Rest in Peace ‘Heroes: Origins’
Proposed Prequel Spinoff Is Kaput
Remember that Heroes spinoff series called Heroes: Origins that was all the TV-industry rage what seems like ages ago in this post-WGA strike world? Well, if by chance the answer is no, don’t feel too bad. It’s not gonna happen anyway.
Sci Fi Wire reports what many Heroes fans with functioning brains already suspected — the much-touted spinoff has been put out to pasture. If you believe NBC Universal co-chairman Ben Silverman, the reasons are complications related to the network essentially thinking too big for its britches.
According to the Peacock honcho at the network’s April 2 upfront presentation, NBC was “taxing [its] creative team to do too much” on the proposed spinoff. “[NBC] wanted 35 Heroes [episodes] and 12 Heroes: Origins, each of which was supposed to be a mini-movie and backdoor pilot.” Ultimately, however, NBC “decided it was better to focus on keeping the Heroes mothership as strong as possible.”
Sounds like a plan to me.
The incarnation of Heroes that started “it” all finally returns to the tube on September 15 for its third season, at which time loyal followers and newcomers alike will be treated to an extended premiere-night event that will include a one-hour clip-show refresher, followed by a two-hour movie-like opener. As long as said 120-minute extravaganza doesn’t involve feudal Japan in any way, shape, or form, I’m all for it.
As for the scrapping of Heroes: Origins — I can’t say I really care. Viewers already have ninety or so major characters to keep track of on the original show — not including the never-ending online graphic novel series (it’s on installment #79!) and other multimedia stunts, er, outgrowths — a situation that has done more than any other to sap my interest in the series. Just visiting the NBC website for the show gives me a migraine while looking at all the options.
There really is such a thing as overkill, and I’m glad NBC’s people have realized it in this case before irreparable damage could be done. If anything, the network and showrunners should be trying to scale the Heroes behemoth down, not inflate it to even more monstrous proportions that fans can’t possibly keep up with unless they have no life and no sense. That’s just my FYI, though.
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Heroes photo courtesy of NBC
