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Turner Network Television
Top Cow

Comics2Film's Review and Video Preview

"We  want it to be treated like a real TV show, like NYPD Blue, with the fantasy element as an afterthought.  The show's about Sara [Pezzini], and not as much about her weapon."

"I want the show to be good and serious -- not campy.  It's too easy to make that subject matter campy."

In regards to the decision to air the series on a cable network instead of syndicating it Foxhoven is quoted as saying, "In our opinion, cable was the better choice.  The syndication market is too saturated at this point, and we really were worried about the good time slots being taken."  The current deal would give Witchblade a Wednesday night 8pm slot, just before reruns of ER.

According to the article, the series will consist of characters from the first eight issues of the comic.  The title role has not yet been cast.  The series is expected to premier in January of 1999.

According to the Detroit News Comic Book Continuum, the much discussed made-for-TV Witchblade movie is now in pre-production.  According to the article full production is set to begin in October.  The movie is currently scheduled air on TNT early next year.  No mention is made of any casting decisions.

Comic fans aren't the only ones lamenting the delayed production of Top Cow's Witchblade.  According to the SF website, Crusade a spin-off of the syndicated TV series Babylon 5 is also hampered by the delay.   Both series are being developed for the TNT cable network.  Crusade had a debut date of January 6, 1999.  However, that show's creator J. Michael Straczynski reports that his show is being held up because the network wants to roll out the two shows in a close time frame.  He did tell Sci-Fi Wire that it was still possible that the shows could debut in January, February or March.

Our report about the relationship between the Witchblade TV movie and the Crusade TV series, both bound for the TNT cable network, garnered a curious response from Zentertainment kingpin Sean Jordan.  Jordan has been closely covering the development Crusade (a Babylon 5 spin-off).  He told C2F that last week's article, which said that Crusade's debut was being delayed because of Witchblade's lateness, didn't quite line up with the facts as he understood them.

According to Jordan, the delayed debut of Crusade has more to do with that program's own production problems, and less to do with the Top Cow series.  Jordan tells us that the initial episodes of Crusade were filmed and then screened for the top dogs at TNT.  The TNT execs requested a number of changes designed to make the show stand apart from Babylon 5 including costumes, sets, a more humorous tone, etc.  Jordan tells us these changes are what made the January 6, 1999 premier date for the show unreachable.

Finally, while Jordan is unsure of the status of Witchblade, his sources tell him that the series has been helped by the delays on Crusade.   These delays have apparently given the Top Cow show some breathing room to address their own problems.

The DNCC reports that the Witchblade television movie is on track for a thanksgiving production start.  A Top Cow representative told the DNCBC that production should start in Toronto at that time.

The DNCC reports that production for the Witchblade TV movie still lacks a start date.

The DNCC reports that the start of production on the made for cable Witchblade movie has been officially rescheduled.  Although previous reports indicated a November start, production is now reported to be on hold until January.  According to the article, changes to the show helped delay the production start.  In addition, no lead actress has been announced for the title role.

The latest issue of EW featured their Guide to 1999: a catalog of upcoming entertainment events of note.   There were several nuggets in there for comic and movie fans like us.

The magazine also mentions Oliver Stone as the producer of Witchblade.   Unfortunately it gives no hint as to the status of this long-anticipated and troubled project.

Sources tell Comics2Film that there's trouble in paradise in regards to the Witchblade TV series.   Our sources tell us that Top Cow is very upset about the state of affairs on this project.  The title role remains not cast and what little scripting that has been generated has been less than satisfactory.  Word from our source is that the project is stalled.

CNSC did some fact checking our very own Witchblade story which appeared just a few days ago.  To summarize, our story is that a source told us that the folks at Top Cow are very upset over the slow development on Witchblade and the project is stalled.  Our source wished to remain anonymous but we will say that the person is not "at Top Cow" as the Cinescape article indicated.

