VIRTUALITY: pilot script preview

The Futon Critic's Brian Sullivan has posted a preview piece on Ron Moore and Michael Taylor’s VIRTUALITY pilot script. As Sitrep has also managed to get our hands on this script (sorry, no sharing), I can attest that Sullivan has the real deal, and his preview is accurate...not to mention immensely spoilery, for those of you keeping track.

I wholeheartedly agree with most of what he is saying. It is great to see a Sci Fi television project that will interest fans of such films as ALIEN, SUNSHINE, THE MATRIX, and even THE TRUMAN SHOW. There is a fascinating overlap of subject matter between this pilot and CAPRICA, ie virtual spaces and how people use them; it will be cool to see how each show deals with these concepts in its own way. I am just as squee-filled as Mr. Sullivan, to know that Peter Berg is directing VIRTUALITY – he really seems like the perfect choice. There is a nice big cast full of meaty character parts (much like BSG). The script I saw also had an addendum note, outlining many of the directions the series could take over several seasons; there were a ton of cool ideas there.

And most exciting of all? Ron Moore has already raised the Sci Fi TV bar pretty high – so what a great thing it is to see him with a project that differs immensely from BSG, yet aims to crack open just as many Big Issues.

The VIRTUALITY pilot begins shooting this month in Vancouver. At this point we've heard no news of its being picked up for series, no details of who would be showrunner or who would be on the writing staff...and no news of when Fox might plan to put the show on air, other than a suggestion in this trade blurb, that it might be a mid-season show if all goes well with the pilot. [An RDM show on Fox mid-season? You know what that would mean, fellow members of the Moore-Whedon Mutual Admiration Society.]

One other note from the Variety announcement: if VIRTUALITY goes to series, apparently the reality show element will turn into a web-only transmedia product. Sweet idea.

As previously mentioned, Moore will be talking VIRTUALITY at San Diego Comic Con, during a TV Guide panel on Saturday night. He also recently discussed a few details of the project with Trek Movie in this section of a 3-part interview.

You can find images of all the announced cast and other recent news tidbits, by poking around our posts tagged “Virtuality."

Hope you are all getting a teeny bit excited.