Stan’s first international original series, Philip K. Dick’s Electric Dreams, is set to “premiere exclusively" on the streaming service as a sci-fi extravaganza.
The new TV show is being dubbed “a hugely ambitious anthology drama series based on the short stories written by award-winning sci-fi novelist Philip K. Dick".
Philip K. Dick’s Electric Dreams is billed as “a sci-fi anthology series of ten epic, ambitious and moving stand-alone episodes, each set in a different and unique world – some which lie in the far reaches of the universe and time and others which are much, much closer to home".
Unlike Dick Smith, who once styled himself the “Electric Dick,” I’m not aware of Philip K. having ever done the same, whether in his electric dreams or not, but we’re told that while Dick’s “stories may be worlds apart, central to each is the poignant and warm exploration of the importance and significance of humanity.”
{loadposition alex08}After all, what is science fiction but a warning to humanity of what might come, and what we should do to ensure humanity’s survival rather than devolution into a dystopian world – as well as imagining the future and all the wonders (and dangers) those futures might hold?
For Philip K. Dick, his renowned short stories are finally being given top televisual treatment after years of sci-fi movies, some awesome and others not so, despite the brilliance of the original material.
We’re told that “each episode is inspired by one of Philip K. Dick’s renowned short stories and has been adapted by an exciting list of leading British and American writers and directors; Michael Dinner of Rooney McP Productions is executive producing alongside Isa Dick Hackett, Kalen Egan and Christopher Tricarico of Electric Shepherd Productions, David Kanter and Matt DeRoss of Anonymous Content, Ronald D. Moore and Maril Davis of Tall Ship Productions, Bryan Cranston and James Degus of Moonshot Entertainment, Lila Rawlings and Marigo Kehoe of Left Bank Pictures, Don Kurt and Kate DiMento in association with Sony Pictures Television.”
The series will also feature an “all-star roster of cast who head up this thrilling, audacious and emotional journey into the far reaches of the imagination, including Timothy Spall (Mr. Turner, Secrets & Lies, The King’s Speech and the Harry Potter films) in 'The Commuter', Steve Buscemi (Boardwalk Empire, Boss Baby) in 'Crazy Diamond', Benedict Wong (Doctor Strange, The Martian, Top Boy) in 'Impossible Planet', Anna Paquin (True Blood, the X-Men films) and Terrence Howard (Empire, Lee Daniel’s The Butler) in 'Real Life', Vera Farmiga (The Conjuring, The Departed) in 'Kill All Others', Greg Kinnear (Heaven is For Real, As Good As It Gets) in 'Father Thing', and Bryan Cranston, who also serves as an executive producer on the series, will star alongside Essie Davis in the highly anticipated episode, 'Human Is'.”
We are promised that each episode “will be a sharp, thrilling stand-alone drama adapted and contemporised for global audiences. The series will both illustrate Philip K. Dick’s prophetic vision and celebrate the enduring appeal of the prized sci-fi novelist’s work".
It also sounds like it might be a type of Twilight Zone for the 21st century, although Philip K. Dick's stories weren't endless, so there's only so many episodes that can be made – unless the scripwriters are confident they can replicate Dick's style once all the original material has been developed. I guess we'll just have to wait and see on that one when the time comes.
In any case, the show joins other Stan originals such as No Activity, Wolf Creek, Romper Stomper and others, of which Stan is naturally quite proud.
Stan’s chief content officer Nick Forward says, “Sony have been one of Stan’s most important partners since launch, and we couldn’t be more excited to be extending that relationship with our first international Stan Original Series, in partnership with Sony Pictures Television.
“Phillip K. Dick’s stories have resonated across generations, as relevant today as the day they were written, and with a world class team of creatives bringing them to the screen, Philip K. Dick’s Electric Dreams promises to be a truly global television event.”