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Comics2Film spoke briefly with Platinum Studios' Scott Rosenberg who gave us a quick progress update on Platinum's various comic-based projects.

Rosenberg told us that Universal is still actively developing a feature film version of the Marvel/Malibu Ultraverse comic character Prime. Although things have been pretty quiet on the project, Rosenberg said there may be some new developments very soon. Prime, one of the most popular characters in the now-defunct line, featured a truly geeky teenager who could transform into a beefy superhero.

In active production at Platinum is Jeremiah, based on the comic series by Belgian author Hermann Huppen. The show stars Luke Perry and Malcolm-Jamal Warner. J. Michael Straczynski (Babylon 5, Rising Stars) serves as the writer and showrunner. The pilot film is currently being directed by Russell Mulcahy (Highlander).

Rosenberg told us Jeremiah is on track to make a spring debut on the Showtime cable channel.

Finally, Rosenberg said that the adaptation of Mal Chance is looking good. The script by Scott Murphy (Angel) is apparently in good shape and is well-liked at Miramax.

Mal Chance is based on Martin Pardo and David Morancho Spanish comic of the same name. It follows the exploits of Lola, a female Chinese assassin who has been marked for death by her own boss, the most powerful gangster in Chinatown. To save her own life, Lola must bring down he former-boss' criminal empire.

In a breaking story, Comics2Film has learned that Showtime Networks has officially greenlit the comic book adaptation Jeremiah for 2002. The show is set to star Luke Perry (Beverly Hills 90210) and Malcolm-Jamal Warner (Malcolm & Eddie). Russell Mulcahy (Highlander) will direct the two-hour premiere. Fan favorite J. Michael Straczynski (Babylon 5, Rising Stars) wrote the pilot script and will serve as showrunner and executive producer alongside Sam Egan (The Outer Limits). The announcement was made late Friday by Hank Cohen, President of MGM Television Entertainment. 

Jeremiah is based on Platinum Studios' award-winning graphic novel series by Belgian author Hermann Huppen. Perry will play the lead role of Jeremiah. Stated Cohen, "We're thrilled to bring together such a powerful talent roster that expands our strength as a leading provider of quality Sci-Fi programming."

Scott Mitchell Rosenberg of Platinum Studios told C2F that the cable net is very enthusiastic about the show. "Showtime loved the pilot script so much that they said 'forget shooting a pilot, we'll start with a whole season!' We're in prep right now and start shooting in September."

The 20-episode show is slated to debut in early 2002. Jeremiah is being produced by Jeremiah Productions Inc. in association with Lion's Gate Television and Platinum Studios and will be distributed by MGM Worldwide Television Distribution. This new series marks a continuing partnership between MGM and Showtime on such highly successful sci-fi series as Stargate SG-1 and The Outer Limits, as well as the much anticipated Leap Years which debuts on July 29th.

The executive producers also include, Luke Perry, Joe Dante (Small Soldiers), Michael Finnell (Small Soldiers), Rosenberg who developed the hit film Men In Black, Ervin Rustemagic and Gregory Noveck, who are both co-producing several upcoming live-action features for Platinum Studios with Rosenberg. The creative executives for Showtime are John Vasey and Randy Runkle. For MGM the creative executive is Craig Roessler.

Jeremiah is set in a future post-apocalyptic world where, almost a decade before, a deadly virus wiped out the world's adult population sparing only those who haven't reached puberty. Now in their 20s, the oldest survivors of the pandemic include Jeremiah and the colorful but cynical Kurdy. Jeremiah is on a personal quest to relocate a mysterious place called Valhalla, which his father claimed might hold some hope for the survivors. As Jeremiah falls into a reluctant partnership with Kurdy, both explore new areas and encounter other groups of young adults who are divided into rival social groups. In the course of the season opener, Jeremiah's smaller personal quest is redirected when he discovers a group of highly organized survivors who want to enlist him to orchestrate peace among the warring factions and to try and prevent the killer virus from returning.

J. Michael Straczynski continues to dish on the Jeremiah TV show from the Babylon 5 newsgroup.

The TV and comic creator offers this description of the show's premise: "Right around now in our timeline, a virus wipes out everyone on the planet over the age of puberty (figure around 12-13). It is now about 15 years later. Those who were once children have now grown up and are in their late 20s on down. For 15 years, they have been living on the scraps of the old world; now they must either continue the downward slide, or begin to rebuild the world, taking responsibility for themselves and the world and each other."

Straczynski told fans that Jeremiah is about beginnings and hope rather than endings and despair.

The show is in development for the cable pay channel Showtime. "We have a heck of a lot more money to play with than on B5," Straczynski said. "It's going to be a huge show."

Director Joe Dante had previously been announced as being attached, but at this point he is no longer associated with the project.

