Powers
As we get more and more diversity it out there in where shows can be released, having seen Netflix make it a financial positive in the end, we’re seeing those venues as being places where some production companies can find a home for shows that can grow into something more, or translate to strong video sales when they get out into the more mainstream areas. Such is the case with Powers, a TV series that was being worked in for a couple of years with hopes of landing on FX that’s based on the comic of the same name by Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Avon Oeming. The pilot was produced, which starred Jason Patric and Lucy Punch as the leads, but FX never picked it up and it essentially collapsed as contracts ended and people moved on.
Now, Sony Pictures is looking to take the premise of that series and produced an original programming space on their PlayStation streaming service. The company is not using what was produced before as it’s bringing in Charlie Huston to write the script while working with circle of Confusion as well as the original writers for it. Huston and Remi Aubuchon of Falling Skies will serve as showrunners.
Sony is looking at producing this in the cable TV mode, which it has plenty of experience with, so it’s expected to get a thirteen episode run and will be sold internationally to other markets in the more traditional model as well as potentially getting a cable pickup here.
Plot concept: Powers is set in a world where superpowers are relatively common but not mundane. It follows the lives of two detectives, Christian Walker and Deena Pilgrim, police officers in a Homicide department devoted to cases that involve “powers” (people with superpowers). Walker himself used to be a costumed superhero named Diamond, but became a police officer after he lost his abilities. Though stripped of his powers, he still retains his contacts within the superhero community, even becoming engaged to an ex-colleague, who is later killed. In later issues, Walker is offered the chance to become the world’s latest secret Guardian as part of The Millennium Guard, a secret group of intergalactic guardians, accepting the responsibility and the powers that come with it.
Deena Pilgrim, his partner, is also hiding at least one troubling secret. She contracted superpowers during a fight with an underworld thug named the Bug, an event which she kept under wraps. As a result of this, she unintentionally kills her abusive boyfriend in self-defense, and hides the evidence, although coming under investigation by Internal Affairs. However after a series of events involving Retro Girl going undercover, Triphammer cures Deena and she is no longer under the scrutiny of I.A
[Source: Deadline]