Film/Television Projects that You Would Fund if You Had the Money to do so
The Blind Eternities forum
Posted on Oct. 13, 2016, 6:12 p.m. by DemonDragonJ
Many television and film projects either end abruptly, or never even exist, because of a lack of funding. It is an unfortunate reality of the entertainment business that the livelihoods of so many media depend upon their financial status, so this thread is to discuss what film or television projects users here would support if they had sufficient money.
First, in 2011, a new Thundercats series was produced, with a far more serious tone than the campy original series, and it was initially planned to last for two season of 26 episodes each, but it was canceled after only a single season due to poor ratings. I was extremely displeased by that cancellation, as it left many plot lines unresolved, so, if I ever had sufficient money, I would personally fund the production of the second season of that series.
Second, Don Bluth, the director of such famous animated films as An American Tale, The Secret of NIMH, The Land Before Time, and All Dogs Go to Heaven, was planning to make an animated film adaptation of Beauty and the Beast, but, when Disney made their adaptation, he abandoned the project. If I ever had enough money, I would contact him and let him know that I would fund production of that film, because it would certainly have been very different from Disney's version.
Third, one of my favorite television series ever is Gargoyles, which has very unfortunately fallen into obscurity, which I find to be unfortunate because I believe that it could easily have been as major a franchise as He-Man, Thundercats, G.I.-Joe, Transformers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, or Scooby-Doo. If I had enough money to do so, I would fund a revival of it, either as a new television series or as a feature-length film, whichever option seemed to be more sensible.
Fourth, Dark Horse comics has been publishing graphic novel continuations of Nickelodeon's famous Avatar: the Last Airbender series, so it would be very nice to see them animated, likely as direct-to-video features.
What does everyone else say about this? Was are some film and television projects that you would fund if you had the money to do so?
It wasn't a lack of funding that got Firefly canceled, but it's one that I would personally try to bring back given enough money.
October 13, 2016 7:04 p.m.
I'd pick Gargoyles as well. My friend and I have actually discussed ways in which they could pull off a live action movie before, too. It would be awesome.
I would first, however, fund a TV series based on Frank Herbert's Dune. I would want it aired on HBO, or Starz, or AMC, of course. And I would give it the Game of Thrones treatment, meaning I would treat the first book as Season One. I'd try to stay pretty faithful to the source material, but would add "fluff" and "filler," in order to add a new element that would entice oldschool Dune fans. I'd work with the Herbert estate, namely his wife, and the authors of the follow-up novels (his son and another author), based on his notes.
SIDENOTE: (to anyone familiar with all of the Dune novels) I also have always thought that the "Butlerian Jihad" trilogy of novels would make for an EPIC anime.
I also would fund a TV series based on Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series of novels. I would treat it in the same way as described above, except I would want it on HBO or Starz (and not AMC), because of boobies.
I would have picked Brian Lumley's Necroscope series over Wheel of Time, but apparently that is already being worked on. So... SWEET!
And finally, a tie for third, I would fund Season 3 of Big O (an anime series, not a porno, despite the name), or anything Death Note related.
Good question, btw.
TLDR:1 - The Dune novels, by Frank Herbert and co.
2 - The Wheel of Time novels, by Robert Jordan and co.
2a - The Necroscope novels, by Brian Lumley
3.1 - anything Death Note related
3.2 - Big O, Season 3
October 13, 2016 8:18 p.m. Edited.
@Gattison
1 - YES!
2 - MORE YES!
3 - The creators of death note actually wanted to end the series earlier than they did. They only continued it at the request of their publisher. You can actually see them vicariously addressing this matter through their main characters in Bakuman. Death note already had its Tetsuro Araki anime.
I'd love to see The Dresden Files receive a proper animated series. It would be long as hell, but it has the structure of a long-form shonen action series already and many american series have proven that multiple seasons in a drama/action series isn't necessarily a terrible thing.
October 13, 2016 9:43 p.m.
I still feel that Death Note's ending was rushed way too fast. They could have gone a solid 2 seasons with the plot line that they had.
October 13, 2016 10:01 p.m.
I would have The Malazan Book of the Fallen, by Stephen Erikson, turned into a television series at a rate of one season per book. I would also have Ian C. Esslemont's Tales of the Malazan Empire done as mini seasons to be shown between the appropriate seasons of the main story.
October 13, 2016 11:37 p.m.
DemonDragonJ says... #10
Gattison, I remember Big O; I watched it on Cartoon Network, years ago, and then re-watched it, recently. It was originally supposed to last for only a single season of thirteen episodes, which is why the first season ends fairly conclusively, but it was so popular that it was renewed for a second season, which ended without a proper conclusion because the animation studio was planning for a third season. However, the second season was not as popular was the first season, so plans for the third season were discarded.
I, also like the idea of a television adaptation of The Whee of Time, but the series contains fourteen books, so it is uncertain if most television studios would be willing to produce a series based off such a long series.
October 14, 2016 11:16 a.m.
TheDevicer: I was actually thinking more along the lines of a live-action TV series or movie series for Death Note, not a continuation. As much as I love sequels, I feel the Death Note story is done and can stay that way. (P.S. I know there is already a live-action movie trilogy for Death Note. I don't care, I'd make another one, lol.)
I didn't know that about the series though (that it was continued at the request of the publishers, much like the Dune novels), so thanks for sharing. Pretty cool. And it's kinda obvious now that you mention it, seeing as how [SPOILER ALERT] L dies in the middle.
As for The Dresden Files, I keep hearing a lot about those books. I might have to actually read them one day.
Zakass: I agree. I don't know how they could have expanded/extended the plot, but I would have loved it and it would have been awesome.
shadow63: I want to read it one day, just finding the time is a problem.
DemonDragonJ: I am aware that Big O was extended past its originally intended run, but, like you said, they never finished the third part of the story. I'd release straight to DVD or Netflix/Amazon if I had to, =D I just wanna see it!
As for the WoT, yeah, fourteen seasons is a lot to ask, but even if the show only got 6 seasons, they would all be epic, awesome and memorable. Plus it would open the door for revisiting the franchise in the future.
October 14, 2016 11:52 a.m.
DemonDragonJ says... #12
Zakass, are you referring to the Death Note manga or anime? I am not certain why the anime lasted for a highly-irregular 39 episodes, but the writers of the manga wished for it to be exactly 108 chapters, since the number 108 is very significant in many Asian cultures.
shadow63 says... #2
Hell boy 3 as it has to be one of the most wanted sequels in history. I loved the first two films and really want to know it ends. I totally agree with the gargoyles. That show was amazing it's mind boggling how they haven't made a return to it yet
October 13, 2016 6:57 p.m.