CW tosses plans for 'Graysons'
Network nixes Boy Wonder show
By MICHAEL SCHNEIDER
Posted: Thurs., Nov. 6, 2008, 9:00pm PT
The Boy Wonder won't be flying into primetime after all.
The CW and Warner Bros. TV have been forced to scrap their plans for
"The Graysons." Show, which had been given a put pilot commitment, was
set to revolve around Batman sidekick Robin in his pre-Caped Crusader
days.
Decision to yank the project came from Warner Bros. Pictures Group
prexy Jeff Robinov, who initially gave his blessing but changed his
mind in recent days.
"Warner Bros. TV never had 100% clearance," said one exec familiar
with the project.
The CW had been counting on "The Graysons" to fill the void left by
the likely series end of "Smallville." Like "Smallville," "The
Graysons" is a superhero origins story. Show was developed to revolve
around the world of Dick "DJ" Grayson before taking on the iconic
Robin identity.
Project was to be the latest DC Comics franchise to be mined for the
smallscreen by Warner Bros. TV. "Smallville" exec producers Kelly
Souders and Brian Peterson were set to write and exec produce, while
Wonderland Sound and Vision's McG and Peter Johnson were also aboard
to exec produce.
According to studio insiders, Robinov has decreed that Warner Bros.
"rethink its DC Comics strategy" and as a result didn't want to do
anything big with a DC franchise at the moment -- at least when it
came to "Graysons."
"The studio has opted not to go forward with the development of 'The
Graysons' at this time as the concept doesn't fit the current strategy
for the Batman franchise," the studio said in a statement. "Warner
Bros. Television is currently working on several replacement options
for the CW."
It's understood that "The Dark Knight" helmer Christopher Nolan never
signed off on the TV show; one insider said the helmer was
uncomfortable with having a TV show related to the Batman franchise on
the air. But according to the studio, the decision to scrap the show
rested solely on Robinov and not Nolan.
Others wondered whether Warner Bros. got nervous over the idea of
having a both an active Batman TV series and film series at the same
time. "Smallville" and, before that, "Lois & Clark," were launched
during a lengthy hiatus from the bigscreen for Superman. Some believe
2006's "Superman Returns" was hurt at the box office because of the
simultaneous TV show.
A script had not yet been written for "The Graysons," which was still
in early stages of development. Word of "The Graysons" first emerged
last month (Daily Variety, Oct. 1) -- prematurely, in hindsight.
The one-hour "Graysons" was to be set in modern times and focus on
young DJ as he faced challenges involving first loves, young rivals
and his family -- a famous juggling act -- as he grew up. (In Batman
lore, Grayson was part of a family act called "The Flying Graysons"
and orphaned after a gangster had his parents killed.)
Insiders said Warner Bros. TV is now scanning its library for other
potential franchises to develop for the CW. The netlet is already
kicking the tires on other franchises for next year, including a
revival of CBS Paramount's "Melrose Place."
Coincidentally, a new animated Batman series, "Batman: The Brave and
the Bold," bows on Cartoon Network next Friday.
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117995430.html
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