From Sci-fi News Wire:


12:00 AM, 12-JANUARY-07

Flash Blasts Off Again

SCI FI Channel has green-lighted production on Flash Gordon, a series based on the popular comic-strip franchise, the channel announced Jan. 12 at the Television Critics Association winter press tour in Pasadena, Calif.

Production on the 22 one-hour episodes begins in Canada early this year. The series, produced by Reunion Pictures, is slated to debut on SCI FI in July, with a broadcast syndication window to follow.

The series will be produced under an agreement between King Features Syndicate, which owns the rights to Flash Gordon, and Robert Halmi Sr. and Robert Halmi Jr. (The Legend of Earthsea).

The characters of Ming, Dale Arden and Dr. Hans Zarkov will be brought back for a contemporary retelling of the comic-strip story created in 1934 by Alex Raymond. The strip is still distributed internationally by King Features Syndicate.

:cool: Flash!!!!!!!!! Ahh-hhhhh!!!

I'm not so sure about the idea of "updating" Alex Raymond's classic comic strip — it could too easily become another generic space opera like the old Buck Rogers series with Gil Gerard. At least let's hope the new show avoids the heavy-handed camp humor of the 1980 movie.

http://www.theforbidden-zone.com/images/jean_rogers.jpg[/IMG-LEFT]

At any rate, IMHO, the definitive screen version of [I]Flash Gordon will always be the 1930s Universal serial with Buster Crabbe — and sexy Jean Rogers as Dale.

For all their scientifc wizardry, the people of
the planet Mongo apparently never got around
to inventing the bra!

I can only hope, that it is better, than the last FG cartoon series.

Guess now we know what they dropped Stargate SG1 for.

For all their scientifc wizardry, the people of
the planet Mongo apparently never got around
to inventing the bra!

With a perky rack like that, why would anyone need support?

This COULD be really cool.

The FG Movie was really cheesy, though I thought that Max VonSydow was a great Ming.
Hopefully the production design will be better than the movie.

I liked the Flash Gordon movie. I don't think it was at all meant to be as serious a movie as a lot of folks think. It had a campy feel from the get-go and was - and still is for me - an enjoyable, popcorn laden ride. Call it a Guilty Pleasure, I guess. :)


Guess now we know what they dropped Stargate SG1 for.
I hear this a lot, but have yet to figure out it's basis. I definitely don't agree with SG-1 being dropped because of want for a new series. The series was due to end at some point and the fact that the ratings had been declining steadily points to it just being time for it to end. Not meaning to bag on you, just giving my thoughts on he issue.

[IMG-LEFT]http://www.sheenafilm.de/flasha05.jpg[/IMG-LEFT]The FG Movie was really cheesy, though I thought that Max VonSydow was a great Ming.The movie's production design, especially regarding
the spaceships, was closely based on the original comic strip,
though I agree the overall look was somewhat "cheesy" (maybe intentionally so).

And Ornella Muti was a great Princess Aura!

(Again with the sexy babes . . .
guess I have a one-track mind.)

Not that there's anything wrong with that. :D

I don't think there can be much doubt that the 1980 Flash Gordon was intended as camp - and therefore as cheese.

Guess now we know what they dropped Stargate SG1 for.

After "Farscape" was dumped by the sci-fi channel, the producers of SG1 claim that they were the reason, due to the price that was paid to get the show. I think that it is more than that, but it may have been part of the reason.

I like the movie, and as Scotpens said the movie used many of Alex Raymonds designs. The rings with the corkscrew beams, and several of the costume designs are straight from the strip.

David.

I have seen all of the Flash Gordons,except Flesh Gordon.

Flesh Gordon is actually a pretty funny parody, but the DVD is overpriced.

I have seen all of the Flash Gordons,except Flesh Gordon.

Same here. I pop in one of the serials every now and then and watch a few episodes. Great, simplistic fun. The Sam Jones Flash film had to be intended as parody. I enjoyed it stylistically, thought Max as Ming was fabulous and Ornella was HOT! I even liked the soundtrack at the time. Of course, I WAS much younger back then.
;)

I hear this a lot, but have yet to figure out it's basis. I definitely don't agree with SG-1 being dropped because of want for a new series. The series was due to end at some point and the fact that the ratings had been declining steadily points to it just being time for it to end. Not meaning to bag on you, just giving my thoughts on he issue.

Just like any other network, when a new show is pitched, the beancounters look at what they are currently spending and what they are getting in return (viewers). Other networks have shows running each night (just talking primetime here) and SciFi only has the Friday night series block with Saturdays as their movie schlock of the week.

I'm pretty sure they don't cancel a show THEN look for a replacement. It's got to be in the works months before the announcement.

Bringing Flash Gordon to SciFi Channel is an event. Just like Battlestar Galactica was an event. They were working on the details long before SG1's announced cancellation. Just like they were working on SG1's before Farscape's.

Farscape was killed because it was being done in Australia at the time and was expensive and the people behind Farscape wouldn't move.

Stargate happened to be getting lower ratings this time around. But, BSG hasn't faired well either this season.

EDIT: Sorry, meant SG1 not BSG above.

Flesh Gordon was a better movie than the 80's Flash. And they took it more seriously than the big budget flop.
I think Greg Jein did the minatures. [the plot? Ming had a porno ray. The princess spent a lot of time neked.]

Greg Jein and Tom Scherman, among others, created the miniatures for Flesh Gordon.
AT