Syfy Orders Pilots For AI Drama ‘The Machine’, ‘Haunted’ & ‘Happy!’ Adaptation
Syfy is stepping up its development efforts with three pilot orders to artificial intelligence drama The Machine, based on the 2013 cult hit film; supernatural horror-drama Haunted; and Happy! based on Grant Morrison and Darick Robertson’s graphic novel. All three hail from sibling Universal Cable Prods.
After several straight-to-series orders, Syfy returned to pilot development this year with the pilot greenlights of Prototype in February and Superman prequel Krypton in May. The former was filmed and not going forward, while the latter is currently casting. Today’s pickups mark the largest batch of pilot orders for Syfy in a while as the network had been going through a creative revamp.
The Machine is set in a world that is being transformed by the emergence of artificial intelligence. The project explores the epic conflict between man and technology through the lives and motivations of six interwoven characters – each of whom holds the key to humanity’s victory or its destruction. The Machine feature helmer Caradog James will executive produce with Red & Black Films. The film’s producer, John Giwa-Amu will also executive produce the pilot.
The Haunted is a supernatural horror-drama about four siblings who reunite following their parents’ deaths. As they try to overcome their fractured personal relationships they find that they must also face the literal ghosts from their past in order to survive. Noga Landau (Tau, The Magicians) wrote the pilot and is also a co-executive producer. Author James Frey and Todd Cohen of Full Fathom Five will executive produce.
Happy! is based on Morrison (Batman, The Invisibles) and Robertson’s graphic novel. It follows Nick Sax – an intoxicated, corrupt cop-turned-hit man — who is adrift in a world of casual murder, soulless sex and betrayal. After a hit gone wrong, his inebriated life is forever changed by a tiny, relentlessly positive, imaginary blue winged horse. Morrison and Brian Taylor (Crank, Gamer) will write and executive produce. Neal Moritz, Pavun Shetty and Toby Jaffe of Original Film (The Fast And The Furious franchise) will also executive produce. Taylor will also direct the pilot.
Here is a trailer for the 2013 feature film The Machine:
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