The CW orders new series from ‘The Vampire Diaries,’ ‘Arrow’ producers
Can we go ahead and label Julie Plec as the busiest woman on The CW? It felt like she had a lot going on when her only job was running “The Vampire Diaries,” and now, she may be hitting the TV equivalent of heads exploding.
Plec already had “The Originals” coming on in the fall, and she’s now adding to it something new in “Tomorrow People,” a show that you can go ahead and re-title itself as “Heroes, but With Prettier People.” The basic description here the show revolves around some “evolved” human beings who have special powers, and they band together to take on evil spirits. If this is done right, it could be face-melting and awesome and give us the TV version of “The Avengers” that we have so long demanded. Then again, “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” over on ABC is sure to get a pickup, and it actually is the world of “The Avengers.”
“Tomorrow People” also has on born Greg Berlanti, who knows a thing or two about heroes thanks to “Arrow.”
Here is a tasty little sample platter of everything else picked up by the network.
“Reign” – The best way to describe this is “Mad Men,” but in a much earlier time and with more CW “Gossip Girl”-esque elements attached to it. It’s the story of a teenage Mary Queen of Scots rise to power, and it could be totally cool if they do it right.
“The 100” – Almost a century after a nuclear holocaust, a group of 100 young survivors return to the earth in an effort to colonize the planet again. A cool story, and the cast is interesting. It’s the return of Henry Ian Cusick (“Lost”) following stints on both “Fringe” and “Scandal,” and it also marks Paige Turco’s newest gig, as well.
“Star-Crossed” – It’s a romance between a human girl … and an alien boy! It’s the Year of Aliens! Seriously, The CW has a thing going on this year with space travel. Aimee Teegarden was originally cast in “The Selection,” and it’s good for her that she is no longer a part of that failed project. It’s also interesting that Maggie Elizabeth Jones (the kid on “Ben & Kate”) has a new job already.
We anticipate many of these series getting 13-episode runs in one half of the season, especially since The CW already renewed so many of its own series including “The Carrie Diaries.” Yep, we’re still shocked by that one.
Photo: The CW