Zak Penn (“X-Men: The Last Stand,” “Elecktra”) and Lloyd Braun will be working over at the ABC Network busy creating a new show they have on tap for next year called “Section 8.” Ex-Paramount CEO Gail Berman is onboard to executive produce with Penn and Braun.
Like NBC has announced in our story about “The Philanthropist,” ABC is also getting on this ‘let’s get next year’s show’s going now’ idea. Whether this is being done to set a new precedent or to have something in the can in the event of a writer’s strike is yet to be seen, but regardless, ABC has already committed itself to at least six episodes of this new show. Actor/writer Michael Karnow will work with Penn on the pilot and other episodes. Karnow will also act as the program’s producer.
The alphabet network is describing this skein as part “X-Files,” part “House” and part “X-Men” — certainly a unique blending of concepts.
“It’s a science-fiction show where the science fiction is as close to reality as possible,” Penn said. “I want to do a show like ‘X-Files,’ something that each week presents a mystery that has some sort of comment about the way we live or the way we are.”
“Section 8” will be an episodic television show that revolves around a team of average folks who have advanced neurological abnormalities and who work for a highly secretive government organization. Sort of like “Heroes” with a license to kill.
[Pictured above from left to right: Zak Penn, Lloyd Braun, Gail Berman and Michael Karnow]
His SciFi credentials are X-Men the Last Stand and Elektra. I’m sorry but I’m not impressed. I’m mean X-Men 3 was OK if not great, but Elektra is something you don’t want to remind people about. Its like saying you were the screen writer of Bloodrayne.
I’ll give his show a chance anyway. Maybe working on mediocre projects has taught him something. Probably how to make more mediocre stuff but you never know.