The Expanse creators developing The Captive's War sci-fi series for Amazon Prime Video under their new Expanding Universe content banner

by Thinus Ferreira

The team behind The Expanse science fiction series on Amazon Prime Video is developing a new science fiction series with Amazon MGM Studios based on The Captive's War book trilogy in which prisoners in a galaxy of civilisations destroy the totalitarian society from within.

The new multiplatform content company, Expanding Universe, has a development deal in place at Amazon MGM Studios and is developing The Captive's War into a TV series.

The first book in The Captive's War trilogy, The Mercy of the Gods, was launched in August.

Expanding Universe is led by showrunner Naren Shankar, director Breck Eisner and novelists and screenwriters Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck who publish under the pen name James S.A. Corey.

The Captive’s War is set in a distant future of galactic empires and alien civilisations. 

It is inspired by the Bible book of Daniel and follows a group of prisoners "who rise from the ashes of catastrophe to destroy their conqueror's society from within. It is an epic tale about the transformative power of individuality in a totalitarian world". 

The Captive’s War is executive produced by Naren Shankar, who also serves as writer and showrunner; Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck, who will also write; as well as Breck Eisner, who will also direct. 

The series is produced by Amazon MGM Studios. 

"Expanding Universe is focused on developing sci-fi narratives with sweeping world-building and elevated storylines, geared toward multi-platform expressions in filmed entertainment, gaming, and publishing. The Captive’s War is a perfect launchpad for our model," says Breck Eisner.

Naren Shankar says "On The Expanse we built a deep, immersive universe filled with great characters and intense, emotional stories - on a budget that wasn't insane. And now we're bringing that expertise to new storytelling universes and platforms".

Ty Franck says "The Expanse was originally created to be a video game, then it became an RPG, then a novel, then a show and then a couple of video games. In a way, it was a roadmap for how Expanding Universe is developing projects now."

Daniel Abraham says "Our track record has already attracted some exciting material: original features, adaptations by other novelists' work, and even legacy IPs, which would be a blast to reimagine in a modern context. In success, we have the opportunity to bring a new generation of science fiction to the screen."

The Expanse on Amazon Prime Video renewed for a 5th season before the season 4 debut of the science fiction drama series on 13 December 2019.

Amazon Prime Video has renewed its science fiction drama series The Expanse for a 5th season before the debut of the upcoming new 4th season on 13 December 2019 which will be the first season since Amazon took it over from the Syfy channel that cancelled it after three seasons in May 2018.

Amazon Prime Video made The Expanse season 5 announcement during its presentation slot at America's Television Critics Association press tour on Saturday.

The fourth season is based on Cibola Burn, the fourth book in The Expanse book series.

The Expanse is produced by the Alcon Television Group with Naren Shankar as showrunner, with the cast that includes Thomas Jane, Shohreh Asgdashloo, Steve Strait, Dominique Tipper, Wes Chatham, Cas Anvar, Frankie Adams, Shawn Doyle, Chad L. Coleman, Florence Faivre and Cara Gee.

In the 4th season the enigmatic Ring Gates built by an ancient, now-gone alien race now open to thousands of new planets throughout the galaxy, a blood-soaked gold rush begins, igniting new conflicts between Earth, Mars, and the Belt.

"Meanwhile, on one unexplored planet, the Rocinante crew gets caught in a violent clash between an Earth mining corporation and desperate Belter settlers as deadly new threats from the protomolecule emerge," says Amazon Prime Video in a press release.


ALSO READ: Amazon Prime Video releases the first teaser trailer for the 4th season of science fiction drama series, The Expanse, after taking it over, and announces debut date of 13 December 2019.

Amazon Prime Video releases the first teaser trailer for the 4th season of science fiction drama series, The Expanse, after taking it over, and announces debut date of 13 December 2019.

Amazon Prime Video has announced a debut date of 13 December 2019 and has released a first teaser trailer in addition to a sneak peek for the upcoming 4th season of the science fiction drama series, The Expanse, that it picked up and took over from the Syfy channel.

With the enigmatic Ring Gates now open to thousands of new planets throughout the galaxy, a blood-soaked gold rush begins, igniting new conflicts between Earth, Mars, and the Belt.

The fourth season is based on Cibola Burn, the fourth book in The Expanse book series.

"Meanwhile, on one unexplored planet, the Rocinante crew gets caught in a violent clash between an Earth mining corporation and desperate Belter settlers as deadly new threats from the protomolecule emerge," says Amazon Prime Video in a press release.

The Expanse cast includes Thomas Jane, Shohreh Asgdashloo, Steve Strait, Dominique Tipper, Wes Chatham, Cas Anvar, Frankie Adams, Shawn Doyle, Chad L. Coleman, Florence Faivre and Cara Gee.

The Expanse is produced by Alcon Television Group with Naren Shankar as showrunner.

Amazon Prime Video released a first official teaser trailer that made its debut this past weekend at the San Diego International Comic-Con 2019 where The Expanse also did a panel session with the cast and producers:



Amazon Prime Video also released a very cinematic-looking, almost 6-minute clip of the crew of the Rocinante spaceship landing on the new alien world Ilus, also called New Terra, the first planet that mankind has sent people to:



Here are 3 new revelations regarding the 4th season of The Expanse as it will start on Amazon Prime Video:

1. A new chapter
"Book 4 is a new chapter, a new era. So it's fitting that we are on this new platform and that we have moved to this new global interface of Amazon Prime Video," said Steven Strait who plays captain James Holden, in an interview.

"Streaming is important for us. It's a very intelligent show. And to be able to take in enough of it, as you want it, is a big plus for us creatively."