Cinescape contacted Top Cow who admitted things were moving slower than they would like, but the company is not upset.   The Top Cow spokesperson told Cinescape that they appreciate the fact that TNT (the network that will air the show) is not rushing the development just to get the product out.  Further more they are very pleased that TNT is "making pains" to keep them involved.  Cinescape concludes that the emphasis in this development is on quality over scheduling, which is good news for Witchblade fans.

The DNCC reports that filming of the Witchblade TV series will most likely not begin until after February.  Top Cow's Brad Foxhoven told the Continuum, "We are still touching up some things."

Alan Shue, Illusion Entertainment's production manager for the Witchblade TV show, spoke to Comics 2 Film about the status of that development effort.  Shue told C2F that difficulty getting the appropriate writer on board was the culprit behind the delayed efforts to bring the Top Cow character to the small screen.  The most recent writer on the project didn't work out and the producers are in the process of seeking a new writer who can develop a script.  This is obviously a critical early step in the development of a TV show and little else can be done to forward the project until a writer is in place.  Shue assured us that diligent efforts are underway to find the writer and production efforts will continue.

According to a recent article on CNSC the TNT network in now eyeing the year 2000 as a good year to launch the Witchblade TV series.  The cable network has officially postponed the show stating that they want "to make sure that the series is ready to go."

The DNCC followed up on recent reports that air dates for a Witchblade TV movie and series had been delayed until next year.  The Continuum spoke to Top Cow's Brad Foxhoven who confirmed the reports and offered these insights, "They are talking more about the regular series than the initial movie.  They change their minds every other week -- depending on how the script looks and other factors. Nothing is set in stone -- fortunately and unfortunately."

As previously reported, the script is currently the source of the hold-up.  Rewrites are underway.

VRTY reports that Oliver Stone (Any Given Sunday) is getting out of the production business.  The decision also comes with the announcement of the dissolution of Illusion Entertainment, the production company he founded with partner Dan Halsted.   The Illusion project of primary concern to Comics2Film readers is Top Cow's Witchblade.  Never fear, the article indicates that Halstead will likely start a new company and continue work on the various projects he and Stone initiated.  Stone wishes to focus his efforts on writing and directing.

"It means absolutely nothing for the show," Foxhoven told The Continuum. "The two of them (Stone and partner Dan Halsted) are still attached and involved on a regular basis. They are still dedicated in getting the show on the air and making the most of its run.

"I think it was just a natural progression for their relationship -- they remain on great terms and will continue to work together. And we still get along with both of them!"

Thanks to Mike Kahn.

The long anticipated Witchblade TV series may be gaining steam again.  Top Cow head Marc Silvestri told Rob Allstetter of the Detroit News Comic Book Continuum that "The show is alive and well, stronger than ever."

The series was initially targeted to be on the air early this year.   However, the development process was much slower than anticipated.  According to the article, screenwriter J.D. Zeik (Ronin) is on board and has completed a script for the pilot movie.  The script is serious in tone and Silvestri likens it more to NYPD Blue than Xena.

Silvestri is enthusiastic about the latest teleplay.  "This new guy amazingly enough realizes that the book transfers (from print to television) very well, almost directly," Silvestri told Allstetter.  "This guy got it. The concepts and the characters are all intact. Sara's great. You've got Jake in there and he's great. Irons and Nottingham, the characters are right there.

"It's all pretty true to the original book. The two-hour pilot follows the eight-issue arc that started it."

Silvestri and the producers were unwilling to go forward without a script that did the concept justice.  With that now in place, casting can finally begin.  Silvestri told Allstetter that he was confident having Oliver Stone's name attached to the project would bring in top-notch acting talent.

The long anticipated (and delayed) TV series based on Top Cow's Witchblade is among several shows named as programs being considered by the TNT cable network.  An article in Daily Variety details the network's slate of original TV Series for 2000.   Although 11 programs are mentioned, the article cautions that only two or three are expected to be on the air in summer of 2000.

