- Today’s big “out of nowhere†news is that Kevin has signed on to direct a TV pilot. Normally we ignore surprise stuff like this, but the sources are two legit spots on the web, Cinematical and SlashFilm. The news is this: Kevin will direct a pilot episode for the CW network! The show is called “Reaper†and is billed as a comedic drama, though also seems to have a bit of supernatural overtones to it. We’re certainly intrigued. Let’s take a look at the stories as they ran today:
Kevin Smith Directing Satanic Television Pilot
Right about now, all those people who were protesting the release of Kevin Smith’s religious comedy Dogma are probably shouting a collective “Ah-ha! We knew it!†Primarily known as a writer, director, and occasional star of motion pictures, Smith will direct the pilot episode of The Reaper for the CW Network, according to Production Weekly. The show is about a 21-year old slacker named Sam Oliver, who finds out that around the time of his birth, his parents sold his soul to the devil. Personally, I’m hoping this kid has his therapist on speed-dial. To repay the dept, Oliver must become a bounty hunter for Satan and track down souls that have escaped from hell.
The story — which reminds me a bit of the short-lived 1998-1999 TV series Brimstone — was written by Michele Fazekas and Tara Butters. The pilot will shoot for two weeks in Vancouver beginning March 12. This marks Smith’s second pilot episode in recent history, having shot Manchild for Showtime back in December. That production saw Smith in front of the camera rather than behind it, which seems to be be happening more and more often these days.
SLASHFILM – “Kevin Smith to direct Television Pilotâ€
Clerks director Kevin Smith has signed on to direct a pilot for the CW.
Reaper is a comedic drama following 21-year-old slacker Sam Oliver who learns that at birth his parents sold his soul to the devil (for what reason, we don’t yet know). Oliver must now pay back his debt by becoming a bounty hunter for Satan, retrieving souls that have escaped from hell.
I’m not sure what to think of this. The plot synopsis sounds interesting, but it could easily result in one of those bad CW series we’ve all become accustomed to.
This also marks the first time Smith will direct a project without having written the screenplay (or teleplay). I assume that he will touch up the final shooting script with his patented dialogue.
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit writer/story editors Michele Fazekas (X-Files) and Tara Butters wrote the project. Shooting is planned for two weeks in Vancouver, beginning March 12th 2007. If it gets picked up, expect it to air in Fall 2007.
This is, as they say, a milestone, as it will indeed mark Kevin’s first directing effort where the material wasn’t scripted by him. The satanic headline Cinematical used seems a bit sensationalist, as genre shows are quite common these days, on all the networks. We’re onboard, and hope we might be lucky enough to see this pilot even if it doesn’t get picked up for air. We’ll certainly be watching this one anxiously, and will get you the latest news right here, at News Askew!
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