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Prettier, Smarter Funnier Heroes? SyFy Premieres Zak Penn's "Alphas" Trailer

By Cindy Davis | Posted Under Trailers | Comments (7)

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A good many of us are still reeling from the burn of NBC’s “Heroes,” a show that started off brilliantly and then declined into an incoherent, repetitive mess. I know when I first heard about SyFy developing its own version of an everyman superhero drama, I immediately wrote it off with a mental been there—done that note. But, you know how it is; you start reading about the frighteningly awful array of new shows being readied for fall and you get a little desperate. What I thought would be the most exciting of the new science fiction crop, Ron Moore’s “17th Precinct,” wasn’t picked up and thus far, not much else has caught my eye. So at this point, what can it hurt to watch a trailer or two?

Created by Zak Penn (X2, X-Men: The Last Stand, The Incredible Hulk, The Avengers), is about a group of crime-fighting humans with extraordinary abilities, gathered, studied and led by Dr. Leigh Rosen (Academy Award nominated/Emmy winning actor, David Strathairn, Good Night and Good Luck). While the trailer might not blow you away, along with its pedigreed creators and actors, there is potential. I like the idea that they are functioning as an extended arm of law enforcement, rather than individuals being persecuted (as in “Heroes”).


io9 has a couple of additional clips and SyFy has several, if you’re at all intrigued.


“Alphas” premieres July 11th on SyFy and also stars Ryan Cartwright (“Bones, Mad Men”), Callum Keith Rennie (“The Killing, Battlestar Galactica”), Christie (“Happy Town,” October Road), Laura Mennell (Watchmen, “Smallville, Supernatural”), Azita Ghanizada (“Friends with Benefits, NCIS, Castle”) and Malik Yoba (“Defying Gravity, Girlfriends”).









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Comments

I saw the trailer for this before X-Men: First Class, and as soon as I saw Strathairn, I was SOLD. That man can do no wrong in my eyes. Even when he does.

Posted by: Jos at June 6, 2011 7:58 PM

This trailer actually isn't bad for The Sci-Fi Channel. And I'm glad Vincent from Bones found a new home.

Posted by: Three-nineteen at June 6, 2011 8:03 PM

I was also sold on Stathairn. But Callum Keith Rennie and Ryan Cartwright certainly help too.

Posted by: Uda at June 6, 2011 10:23 PM

Interesting idea. Maybe has potential?
But... it's on Syph, so how will they screw it up? Or how quickly will they cancel what could be a moderate, lasting success because it doesn't become a blockbuster ratings grabber?

Posted by: Uncommoner at June 7, 2011 12:57 AM

So that's why they killed off Mr. Nigel-Murray.
I'm in.

Posted by: DominaNefret at June 7, 2011 1:38 PM

Meh.

It just seems like another, in a long line, of police dramas. They just decided to throw in pseudo superpowers.

Posted by: DeistBrawler at June 7, 2011 3:11 PM

The problem with Heroes (and Lost, 24, and arguably X Files) was that they went on to long. The creators come up with something new and interesting but instead of coming to a series climax the network decides "hey, we've got a hit - lets keep milking the cow" and sign up for another season. While its possible to stretch the premise for a second season, to go beyond that is mental. So of course they make three, then four, and the audience evaporates by season four. (Prisonbreak? how many times can you break out of prison?)

Which is why I give credit to Ricky Gervais for stopping the (UK version of) The Office. He recognised it had done it's dash, and wasn't prepared to ruin it by dragging it out for a third series. (But smart enough to sell it to the US networks and let them do what they wanted - kerching!)

Posted by: Nick at June 8, 2011 12:58 AM