February 27th, 2009
Heroes News Round-up: New Web Series, Writers Fired, Budget Cutbacks
While the season is in full swing, I really try not to post too much news bits, as they tend to take focus away from the show’s ongoing episodes and onto things that I think are somewhat trivial. (Hayden and Milo splitting up, for instance. Too bad for them, but it doesn’t affect the show at all.) But there are some things that you can’t ignore, such as the recent news of more writers being fired from the Heroes staff. There are some good news, too, like a new web series being in the works.
Let’s start with the positive stuff first. TubeFilter has news that NBC is prepping a new web series for April of this year, which would make it the fourth series so far. The new series would focus on the villain Eric Doyle (played by David H. Lawrence).
The series is in post-production with David H. Lawrence, who plays Eric Doyle on the network series, said to star along with a few other actors crossing over from the main narrative. The web series will pick up where the show leaves off in April on the life of Eric Doyle, the Heroes marionette character.
The last time we saw Doyle, he was seen getting his comeuppance at the hands of Sylar. This would be a prequel, then?
Meanwhile, some more bad news from behind-the-scenes of Heroes. Yesterday I got this email from Isa, saying that one of the show’s writers, Chris Zatta, has been let go due to “downsizing”. Apparently Zatta isn’t the only one, but he doesn’t mention who else were “let go”. Among Zatta’s works on the show were the episodes “Cold Wars”, “Dying of the Light”, and “Parasite”.
Here’s the full letter:
Greetings all,
I just got this message from Chris Zatta, one of the Heroic League of Scribblers, i.e. the Heroes writers. It’s not good. I think it’s time for the fandom to step up and make our displeasure known.
Hey Isa,
Regarding next season, I haven’t heard anything official from NBC either. But the writers have been moving forward with the idea that there will be a Season 4. Hopefully NBC will announce something to confirm it sooner rather than later.
On another point, I am sad to say that I am no longer with Heroes. NBC decided to cut back on the budget for the show and part of that plan involved downsizing on the lower level writers. It’s been wonderful emailing with you this season and hearing the fan reactions, but I will have to put you in touch with someone else on the show for now.
I think it’s time to start thinking about a contingency plan for if NBC announces cancellation. Because I, for one, will not let this show go down without a fight.
Thoughts?
In Service,
~Isa
It’s a bad economy, and people get fired. I’m not all that surprise that people are losing their jobs on the show at this time. This is the real world, after all. Two of my own cousins have been laid off from their jobs earlier this year. So I don’t see this as “problems” within the Heroes staff, just the result of a bad economy in the States at the moment.
As well, I’m not surprised to learn that NBC plans to cut back the budget for the show should there be a fourth season (NBC hasn’t said either way). Heroes is already one of the more expensive productions for the network, and if cutting the budget means keeping the show on the air, I’ll certainly accept that.
What do you guys think?
