Warner Bros.’ digital production division has launched its rebranding campaign today, under the new title of Blue Ribbon Content. Along with a new name, the company has announced details on their very packed, upcoming slate. According to the report published on Mashable, we can expect live-action versions of smash hit video game Mortal Kombat and DC super hero comic Static Shock, as well as a series based on the 1986 monster flick, Critters.
Of the projects outlined, three have already been tapped for series orders, which means we’ll be definitely be getting a full season. The main title amongst those is the Mortal Kombat live-action series, which will feature new and old characters. That as-yet untitled property is set to tie into the April 2015 release of the Mortal Kombat X video game.
On the development side of things, the outlet have earmarked a mixture of pre-existing and entirely new projects that are scheduled for their own series. New Line Cinema’s Critters, which spawned several sequels, is one of the most rrecognizablenames on the slate. While it won’t be directly connected to those stories, it will still feature the titular beasties as they return to Earth. Also in the early stages is the Static Shock series, which will be produced by Reginald Hudlin and Denys Cowan, who worked on WB’s earlier animated version of the superhero comic back in 2000.
The announcement goes on to list a wide variety of properties that’ll assist in the launch of Warner Bros.’ new digital arm. Out of the properties mentioned, I think I’m most excited for the Critters reboot, as that’s one monster movie that simply doesn’t get enough love. Take a look at the rest of the press release below though and let us know what you think of Warner’s new stream of digital content.
Series Orders
Justice League: Gods and Monsters Chronicles (Machinima) — Animated shortform series from Bruce Timm and Alan Burnett (producers of the legendary Batman: The Animated Series) will debut on Machinima in 2015. Based on Justice League: Gods & Monsters, an original animated film that will be released by Warner Bros. Home Entertainment later in 2015.
Untitled Mortal Kombat Series (distributed by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment) — An all-new series that showcases some of the franchise’s most storied characters, while introducing a new generation of fighters.
Play It Again, Dick (CW Seed) — Co-written and executive produced by Veronica Mars creator/executive producer Rob Thomas for CW Seed, the digital-only studio of The CW Television Network. Play It Again, Dick stars Ryan Hansen as himself as he pleads with former Veronica Mars castmates and friends to help him get his character, Dick Casablancas, a spinoff.
Live-action comedy development
RejecTED — Check out some of the lesser-known and just completely rejected speeches that the world never got to hear — until now — in this original satirical comedy.
Ginger Snaps — Follow a troop of young girls as they backstab, manipulate and sabotage their way through the seedy underworld of the Ginger Snaps and preserve their power and influence at the top of the cookie pile.
Golden Revenge — Two adorable house pets — a cat and dog — love their life with their owner. His new wife? Not so much. After receiving an “it’s me or the pets” ultimatum, the husband takes the cat and dog deep into the forest and leaves them behind. Now it’s up to the pets to find their way across the country — to exact their revenge!
Action/sci-fi development (live-action)
Ouroboros — Original horror/thriller from producer Akiva Goldsman (executive producer of the Paranormal Activity franchise) follows two police officers over the course of one night in a remote part of Wisconsin as they are overwhelmed by a series of mysterious attacks.
Static Shock — Writer/producer/director Reginald Hudlin leads the creative team behind a live-action adaptation of Static Shock, featuring the super hero Static, aka Virgil Ovid Hawkins. Based on the Static comic published by DC Comics.
Critters — Blue Ribbon revisits the world of the legendary New Line Cinema cult classic movie franchise, as a new batch of alien pests descends upon the planet in this new digital series written by Michael Jelenic & Aaron Horvath (Teen Titans Go!).
Virtual reality
Batman: The Animated Series Experience — Blue Ribbon, DC Entertainment and visual effects pioneer OTOY are teaming up on an immersive entertainment experience that will see the Batcave from Batman: The Animated Series brought to life via interactive holographic video for virtual reality devices such as the Samsung GALAXY Gear VR, the Oculus Rift, and on forthcoming “glasses-free” light field displays.