An update on a project that was once set up at FX, and is now going to be a Sony Playstation Network series…
That’s right – Sony is developing original programming for its Playstation (Microsoft is doing the same with the XBox. These things aren’t simply gaming consoles anymore. They are content delivery portals into your living rooms, as the competition for eyeballs becomes even more intense).
As recently as 2011, when FX was interested in the property, Charles S. Dutton had been cast in what was to be a pilot based on the comic book series "Powers," created by Brian Michael Bendis, whose credits include Marvel’s "Avengers, X-Men," & "Ultimate Spider-Man" and Michael Avon Oeming.
The series takes place in a world in which having superpowers is common; Dutton was to play a Captain Cross, the head of a homicide police department that investigates crimes involving people with superpowers.
The pilot never went to series at FX.
Skip ahead to 2014, when Sony announced that a live-action adaptation of "Powers" had been ordered direct-to-series for its Playstation Network, and today’s news that actress Susan Heyward (above) has been cast as the female lead in "Powers."
She joins Max Fowler and Adam Godley in front of the camera, with David Slade directing the first 2 series, from scripts by Charlie Huston, reports Deadline.
The dramatic series based on the gritty graphic novels asks the questions: What if the world was full of people with superpowers? What if all that power was just one more excuse for mayhem and murder? And what if you were the cop who had to deal with it all? Welcome to the lives of Detectives Christian Walker and Deena Pilgrim (Susan Heyward’s character), who are in charge of protecting regular humans and keeping the peace, investigating cases involving those with superhuman abilities.
My research tells me that Deena Pilgrim begins the series as a rookie – a lowly police officer on the streets of Chicago, under a corrupt captain named Adlard (who worked for Mama Joon, a powerful crime boss). Adlard was murdered 7 years prior, just before Deena’s transfer request to work with Walker as part of the Powers Homicide department. Little else is known of her past, though she reveals in the comic that her brother was a Power called "Hoodwink". Deena’s character is further described as attractive, rambunctious, funny, agile, smart, a master with various combat weapons and has excellent marksmanship.
The character isn’t black in the comics, so this is a noteworthy bit of what they call "color-blind casting." Expect the fanboys and girls to revolt!
Fowler will play Krispin Stockley, the son of Walker’s murdered partner, while Godley will play Captain Cross (the role that Dutton was cast to play when the project was set up at FX 3 years ago. Susan Heyward’s Deena Pilgrim character was to be played by Lucy Punch; and Jason Patric was to play Christian Walker).
Curious that Sony isn’t going for *name* actors with this series. Not that I’m complaining about it. I love it when *new* faces get deserved opportunities like this.
Heyward will be familiar to fans of the FOX TV series "The Following" in which she had a recurring role on during the season that just ended. She appeared in 5 episodes. She also had a part in Andrew Dosunmu’s "Mother of George," and will next be seen in Sam Raimi’s "Poltergeist" remake, which is due in theaters next year.
Bendis, Oeming and Michael Dinner will executive produce "Powers" with Huston and Remi Aubuchon, along with Circle of Confusion’s David Engel, David Alpert and Lawrence Mattis. Huston and Aubuchon will serve as showrunners.
