In 2019, everything old is new again. It seems everything is getting rebooted, even gothic horror novels. It was announced on Thursday that CBS has ordered a new drama pilot entitled Frankenstein.
No, this is not in the vein of the clever interweaving of gothic horror tales that Penny Dreadful gave us. This Frankenstein's monster has risen from the dead to... solve crimes.
"This latest and very loose adaptation of Mary Shelley's classic novel follows a San Francisco homicide detective who 'is mysteriously brought back to life after being killed in the line of duty. But as he resumes his old life and he and his wife realize he isn't the same person he used to be, they zero in on the strange man behind his resurrection – Dr. Victor Frankenstein.'"
Jason Tracey, who gave us Burn Notice and Elementary, is helming the pilot, which will be in consideration for CBS' primetime lineup next season.
This isn't the first time someone has attempted a Frankenstein's monster detective series. A show with an extremely similar plot, once titled Frankenstein, then Frankenstein Code, then Lookinglass, then finally Second Chance, briefly lived on Fox. This show also followed a deceased detective given a second chance at life, and crime solving, when he was revived.
People were a bit bewildered by the idea.
My agent every time I send him an idea for a show: "Eh, I don't think there's a market for this concept." Meanwhil… https://t.co/LKxtN3WaWU— Mike Drucker (@Mike Drucker) 1549032999.0
Oh so we’ve given up. Got it. https://t.co/iYeKL4JBdQ— Shannon DeVido (@Shannon DeVido) 1549036156.0
How do we stop all of this? Things are getting completely out of control.....🙄 https://t.co/k1Wkwvp22I— The Real Percy Bysshe Shelley (@The Real Percy Bysshe Shelley) 1549039887.0
Some had ideas for a title.
@MikeDrucker WHY IS IT NOT CALLED FRANKENCRIME?!— Aaron Mahnke (@Aaron Mahnke) 1549035031.0
@MikeDrucker I’ll call my agent. You write, I’ll showrun. Frankencrime: Break the Law and He’ll Bust Your Stitches™— Aaron Mahnke (@Aaron Mahnke) 1549035177.0
And they also came up with titles for other gothic horror detective shows.
@amahnke Invisible Man: Attorney at Law (we think)— Mike Drucker (@Mike Drucker) 1549035222.0
@MikeDrucker Werewolf Detective: Oh God Where Did All This Hair Come From?™— Aaron Mahnke (@Aaron Mahnke) 1549035276.0
But some were actually excited about the show.
@MikeDrucker @clarkewolfe no way. I'd watch the shit out of that show.— Laraine Newman (@Laraine Newman) 1549039950.0
It will, at the very least, be interesting.
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