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League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: "Heroes: Origins" Secures Feature-Level Writers

Heroes: Origins just got some A-list writing talent for its six-episode run next year.

Following the news earlier this year that Kevin Smith, late of CW's Reaper, would write and direct an installment of six-episode Heroes spin-off, Heroes: Origins, NBC has announced that they have secured two feature film writers for the series offshoot.

Michael Dougherty, co-writer on X2 and Superman Returns, will write an episode of Heroes: Origins, as will Hostel writer/director Eli Roth.

Additionally, Roth will direct his installment of the series spin-off, which introduces new characters as they discover their abilities. An interactive element will allow viewers to vote for their favorite new addition, who may join the cast of the original series in the third season.

The second season of Heroes begins tonight at 9 pm on NBC.

What's On Tonight

8 pm: How I Met Your Mother/The Big Bang Theory (CBS); Chuck (NBC); Everybody Hates Chris/Everybody Hates Chris (CW); Dancing with the Stars (ABC; 8-9:30 pm); Prison Break (FOX)

9 pm: Two and a Half Men/Rules of Engagement (CBS); Heroes (NBC); Girlfriends/The Game (CW); The Bachelor (ABC; 9:30-11 pm); K-Ville (FOX)

10 pm: CSI: Miami (CBS); Journeyman (NBC)

What I'll Be Watching

8 pm: Chuck.

You know how much I'm already in love with this dramedy, from creators Josh Schwartz and Chris Fedak, so why don't you do me a favor and tune in? (Click here to read my original review of the pilot back in May.) On the series premiere of Chuck ("Pilot"), Nerd Herd employee Chuck Bartowski (Zachary Levi) inadvertently downloads top secret government intelligence into his brain and becomes a pawn in a conflict between the ruthless NSA agent (Adam Baldwin) and the beautiful and deadly CIA agent (Yvonne Strahovski) assigned to find him.

10 pm: Journeyman.

It's Kevin McKidd (Rome) as a time-traveling newspaper reporter in a drama that's more about human interactions and the nature of choice than, say, technicolored time machines. (You can read my original review of the pilot here.) On tonight's premiere ("Pilot"), San Francisco reporter Dan Vasser mysteriously wakes up in the past and alters some people's lives and runs into his long-dead fiancée, who has a secret of her own.

10 pm: Weeds on Showtime.

The third season of Showtime's acclaimed comedy, Weeds continues. On tonight's episode ("He Taught Me How to Drive By"), Nancy deals with the fallout from U-Turn's death and makes a deal, Andy gets recommended for a rather unusual catering job, Silas and Tara continue to bond.

10 pm: Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations on Travel Channel.

The third season of Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations continues as Tony Bourdain travels to Tuscany, where he visits some family-owned farms, tastes some wine and cheese, and makes us all wish we were in Italy right now.

Comments

The CineManiac said…
I'm excited to see what Smith can do in the Heroes arena, and I think Dougherty has a great background to work from and will bring us some fine work.
The one that worries me most is Roth. I have to admit the only movie of his I've seen is Cabin Fever and I wasn't a big fan. And don't even get me started on the Hostel movies, as I feel Torture Porn is the worst thing to happen to movies in a long time.
My dream though is that Joss Whedon will join the team for one episode as I think that would be amazing.
Anonymous said…
Eli Roth?!?!

No.

No, no, no.
Anonymous said…
I agree that Joss Whedon would make an excellent addition to the Heroes team as both a writer and/or director. I think he's directing another episode of "The Office" this season too. I'd love to see him involved in an episode with Kristen Bell. He's great with quippy blondes!
Anonymous said…
Great... Chuck brings us yet another show that completely twists what the NSA does and makes them a force of evil rather than a group actively working hard to prevent a mushroom cloud from sprouting above your local downtown.

Why would I expect anything else from Hollywood?

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