texas, the Midwest is now the Plains Nation, California has merged with Washington and the desert regions of Nevada, New Mexico and few others has become the "Wasteland". Wonder what that means. In short, it seems show creator Eric Kripke has a plan and its bigger in scope then we thought. Most show creators make the claim of some grander plan (see Lost, X-Files, 24 and a whole host of shows) and later prove that they were making it up script to script. That may not be the case here as Kripke successfully executed his five year plan for Supernatural. This isn't to say he has deep and very specific episode to episode plan, I just mean he has major goalposts in mind, specific themes he wants to explore and a general idea how to get there. It should be interesting to see how the now-fractured United States impacts events as the story progresses. Personally the potential political and military ramifications interest me far more then this silly sister rescuing brother nonsense that has been driving the story so far. (via EW)