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Fox Offers Clue it Could Order Vampire Series “The Passage”
Deadline is reporting that Fox has ordered a second script for “The Passage”, its high-profile drama pilot from Liz Heldens, Matt Reeves, Scott Free and 20th Century Fox TV. A pilot was ordered back in January, which clues us in that they’re feeling good about the progress.
Because of the scope of the project, an adaptation of Justin Cronin’s fantasy book trilogy, which requires longer lead time, the pilot’s production was shifted to summer. It is one of two Fox drama pilots picked up this pilot season that will be shot off-cycle, along with “The Beast”.
“The Passage”, which will be helmed by top drama pilot director Marcos Siega, is eyed for a potential midseason launch. A second finished script would help hit the ground running if the pilot is picked up to series, adds the site.
Written by Heldens, “The Passage” begins as a character-driven government conspiracy thriller and morphs into a post-apocalyptic saga with vampires. The series spans more than a century and focuses on a young girl named Amy who must save the human race.
Heldens executive produces alongside Reeves and Adam Kassan via 6th & Idaho, Siega, and Ridley Scott and David W. Zucker via Scott Free Productions. Cronin is co-producer.
In the grim darkness of the far future there is only war, but it was a cheerful illustrator from England who helped to define the terrifying war-torn imagery that inspired what we now know as Grimdark (a hybrid genre combining horror with sci-fi/fantasy).
Unfortunately for fans of Warhammer 40,000, Trench Crusade and countless other sources of Grimdark thrills, veteran artist John Blanche passed away this week after struggling with health issues for the past few years.
While the artist retired back in 2023, he leaves us with an enormous legacy of iconic artwork that continues to inspire gamers and storytellers around the world to this very day.
The news is especially gloomy as it was only last year that Daniel Lowman and Napoleon Dynamite himself Jon Heder released The Grim & the Dark: The Search for John Blanche, a documentary following Heder’s exploration of the Grimdark genre culminating in a heartwarming encounter with Blanche in his own home.
Below is one of my favorite pieces by Blanche, his highly influential depiction of Warhammer 40k’s God-Emperor of Mankind on his Golden Throne.
We send our deepest condolences to John Blanche’s family, friends, and fans.
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