Will Witchblade be one of them?  The article doesn't say.  It does describe the show as " a long-delayed series from Oliver Stone based on a comic book about a cop facing mysterious elements."  Recent reports indicated that a solid teleplay had been turned in by J.D. Zeik (Ronin) that Top Cow is very enthusiastic about.

Rob Allstetter of Detroit News Comic Book Continuum spoke to David Wohl of Top Cow about the recent announcement by TNT which included Witchblade as a potential series for next year.

"TNT's really happy with the latest script for the two-hour movie by J.D. Zeik (Ronin)," Wohl told Allstetter.  Wohl also said he wasn't discouraged by past delays stating,  "I'd rather it takes three years than come out and be crap."

The pilot movie for Witchblade will likely be shot in Toronto.  Wohl also told Allstetter he was unaware of rumored auditions by Claudia Christian (Babylon 5) taking place.

Ralph Hemecker, who has directed episodes of Millennium and The X-Files will be the director.  The show currently has no cast although casting would obviously have to come together quickly to make the mid-February start date.  The script for the movie is by J.D. Zeik who penned the 1998 Robert DeNiro film Ronin. 

Witchblade Logo Art is ™ and © Warner Bros. Televison

While prowling the website for a special effects house called Look! Effects, Inc., the Comics2Film reader known only as SpydaWeb unearthed some early production artwork for the Witchblade TV series.  The artwork depicts what appears to be the title card for the show: a three dimensional logo very similar to the comic's logo.

Also visible on the website are images of the Witchblade gauntlet.  However these images are quite small and are of fairly poor quality.  Accompanying the images is the story of the work Look! did in regards to the show.  The article was written in 1998, just after the show was delayed.  It speculates that Look! would be part of the future development effort, which only recently revived.  We currently have no word as to whether or not Look! is currently involved with the show.

The article does state that the effects engineers were instructed by the producers that it was "crucial that the growth and movement of the Witchblade in the television show be of as high quality as any film effect.  But, beyond that, the creators seek to have the Witchblade appear to be a living entity - organic, rather than just a malleable prosthetic."

The work done by Look! in 1998 yielded the organic, growing claw, as well as the animated, organically textured logo.

Butler is a C2F fave, appearing in such TV fare as Mann & Machine, Perversions of Science, Brooklyn South and South Beach.  She can also seen throwing Wesley Snipes out of an airplane (and then catching him) in Drop Zone and appeared in other action movies like Hard Target and Ravager.

Witchblade is a two-hour film from Warner Bros. Television. Ralph Hemecker (Millennium, The X-Files) is set to direct from a script by J.D. Zeik (Ronin). Dan Halsted (Any Given Sunday, The Virgin Suicides) will executive-produce for Halsted Pictures, with Marc Silvestri executive-producing for Top Cow Productions. The film will premiere on TNT in October.

The TNT announcement provides this description for the movie: "Witchblade is the mesmerizing story of a New York detective, Sara Pezzini (Butler), whose search for justice brings her into contact with an ancient, intelligent, living weapon so powerful it can battle Earth's darkest evil forces. Chokachi will portray fellow detective Jake McCartey, a laid back surfer who has transferred from California. Cistaro will star as Kenneth Irons, a billionaire obsessed with possessing the Witchblade and Etebari will star as Ian Nottingham, Iron's enigmatic henchman. Lee will star as Pezzini's partner Michael Yee."

"Everything's going great," our source told us, indicating that the project is on track for it's October airing.

Witchblade Movie Images are ™ and © Turner Network Television Click for larger image

A source at Turner Network Televison told Comics2Film that the TV Movie Witchblade has been assigned an air date of August 27 at 8PM.  Our source also provided the following information from a release made by Top Cow Productions, the publishers of the comic. " Top Cow Productions will be releasing a special photo cover of Witchblade #1 featuring Yancy Butler as Witchblade that will be available via quick solicit through Diamond Dateline in the next few weeks. Photo posters and other related merchandise will be produced by TNT¹s licensed affiliates and Top Cow to coordinate with the launch of the film."

