Here are some exciting excerpts of a press release from Sci Fi!
SCI FI’S Upcoming Television Events Shatter the Boundaries of Imagination
NEW YORK, April 5 /PRNewswire/ — SCI FI Channel, responsible for almost single-handedly reviving the miniseries format in the past few years, has established itself as the industry’s leading producer of original movies and awe-inspiring television events. Continuing to attract Hollywood’s hottest filmmakers, SCI FI has partnered with DreamWorks and Steven Spielberg for a second miniseries (the first was the Emmy Award-winning Steven Spielberg Presents TAKEN) entitled Nine Lives, and has signed deals in recent months with Martin Scorsese, Bryan Singer, Dean Devlin, Joel Silver and Gale Anne Hurd, among others. Oscar(R)-caliber actors such as Timothy Hutton, Randy Quaid and Isabella Rossellini lead the casts of SCI FI’s upcoming 2004 miniseries, while other stars have signed on for future epics.
Following is a list of projects that lead SCI FI’s development slate, with a number of luminaries making the Channel their creative home:
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Dresden Files (working title)
Based on the best-selling “Dresden Files” novels by Jim Butcher, this 2-hour backdoor pilot film will be executive produced by Academy Award(R) winner Nicolas Cage and Norm Golightly of Saturn Films. Erik Dresden is a detective with extraordinary powers, the kind that could belong only to the descendant of a long line of wizards. Where others see the typical crimes of assault, kidnapping and serial killings, Erik sees otherworldly forces at work — which only he knows how to combat. Whether consulting for the police on inexplicable crimes or following his own cases, Erik has a unique outlook on the world, and wields a wry sense of humor as one of his most potent weapons. The project is produced by Lions Gate Television and Cage’s Saturn Films (The Life of David Gale, Shadow of the Vampire), with Morgan Gendel (Law & Order, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Next Generation) writing; Gendel and Anthony Peckham (Don’t Say a Word, 5 Days to Midnight) are executive producers.
141 thoughts on “Sci Fi Channel announces intentions for Dresden pilot”
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I’ve read all the Dresden Files books and must say
that I cannot picture James Marsten…Spike! Yikes! …as HARRY. I cannot think of the actor’s
name right now but the guy who played Scott Summers aka CYCLOPS in the X-Men movies would
be a better physical choice, and if Thomas Janes
were younger he would be perfect for the role.
Surely, there is someone out there who is better
than Spike! Yikes!
As for the character’s name change the people over at Sci-Fi need to wake up and smell the coffee! Its always better to stay as close to the
source material as possible in these kinds of projects. Staying close to your sources keeps the
fan base happier and less critical, I think, and for
the comments on Sci-Fi’s own boards they need to
keep HARRY’s fans happy so they will watch the
show. I mean really, a network that is still producing thinly disguised 50s monster/disaster
movies…and pretty bad ones at that…needs to
clean up its act and pay attention to source material and the source material’s fan base.
It is great to see that Sci-fi channel is going to be doing a movie. I just don’t thing they should be changing the name from Harry Dresden.
JM is Harry Dresdon. He is an incredible actor with great range. He no longer has the blonde locks as he shaved his head for charity and now has his dark hair growing back. I just can’t see anyone else playing this part! He is who I picture as Harry when ever I crack open one of the books! I even printed out a copy of a Harry sketch with JM face and I use that as my book mark.
Erik Dresden? Wasn’t that the name of The Crow when he was alive? I’m pretty sure it’s close. I don’t think they need to change the name since Harry’s called by his last name most of time in the books.
My vote is for Marsters too. I heard a sound clip of him reading the first book and thought he was great. He’s really good at being sarcastic and snarky.
The Crows characters name was Eric Draven: not Dresdon. Again I would like to convey my wish for JM to play the part of Harrry/Eric Dresdon.
I am really looking forward to this! I have to agree that James M. did a fabulous job with the audio books and he would be wonderful in the role of Erik!
First up- congratulations to Jim for writing the books and for choosing James Marsters to read them on audio, I mean Wow!! You did choose him right? And second, Erick Dresden! it doesn’t really have the same ring to it does it? But who cares as long as JM gets the role. But the downside is JM is under WB contract for two years, oops!! And what do you mean JM is too old!! Oh please.