"Another well known feature film director is now attached to direct the pilot movie," Straczynski said. The creator couldn't name any names at this point but did tell readers, "I can say that there is a rather impressive pedigree of people both in front of and behind the camera."

Thanks again to Pål Are Nordal for keeping us up to speed.

J. Michael Straczynski announced details regarding the Jeremiah TV series from his Babylon 5 newsgroup this week.

The show, produced by MGM, has an order from ShowTime for a 2 hour movie followed by 18 one-hour episodes. According to Straczynski, shooting on the series is slated to start September 4th. The crew is in place and the show is said to be in "the very last stages of casting (with several name actors up for various roles)." The show is targeted for a January debut.

"This is going to be a heavily dramatic series, character-oriented, with a measure of action and humor as well," Straczynski said. "Because this is pay cable, they've taken off the usual broadcast TV handcuffs and told me to take it to the wall creatively, no restrictions, so I plan to do just that."

More publicity and details are expected as the production gets underway.

Thanks to Pål Are Nordal for the scoop.

A few weeks back Lions Gate Television announced its upcoming development slate which included a pilot based on Hermann's long-running comic book Jeremiah. The pilot is to be directed by Joe Dante (Gremlins, Small Soldiers), written by J. Michael Straczynski (Babylon 5, Rising Stars) and produced by Scott Rosenberg and Ervin Rustemagic of Platinum Studios with Gregory Noveck  of Platinum co-producing.

Lions Gate provided this description for the show: "The series is set in the near future when a society of children attempts to rebuild the world after a catastrophic virus annihilates everyone over the age of 12."

However, after reading that description, fans of the comic were concerned. This didn't sound much like the Jeremiah they knew. Comics2Film spoke with Rosenberg about the development of the pilot and what necessitated the changes in the storyline. 

"We've discussed the kind of changes that would be necessary to make it work for Showtime," Rosenberg told C2F. "[Hermann] is very pleased with the changes.

"What happened in the comic is that the catastrophe was different, which stemmed out of things that date back like 20 years ago," Rosenberg explained. "There was some racial wars and other such things. They just don't work for modern 00 audiences. So we basically needed to change the catastrophe that happened."

The virus that wiped out people over 12 won't prevent survivors from aging beyond that age. It just means that the current population of the world is younger. Jeremiah will be approximately the same age as his late-teens/early-20's comic book self. "All the characters are the same age as Jeremiah and his friend Kurdy," Rosenberg said.

Rosenberg points out that the new catastrophe provides a rich playground for developing the ongoing series, should there be one. "What's great for storylines: different cities are going to evolve differently. The most technology that anyone would know would be whatever the smarter 12-year-olds know, which might be more than you or I."

Straczynski is currently writing the two-hour pilot. The producers are currently waiting the get a target air date from Showtime. That date will likely be Fall of 2001 or Fall of 2002.

Hermann is Belgian comic book and graphic art sensation Hermann Huppen. Hermann started his career in 1965 as co-creator of the popular adventure series Bernard Prince and the western Comanche. In 1977 Hermann set out on his own and created his greatest success, the post-apocalyptic epic Jeremiah. Each annual volume of Jeremiah has been translated into many languages and sold tens of millions of copies worldwide, winning such fans as George Miller (Mad Max, Babe) and filmmaker Roman Polanski. Hermann’s other work includes the medieval adventure series Towers of Bois-Maury and the critically acclaimed 1995 bestseller Sarajevo Tango.

Thanks to Skywalker for asking the important questions.

A TV version of Max Allan Collins and Terry Beatty's Ms. Tree and Hermann's French comic Jeremiah are two of the many TV shows on the recently announced slate of programming from Lions Gate Television. 

Ms. Tree, is set to air as a one-hour action series for USA Network. Collins' and Beatty's hard-boiled female detective is Michael Tree, who inherits her father's detective agency after he is murdered. Her first case is to bring her father's killer to justice. The character first appeared in comic form in the early 1980's and was published by Eclipse. The title bounced around among indie publishers before landing at DC Comics in the early 1990's. 

Clifton Campbell (The Profiler) is the showrunner, executive producer and writer of the show. Adam Kline is also an executive producer. Shonna Diskin developed the project and will produce. No word on when the show will air.

Also on the Lions Gate slate is Jeremiah based on Belgian cartoonist Hermann's long running comic. A two-hour backdoor pilot for Showtime will be produced in association with Paramount International Television. The series is set in the near future when a society of children attempts to rebuild the world after a catastrophic virus annihilates everyone over the age of 12. The creative team includes director Joe Dante (Gremlins, Small Soldiers) and writer/producer J. Michael Straczynski (Babylon 5). Scott Rosenberg of Platinum Entertainment will be executive producer.