The made for TV movie stars Yancy Butler as Sara Pezzini, a New York City police detective, who wields an ancient, living weapon.  David Chokachi (12 Bucks), Eric Etebari (The Murder in China Basin), Anthony Cistaro (Angel) and Will Yun Lee (Profiler) also appear in the cast.

The movie is directed by Ralph Hemecker (Millennium, The X-Files) from a script by J.D. Zeik (Ronin). Dan Halsted (Any Given Sunday, The Virgin Suicides) and Marc Silvestri are Executive Producers.

TNT provided C2F with the following stills from the movie.

Chokachi as Jake McCartey and Butler as Sara Pezzini

Sara makes a new friend

Sara trapped by goons

Hemecker talked about the reason the TV character doesn't look like the comic book character. "I have read the comic book, and I am a big fan of it," Hemecker said. "One of the reasons we had the change of costume is just because of the number of stunts that we had to have Yancy do. We had to have her a little bit more padded up and had to conceal the pads."

Weitz told the press that the two-hour movie is definitely intended to serve as a pilot for a potential series. "I think the beauty in doing a two-hour pilot is you actually have something that you can entertain people with, and you can air. If you make a pilot, which most of the networks do - [an] hour pilot - it never gets seen."

Cistaro talked about the long development time for the show, which has been in the works for over three years.  "In talking to the producers, they were saying that, you know, the reason that it took so long is because they didn't want it to be just a typical comic book come to life. They wanted to really bring a real character-driven piece, and bring some real interest to bear on it. And so I certainly expect it to be a series."

Should a show go into production, it could include previous incarnations of the Witchblade. "This gauntlet, this artifact, has been handed off for woman warrior to woman warrior through the ages," Hemecker explained. "So, I think that we'd be tapping into some of the previous woman warriors in episodes." 

Hemecker also said it was possible that other comic-based guests could wind up in episodes of the show. If a series gets picked up, the current cast of actors is expected to continue in their roles. "Since we've shot, we've don a lot of talking about where it can go and our hopes for it, so we really want to bring that bear," Cistaro said. "There's so much more to mine, and you have to remember that it's what? Three years worth of stories in the comic books."

The movie airs August 27th on TNT.

Of course, a movie as good as Witchblade deserves more than one website, and Top Cow has recently opened its own Witchblade.com. The site is still under construction, but it does have the official trailer for the movie available for download.

Also recently opened is Sheena.com, promoting the original jungle girl! This site, which is still under construction, was created by Paul Aratow's Galaxy Publishing, Inc.  Aratow has held the rights to the character for over 20 years and was the producer on the 1984 movie starring Tanya Roberts. Aratow tells us that this site represents "The Real Sheena."

It does not, however, represent the upcoming Sony/Columbia Sheena syndicated TV show. Last December, it was reported that Aratow was bringing a lawsuit against Sony. Aratow claims that the studio deprived him of his "first right of negotiation" when it assigned the TV project to producer Douglas Schwartz (Baywatch) without giving him a crack at it. The suit is still ongoing at the time of this writing.

Witchblade’s performance helps TNT earn four of the top five highest-rated original movies on basic cable for the summer to date (May 29-Aug. 27). TNT’s Running Mates and Nuremberg Part I are tied for the number-one original movie on basic cable for the summer, earning a 5.6 rating. Nuremberg Part II earned a 5.3 rating, giving TNT the third-highest-rated original, while Witchblade takes the fifth spot.

TNT will air three additional encores of Witchblade on: Thursday, Aug. 31, at 8 p.m.; Saturday, Sept. 2, at 10 p.m. and Wednesday, Sept. 6, at 10 p.m.