I think that we have established that most of us want JM to play the part of Eric dresdon in the movie, myself included! But any ideas on who should portray some of the other characters? Such as Marcone,Susan, Michael ect.
Now that I’ve stopped screaming and dancing around the room… FANTASTIC NEWS 😀 Congratulations, Mr. Butcher!!!!!!!!!! I absolutely can not wait!
I’d love for James Marsters to be cast as Harry/Eric. He’s the only reason I read the books in the first place.
I would like to see Marcone played by the guy that sleeps with all the women off of Nip/Tuck. I think he would be a good choice.
Julian McMahon is the actors name. Before nip/tuck he was on Charmed. He would make a great Marcone. And although I have already said it, I want James Marsters to play Eric/Harry Dresdon!
no name change please … many Harry’s … books are outstanding … as for potter 3rd time charm??? i doan no
Yeah ok, I have to agree that JM needs to play the part of ED/HD, especially since he is growing his hair dark again….. MR. BUTCHER!!! SINCE THIS IS YOUR SITE, I HOPE YOU ARE READING THESE COMMENTS ABOUT WHO SHOULD PLAY WHAT CHARACTERS!!!!! Anyway, I hope they keep Harry as his name, If it changes, it won’t really be the same! that would be like changing (I’ll use spike since its most familiar) Spike’s name to Mario or something! it just isn’t right!!!!!
hmmmm, to play susan, hmmmmm…. i just can’t picture anyone playing her part, perhaps Cathrine Z Jones, but that would be fetching at a great distance…… The wolves would be easy, Michael…. someone with a buzzcut just seems appropriate… anywho….. thats all for now
au revior
Great news!
Umm, The problem with James Marsters playing Dresden is his height. JM isn’t quite 6′, Dresden is, what?, 6′ 6″ or near abouts?
Yeah, I know. Not a lot of 6′ 6″ actors out there.
The talk is great here and I agree with most people here that James Marsters would be a great Harry/Eric Dresden. One of the other people I could see as Harry/Eric is Seann William Scott. He has a height of 6’2′ (Closer Harry/Eric than James) and has the right kind of attitude.
Is what I have been reading true? Or did Harry (Eric) Dresden just walk by my window and make my computer glitch and show me this delightful fantasy? No mean feat for Harry that I am on the fifth floor! Fantastic and overwhelming is what comes to mind. Congrats Jim on the success. Personally I could see James as one of the upper eschelon of the Vampire houses in the later books. Whoever it is I can’t wait to see them in a sky blue tux and false fangs. Who could play Michael, I wonder? I can’t wait to find out.
Just to throw another name in the ring – while everyone and their brother keeps saying James Marsters will be Dresden, I have always thought that a better choice would be Peter Wingfield – Methos from the “Highlander” TV series. He has a better “indeterminate age” look, lends gravity to the role and would could really sink himself into the role instead of Marsters having to re-invent himself in a different role. Its tough for an actor to stay in a similar genre, yet play it differently – just look how out of place Orlando Bloom looks as Paris in “Troy” as compared to his role of Legolas in the “Lord of the Rings” movies.
Thoughts on Wingfield?
My 2 cents…the comment above, “My vision of Harry is of a tall, lanky, dark haired, bumbling guy, who is heroic in spite of himself.” immediatly brought the face of Bruce Campbell to mind. You know, Brisco County, Jr., Army of Darkness, Bubba Ho-Tep, etc…You gotta love this guy. I wouldn’t pick JM just because of his physical stature.
Marsters would be good for the role but for some reason I can’t picture him with a beard. In fact I see Harry/Erik as Jim more than Marsters, despite the voice acting :/
And yeah, I’ve seen Troy too, which in my opinion is horrid, they barely stayed true to the Illiad. Plus Brad’s attempts at thoughtful looks are nothing more than furrowed brows and attemping to look good. Bloom acted too… nobly, for lack of a better word. I really hope that the Dresden Files, TV show is NOTHING like Troy.