Marina Antunes [Celluloid 02.12.13] scifi thriller



Another interesting looking project is headed to the small screen this time at the hands of Frank Spotnitz and the help of Ridley Scott and Stewart Mackinnon.

Spotnitz, best known for his producing work on "The X-Files," "Harsh Realm" and "The Lone Gunmen," has been given the reigns to adapt Phillip K. Dick's "The Man in the High Castle" for Syfy, a project which will air as a four hour miniseries. Spotnitz will write the first two hours and oversee writing of the second half of the miniseries while Scott and Mackinnon will produce.


Dick's sci-fi novel takes place in an alternate history where Nazi Germany, Imperial Japan and Fascist Italy won WWII and the Axis powers now occupy the area formerly known as the United States where fascism rules and the few surviving Jews hide under assumed names. The novel doesn't have a central character but rather a collection of individuals, some of whom know each other and others who are connected via events in the story. I expect we might see this approach scrapped in favour of a central character.

As is typical with Dick stories, this has the potential to be great - with the right guidance. Spotnitz has a proven track record working in the real of sci-fi drama and his involvement with the project is promising.

Are we done with Dick adaptations or are you still, like me, always hopeful that each new announcement will bring a bit of sci-fi greatness?

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