This seemed touch and go for awhile, but FX has given a pilot order to its superhero drama project Powers.
The story follows two homicide detectives who investigate cases of people with extraordinary abilities, and is based on a graphic novel series (pictured, right) by Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Avon Oeming.
The project marks a bit of a departure for FX, whose dramas are typically very real-world and gritty (which isn’t to say Powers won’t look-feel that way too). It’s also one of several pilots in the TV development pipeline that are attempting to essentially recook the magic The X-Files formula by blending a crime procedural with sci-fi or fantasy elements — such as Ron Moore’s 17th Precinct at NBC, J.J. Abrams’ Person of Interest at CBS, ABC’s Poe and NBC’s Grimm.
Powers is a great comic book, and I can’t wait to see what FX does with it. It sounds like a near-perfect combo of adaptation and network. Do we know who the creative people behind it are? How involved is Bendis?
If it closely follows the graphic novels, it WILL be “very real-world and gritty”, it’s just that the cases investigated will deal with people (whether criminals or victims) who just happen to have super-powers. I just hope they don’t downplay Deena’s chracter/contributions. She’s one of the best female characters in comics.
Am I The Only 1 Who Getting Tired Of All The Superpowered shows?
I’m not tired of superhero shows…I’m tired of BAD superhero shows. And, unfortunately, most of the ones that currently air are pretty terrible.
Exactly. There’s a million cop shows, a million ‘this is our family” shows, a million “graphic crime procedural” shows. I don’t see anything wrong with Hollywood catching up to a sub-genre that might be profitable too. What should matter is quality, not quantity. I wouldn’t mind ten superhero shows if they were all solid.
I don’t know if this is exactly a “superhero show.” Or at least, I think it would be safe to say that its plotlines will be feel quite different than that of “Heroes” or “No Ordinary Family.”
Yes, yes you are.
The Dude says it right. Just because there ARE ‘superheroes” in a show, doesn’t make it a GOOD superhero show. Too many lame, not-quite-realized attempts out there. No Ordinary Family? No Ordinary Viewers because it’s LAME. The Cape? His Cape is more insteresting than the GUY – if it weren’t for the other cast members, I’d have stopped watching already. Heroes ALMOST got it right (overpower your characters too early, and you ruin them!) I’ll give every attempt at least one shot, and this one sounds pretty promising, let’s hope they’re paying attention to these other shows, and not make the same mistakes!
I forget the name of the actor, but the guy who played Putty in Seinfeld would be PERFECT as Powers’ main character.
Patrick Warbourton, an yes he would be awesome. Sadly, I bet the producers will deem him “too old”.
Maybe. Has he ever done a dramatic role?
(He also is already in Rules of Engagement)
You mean Patrick Warburton, who already starred as a superhero in “The Tick” ten years ago?
Yes! I love Powers! I only hope they do it justice.
Agree!
For those of you who don’t know,there is already a masterful paranormal sci-fi investigative show on fox called fringe!
Thank you! Exactly what I was thinking! Fringe is great and I just have recently discovered it through netflix. I’m almost at the end of season 2.
I love Fringe, but I love Powers more. Fringe is very different from Powers.
Fringe focuses on supernatural/sci fi stuff, with monsters and aliens and stuff, akin to The X-Files. Powers navigates superhero/supervillain tropes but it’s anchored by a CSI/Law And Order aesthetic. Basically, Powers doesn’t go deep into why the heroes and villains got their powers or any of their superheroics or supervillainy. Most of all it will be: Superhero/supervillain is murdered, the Powers team investigates and brings the culprit to justice, risking their lives in the process and getting way in ver their heads sometimes, since they don’t have any superpowers themselves, and sometimes, they may encounter some criminal who does.
Well, Supernatural has done supernatural crime procedural for six seasons now.
FX should do more on sitcoms.
FX has had a lot more hits than misses, so I’ll give pretty much anything they do at least a chance. This sounds like it could be good.
I would love to see it, and I agree Patrick Warburton would be perfect for Christian Walker. Age shouldn’t be a factor, given that Walker is as old as the human race.
I have yet to see a worthy, superhero-genre TV show (First season of “Heroes” was close), and I’m glad that FX is going to give this genre a try.
I’ve never read “Powers”, but the premise kind of worries me, because I’m not sure how and why these detectives would investigate deaths of people with super powers.
Also, I’m not sure I’m interested in seeing the lives of theinvestigators, more than following the lives of the superheroes and villians.
I like the idea of superheroes, investigating deaths of other superheroes (“Watchmen”), rather than regular humans investigating superheroes.
Woo hoo, but I already know who killed Retro Girl.
The perfect person for the lead is Owain Yeaoman who plays Rigsby on The Mentalist.