Van Helsing series heading to SyFy

[COMMANDO FORCES]

It looks like this could be fun, seeing the team behind Fargo and Hell on Wheels are behind it

A new series based on Dracula's nemesis Abraham Van Helsing is headed to Syfy. The 13-episode season, titled Van Helsing, plans to put a new spin on the beloved vampire hunter's story, by skipping over him and placing his daughter Vanessa Helsing at the centre of the show.

According to THR the story picks up with Vanessa resurrected five years into the future, only to discover the world is overrun by vampires. With her unique power over the bloodthirsty creatures she is "humanity's last hope" to reclaim the planet from their immortal clutches. Dramatic sounding stuff.

Nomadic Pictures, the production outfit behind Fargo and Hell On Wheels, are producing the effort with Neil LaBute attached as writer, showrunner and executive producer. And by the sounds of LaBute's comments, we're in store for some mythology-shattering vamp action.

"I am extremely excited to be working with Syfy and Nomadic Pictures to create a unique, character-driven action series that will move the traditional vampire tropes into bold and unexpected new territories" he revealed in a press statement. "This is a wonderful chance for us to forge great stories and unforgettable characters and throw them into a world where the stakes – both dramatic and personal – are tremendously high." Van Helsing kicks off production early 2016 in Vancouver, with a premiere expected sometime in fall 2016.

And here's the quote from the Hollywood Reporter THR

The new series will center on Vanessa Helsing, who is resurrected five years in the future and learns vampires have taken over the world.
Syfy is pulling from the book of Dracula for its latest series.
The NBCUniversal-owned cable network has acquired Van Helsing to series with writer Neil LaBute set as showrunner, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.
Originally introduced as Professor Abraham van Helsing in the 1897 gothic horror novel Dracula, the character is best known as a vampire hunter, monster hunter and arch nemesis of Count Dracula.

In this new interpretation, the central character is now a female, Vanessa Helsing, the next in a lineage of warriors who must lead mankind against a world controlled by vampires. When Vanessa is resurrected five years in the future, she learns vampires have taken over the world and that she possesses unique power over them. She is essentially humanity's last hope to lead an offensive to take back what has been lost.

LaBute will exec produce with Simon Barry, Evan Tyler, Dave Brown, Daniel March and Chad Oakes and Mike Frisley for Nomadic Pictures (Fargo). Nomadic Pictures will produce the series and distribute it within the U.S. Dynamic Television will handle international distribution.

"I am extremely excited to be working with Syfy and Nomadic Pictures to create a unique, character-driven action series that will move the traditional vampire tropes into bold and unexpected new territories" LaBute said in a statement. "This is a wonderful chance for us to forge great stories and unforgettable characters and throw them into a world where the stakes – both dramatic and personal – are tremendously high."

Production on the 13-episode first season will begin in January in Vancouver for a fall 2016 launch

"Van Helsing represents a new mythology in sci-fi by challenging traditional vampire rules," said Oakes, co-chairman of Nomadic Pictures." The series is unique in exploring a world completely dominated by vampires, while the human characters have to learn the importance of working together to ensure their survival. Mike and I are thrilled to team up once again with the talented Neil LaBute to deliver an amazing series."

The pickup comes in the midst of a rebranding for Syfy, which is hoping to turns its focus back to genre fare with upcoming projects like Childhood's End and The Expanse. The network recently canceled Defiance, Dominion and Haven.

"Van Helsing reimagines a classic story in a compelling new way, featuring a bold and complex heroine", said Chris Regina, Syfy's senior vp program strategy. "This high octane acquired original series will be a terrific addition to our lineup next year."

Van Helsing was most recently adapted for the big screen in 2004. The film, starring Hugh Jackman and Kate Beckinsale, grossed more than $300 million worldwide. David Warner (Titanic) portrayed Van Helsing on the Showtime series Penny Dreadful for two episodes in 2014.

LaBute, whose credits include Full Circle, Death at a Funeral and Lakeview Terrace, is repped by Gersh and Gendler & Kelly.

And it's a female lead

[Professor Bear]

Doesn't exactly sound ground-breaking, does it?  It sounds identical to Dominion (which SyFy just cancelled), only they've changed the "chosen one whose dad is a famous hunter of the show's monsters" to a female instead of a male.

[IAMTHESYSTEM]

Buffy the Vampire slayer anyone?

[Goaty]

Penny Dreadful?

[Professor Bear]

Buffy the Vampire slayer anyone?

There actually was a version of Buffy set in a dystopian future called Fray, but I reckon Joss Whedon ripped the idea off from The Gnarly Adventures Of Busman.

[ThryllSeekyr]

Buffy the Vampire slayer anyone?

There actually was a version of Buffy set in a dystopian future called Fray, but I reckon Joss Whedon ripped the idea off from The Gnarly Adventures Of Busman.

I have this, plus all the Gn's that continues after Sunnydale fell into big hole possibly somewhere in or near Santa Barbara and omnibus series. That's it for me, though. I only read the first one or two where they built their HQ some were in Scotland train slayers on larger scale. I think Giles had retired and Buffy's younger sister Dawn grew to gigantic proportions.

I have the Fray Gn as well and read it of course. What I recall from it, in the future, I think there is some time-travel and she has a small laser-gun as a signature weapon. Her Watcher is a largish demon with the horns and hooves and that's all I'm going to say about that.

I also have the rpg books, as I was watching reruns of the entire series three to four or five times a day when it was on the SkFy channel. Despite having possession of the entire boxset. I just loved this series, for the quirky characters, with their own strange lexicon and not so much for feminism is stronger than everything themes.

[TordelBack]

I'd give this a chance, but I know I could never get past Van(essa) Helsing, who is surely already a character in Monster High. I mean who writes this stuff, Dan Abnett?

[Jim_Campbell]

Van Helsing's daughter transported forward in time is a complete left of the Van Helsing character I've been lettering in sundry Zenescope stories for about the last three years. If you're robbing from Zenescope, you're not exactly skimming the cream.*

Cheers

Jim

*FWIW, I actually like the Zenescope character. A couple of their writers have worked hard at making the character worthwhile, with some success.