New species over at Sci Fi
De Luca tries small screen with 'Darwin's'
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De Luca joins a roster of showbiz biggies who have agreed to do minis for Sci Fi: Steven Spielberg ("Nine Lives"), Ridley Scott ("The Andromeda Strain"), Martin Scorsese ("The Twelve"), Bryan Singer and Dean Devlin ("The Triangle"), Frank Darabont ("The Thing") and Gale Anne Hurd ("Red Mars").
Based on two novels by Greg Bear, "Darwin's Children" concerns the advent of speeded-up evolution, which creates a new generation of superchildren called virus babies. The clash of generations leads to worldwide unrest.
Howard Braunstein, one of the executive producers of "Darwin's Children," said he's not surprised that Sci Fi Channel has enticed so many top producers to work on projects.
"Science fiction is such a rich genre, and many creative people are drawn to it," Braunstein said. "And the network will spend big money on the production and special effects," he added, citing such projects as the 20-hour "Taken" and the forthcoming "Earthsea Trilogy."
Sci Fi is coming off its best quarter ever, solidifying itself as a top-10 basic cable network in total viewers, adults 18-49 and 25-54. Increasing advertising revenues have allowed the network to spend $10 million or more on a four-hour Sci Fi movie. That kind of budget is music to the ears of the creative community.
Braunstein's partner Michael Jaffe is an exec producer of "Darwin's Children," along with De Luca, Ralph Vicinanza and Vince Gerardis.
