Thursday, April 12, 2007

The new Flash Gordon

It won't be the same unless they have Timothy Dalton saying 'Freeze you bloody bastards !'


Eric Johnson (Smallville) has landed the title role in SCI FI Channel's upcoming original series Flash Gordon, the network announced. The 22-hour series updates the comic-strip franchise and is slated for an August premiere. Johnson will play space-traveling adventurer Gordon, who is joined by companions Dale Arden and Dr. Hans Zarkov. Ordinary people thrust into extraordinary circumstances, they find themselves as Earth's last line of defense against the forces of the merciless dictator Ming.

Peter Hume wrote the first two episodes, which will be directed by Rick Rosenthal (Smallville). Production is to begin May 1 in Vancouver, Canada.

Flash is being produced by Reunion Pictures under an agreement with King Features Syndicate, which owns the franchise. RHI Entertainment's Robert Halmi Sr. and Robert Halmi Jr. (SCI FI 's Legend of Earthsea) are executive-producing, with Hume also expected to executive-produce. Matthew O'Connor and Tom Rowe produce.

Canadian actor Johnson is perhaps best known for his role as Whitney Fordman on Smallville, a character he portrayed from 2001 to 2004.

Casting is under way for the other roles. Flash Gordon was created in 1934 by Alex Raymond.

6 comments:

I. N. J. Culbard said...

cool.

But with stuff like this, I wonder if visually it'll be taking its cues from Alex Raymond or the Buster Crabbe serial?

Andrew Glazebrook said...

I just hope they don't go all gritty and Battlestar Galactica on us ! I'd rather see Rocket ships !!

paulhd said...

Dunno Flash looks like to much of a little kid. Good news anyway, hope they base it on Raymonds original version. Either way grim n gritty would be way bad, retro is the way to go. Wasn't Stephen Sommers trying to direct a Flash film? Lucky escape!

Michael Grant Clark said...

I want Flash knocking on rocket ship windows so he could be let in (while orbiting Mongo).

Good news about the cancelled Stephen Sommers film, that guy really does suck heaps.

Andrew Glazebrook said...

I want Anna Friel as Dale Arden...on second thoughts I just want Anna Friel !

Michael Grant Clark said...

Still have to fight me for her.

Or a duel with our rocket ships, while wearing capes of course.