Revolution

[JackFetch]

Sci Fi plots 'Revolution'

Sci Fi Channel has greenlighted "Revolution," a two-hour futuristic action-drama pilot from writers Ed Redlich and John Bellucci, with Simon West in negotiations to direct.

Redlich describes the project, from CBS Paramount Network Television, as "re-envisioning the American Revolution 200 years in the future."

"Revolution" is set in New America, a distant colony on an Earth-like planet struggling for its independence from an increasingly hostile homeland, the United State.

"It centers on two multigenerational families related by marriage -- a loyalist family and a family that is leaning toward rebellion -- and how the impending revolution impacts their lives," said Redlich, a veteran showrunner.

"Revolution" has been a "huge passion project" for longtime friends Redlich and Bellucci, both U.S. history and sci-fi buffs, who first developed it with West for CBS two years ago.

"It's taken two years to find it a home, but I think we found the dream home for it at Sci Fi," Bellucci said, praising CBS Par for sticking with the project.

Expanding the script from one hour to two, Redlich and Bellucci said they were able to put back a lot of sci-fi elements they'd taken out when they were writing it for CBS and "had a chance to flesh out the characters and the stories."

Redlich, Bellucci and West will executive produce "Revolution," with Redlich set to showrun if the pilot goes to series. Simon West Prods.' Jib Polhemus is co-executive producing.

The pilot is slated to begin production in January. If it is picked up to series, Sci Fi is eyeing a summer debut, said Mark Stern, the network's executive vp original programming.

"This is a very relatable family drama filled with issues that we identify with: freedom and the rights of the individual versus the rights of the state. All of those things are very much in the world we live in now," he said. "Also, it's just a really wonderfully written script that combines sci-fi elements with strong, emotional character drama, similar to (Sci Fi's) 'Battlestar Galactica.' "

West, who is under a deal at CBS Par, directed the LL Cool J-starring pilot presentation "The Man" for CBS this past development season. He is repped by CAA and attorney Barry Tyerman.

Redlich, also under a deal at CBS Par, most recently served as executive producer on CBS' drama "Shark." He is repepd by ICM and attorney Jamie Mandelbaum.

It sounds interesting.