Philip K. Dick miniseries coming to Syfy

The work of highly prolific novelist Philip K. Dick has been the basis for some huge Hollywood films. Namely, the 1982 blockbuster Ridley Scott-directed opus Blade Runner, as well as the 1990 and 2012 versions of Total Recall.

Now, according to a recent press release from Syfy, a deal has been finalized to adapt his Hugo Award-winning novel The Man in the High Castle into a 4-hour miniseries.

The release states that, "Ridley Scott’s Scott Free Productions will produce the project with Headline Pictures, Electric Shepherd Productions and FremantleMedia International." The first two hours of the series will be penned by Frank Spotnitz (The X-Files), who will also serve as Executive Producer. Spotnitz will supervise the writing for the final two hours but no writer has been chosen.

The Man in the High Castle is a chilling depiction of an "alternate history" in which the victors of WWII were Nazi Germany and Japan. The setting is 1962 where "the Axis Powers occupy the United States, where fascism rules and the few surviving Jews hide under assumed names."

According to Mark Stern, President of Original Content, Syfy and Co-Head, Original Content, Universal Cable Productions, "Alternate history stories are part of an amazing and intricate genre of sci-fi. When done well, there’s nothing better; and I can’t think of better creative talent to bring Philip K. Dick’s fascinating alternate-history thriller to life than Ridley Scott and Frank Spotnitz."

No air date for the drama has been scheduled but we’ll keep you up-to-date on any news related to the miniseries.

-Larissa Mrykalo

'X-Files' movie, reboot on way?

From left: Spotnitz, Duchovny, Anderson, Carter

If you’re an X-Phile, you’ve been seriously missing what was one of the greatest science fiction shows of the '90s. The show had something for everyone and provided the fodder for successful shows (read: Fringe) that came on the heels of its final episode on May 19, 2002.

Recently, former X-Files writer, Frank Spotnitz sat down for an interview about his BBC spy-drama, Hunted with DenofGeek.com. During the interview, the possibility of us again seeing David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson in their iconic roles came up.

When asked if he foresees the show ever pulling a Star Trek and returning to the small screen, Spotnitz said, "I wouldn’t be surprised at all."

"I don’t think I would have anything to do with it but you know, for better or for worse, these things are titles of big corporations, like Star Trek belongs to Paramount and The X-Files belongs to Twentieth Century Fox and it’s a huge asset in their libraries so I can’t imagine they would let it sit languishing forever."

This "news" does come only a few months after Duchovny and Anderson publicly voiced their willingness to return, on separate occasions.

As for the potential for a third movie, Spotnitz said he and creator Chris Carter have talked for years about what would be the "climax of the alien colonisation story that began the series." But as far as a script or any move forward? Well, the truth may be out there, but any solid plans are not.

Although we want to believe we'll be seeing more Mulder/Scully action one day, nothing seems likely any time soon.

-Larissa Mrykalo