Syfy adapting '3001: The Final Odyssey' as a miniseries

Robin Burks, Tech Times 04 November 2014, 10:11 am

The Syfy television network announced that it is adapting Arthur C. Clarke's novel, 3001: The Final Odyssey, into a miniseries. The Final Odyssey is the finale of Clarke's popular Odyssey series of novels, which began with 2001: A Space Odyssey.

Syfy is working with Scott Free Productions and Warner Horizon Television for the adaptation. Stuart Beattie (Pirates of the Caribbean, Collateral) is writing the script, as well as serving as executive producer, along with Ridley Scott and David W. Zucker. Clayton Krueger will be the miniseries' co-executive producer.

"I have always been a fan of Clarke's extraordinary Odyssey series, and certainly Kubrick's adaptation of 2001," says Ridley Scott. "I am thrilled to be part of bringing that legacy to audiences and continuing the great cinematic tradition that this story and its creators deserve."

The first book in Clarke's Odyssey series was published in 1968, with a wildly popular and critically acclaimed film version created by Stanley Kubrick that same year. The sequel, 2010, received a film treatment by Peter Hyams in 1984.

The story of 3001: The Final Odyssey picks up 1,000 years after the first novel, with the discovery of Frank Poole's frozen body floating around in space. HAL-9000, a supercomputer, killed Poole in 2001. In the 3001, the character is revived and taken back to Earth.

"Arthur C. Clarke is the father of modern science fiction," says Syfy President Dave Howe. "We couldn't be more excited to be working with Scott Free and Warner Horizon Television to bring to the screen, for the very first time, the final chapter of this extraordinary masterpiece."

According to a Syfy press release, both the Kubrick and Clarke estates "have offered their full support" for the new miniseries.

This is the second novel by Clarke to get the Syfy treatment. The first is Childhood's End, which will star Game Of Thrones' Charles Dance. Production on that miniseries begins this year.

Syfy recently stressed a commitment to getting back to its core values and science fiction programming. This news comes with previous announcements of other science fiction projects for the network, including the upcoming Ascension miniseries, space drama Killjoys, time travel series 12 Monkeys and space drama The Expanse.