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Universal Pictures & SyFy Channel Form Theatrical Film Banner
by Ethan Anderton
December 15, 2010
While they're usually more concerned with making wacky, low budget, made-for-TV sci-fi films, it looks like SyFy Ventures is ready to step up their game. Today the long-running science fiction channel announced a partnership with Universal Pictures to launch SyFy Films, a company that will create films for theatrical release to be distributed by Universal. Sticking to the usual genres of sci-fi, fantasy, supernatural and horror the new banner is looking to deliver two films every year starting in 2012. Like the rest of you, I'm hoping these films will be far superior to SyFy's usual film content like Sharktopus and Mega Snake. Read on!
SyFy president Dave Howe and executive vice president of programming Mark Stern said: "We know there is an incredible consumer appetite for genre content as proven by the top grossing box office films. Partnering our brand with the theatrical talent of Universal Pictures, a premier motion picture company, will allow us to exploit our combined expertise and resources to create commercially successful, quality films that have the potential to become great franchises for the whole company." Because if there's one thing we need, it's more franchises. In all seriousness, it will be nice to have another company dedicated to all things sci-fi, horror and fantasy. I hope they deliver content well above their usual standards for film. How about you?
7 Comments
1
I am hoping they use their existing television series to launch theather quality movies from. There have been several Stargate movies but to this point they have all been made for TV quality which turns them into 2 hour episodes instead of an actual theatrical experience. But Stargate, Babylon 5, Battlestar Galactica, Farscape, etc. could all be great movies if the right writers and directors are attached.
Stephen on Dec 15, 2010
2
#1 - If SyFy wanted to do a Stargate theatrical film they would have to get cooperation from MGM which owns the Stargate trademarks.
Edward C. on Dec 15, 2010
3
#2, If SyFy was going to fianace a cinema quality SG movie, I think you would find MGM very ready to help out. There would be an incredible amount of earning potential there; but they would have to do it soon, before Richard Dean Anderson gets much older!
Ben on Dec 15, 2010
4
I love this idea because no other studio gives us full monster versus monster action like SYFY does! yes it's cheap looking but still, with Universal involved, who wouldn't wanna see King Kong go up against one of the beast from SyFy like DinoCroc or some of the others!lol
jah p on Dec 15, 2010
5
This is the worst possible news Ive heard since they changed the name from Sci Fi to syfy. Sci Fi was great except for canceling Farscape and the the Dresden Files. But now this syfy is geared more towards texters and morons! I mean they put wrestling on whats supposed to be a science fiction channel. Now I guess were gonna get big screen versions of sharktopus in 3D no dout. God I miss Sci Fi.
Jimmy Love on Dec 15, 2010
6
huh
A5J4DX on Dec 15, 2010
7
Ohohoho! I'm expecting a bit of a boost in the budget, but pretty much the same shock-value "oh my god, look ou--" action and stories SyFy has built a reputation on in a rather short time period. That'll be a little disappointing (potentially bad movie results aside) because although my friend and I like watching a cheesy movie once in a while... not sure I want to dish out the cash for a theater viewing unless it's an improvement of what I can watch a few times a weekend on TV. So hopefully they'll boost things to a standard to attract people to the theater even if they keep it on the cheesy side.
SapphireD910 on Dec 15, 2010
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