"We're not constrained by being at 45 minutes every episode, we can say things and show things that we had to limit in the past. So we're unlocked in what we're capable of doing as we move into this much larger world that we are building."


2. New characters
"There are a lot of new characters, and although we have all of the same people who were in it before, their journeys deepen. Wee them in ways that we've never ever seen them before. It's really exciting, whether you're a new viewer or if you've watched for the past 3 seasons. The world just gets bigger and bigger," explained Dominique Tipper, who plays Naomi Nagata.


3. Better production values
"Anyone familiar with the books knows that book four is kind of a gear change. It has a very different flavour to it. We approached that on a technical level with lens changes, we have anamorphic lenses that are kind of wide screen. It’s got that frontier look to it," said Steven Strait.

"But also, there is a kind of gritty intimacy that you experience with the folks on the Roci crew and the people on New Terra/Ilus, whatever you’d like to call it."

"You move into this vast and different space, and yet you kind of delve deeper into each character as well - which is a testament to the books and also to the adaptation and the writing, because they manage to do both. The world does get much larger, and yet it also gets far more intimate at the same time."

After its Syfy cancellation, Amazon saves the excellent science fiction drama series, The Expanse, picks it up for season 4.

Amazon has saved the excellent science fiction series, The Expanse, after cancellation by Syfy, picking up the series for a 4th season on Amazon Prime Video for the United States.

The Expanse is currently midway through its 3rd season and was cancelled by the NBCUniversal-owned channel.

Interestingly, for international viewers, including South Africa, The Expanse has been available on Netflix, a rival streaming to Amazon.

It will be interesting to see how the new take-over pick-up deal might impact where future and past seasons become available due to the complex subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) rights.

Time will tell, but it could be that the first 3 seasons of The Expanse remain on Netflix, with further seasons on Amazon Prime Video. It could also be that the first 3 seasons move to Amazon Prime Video as back catalogue together with the new 4th season.

Or it could be that The Expanse simply continues on Netflix internationally and Netflix South Africa, retain the existing 3 seasons and showing the 4th - this being the most likely scenario.

Speaking on Friday at a panel at the National Space Society's conference, Jeff Bezos, Amazon CEO who is a big fan of The Expanse book series, said that Amazon has made a deal to take over the science fiction series for a 4th season.

"I just got word that The Expanse was saved," Jeff Bezos said on Friday evening at the National Space Society's International Space Development Conference in Los Angeles.

The cast and producers of The Expanse team was in the ballroom audience for the Q&A session with Jeff Bezos when he made the announcement that Amazon is taking over the show.

I'll just let him say it...#TheExpanse#RocinanteIsSafe#BreakingNews

Thank you @JeffBezos pic.twitter.com/wxHN31zgJs

— Cas Anvar (@Casanvar) May 26, 2018

"I was talking to the cast half an hour ago, before the break for dinner started. I was telling them that we are working hard at Amazon to save The Expanse but it wasn't a done deal yet."

"During dinner, 10 minutes ago, I just got word that The Expanse is saved," Jeff Bezos said to applause and with the cast members standing up and applauding. "The show is extraordinary and these guys are unbelievably talented".

"We couldn't be more excited that The Expanse is going to continue on Amazon Prime! We are deeply grateful that Jeff Bezos, Jen Salke [new Amazon programming boss], and their team at Amazon have shown such faith in our show," said Alcon Entertainment co-founders and co-CEOs Andrew Kosove and Broderick Johnson who produce the series, in a statement.

"We also want to thank Laura Lancaster, head of Alcon Television for her tireless efforts. We are fully aware that this wouldn't have been possible if it wasn't for the staggering outpouring of support from the most creative, hardest working sci-fi fans around the world."

NBCUniversal's Syfy said it was difficult dumping The Expanse but didn't want it anymore.

"The Expanse transported us across the solar system for three brilliant seasons of television. Everyone at Syfy is a massive fan of the series, and this was an incredibly difficult decision," said Chris McCumber, president of entertainment networks at NBCU Cable Entertainment in a statement announcing the show's cancellation.

"We want to sincerely thank The Expanse’s amazing cast, crew and all the dedicated creatives who helped bring James S. A. Corey's story to life."

TV NEWS ROUND-UP. Today's interesting TV stories to read from TVwithThinus - 13 April 2018.

Here's the latest news about TV that I read and that you should read too:

■ People want their printed TV information and TV listings in newspapers and magazines and they don't want it moved or removed.

■ Forget Star Trek: Discovery and Altered Carbon - The Expanse is the science fiction show to watch.

■ By now you would have noticed how Naspers took its subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) Showmax service and and moved it in under its MultiChoice umbrella, with Showmax that is being offered as a streaming service through the DStv decoders set-top box (STB).
That is part of the trend of traditional pay-TV operators bringing streaming services into their pay-TV services for subscribers through their decoders as the idea that traditional pay TV services can stand apart from online video services is fading fast.


■ The reboot of the new Lost in Space series is available from today on Netflix South Africa and worldwide on the streaming service but the real danger is boredom. It's not a must-watch reboot, is a slow-paced, po-faced journey into banality and a formulaic and increasingly sentimental family drama.
You can also watch the (actually good) pilot episode of the  2003 failed reboot.


■ Reality TV supposedly offers valuable lessons to children.

■ The future of television advertising is up in the air.

■ No April fool's joke: Struggling Zimbabwe claims it will have 24 TV channels with digital terrestrial TV (DTT).

■ The NMG wants to sell off its NTV Kenya, NTV Uganda and NTV Tanzania TV channels.

DAILY TV NEWS ROUND-UP. Today's interesting TV stories to read from TVwithThinus - 15 February 2017.

Here's the latest news about TV that I read, and that you should too:


■ The champagne is flowing (again) at the SABC.
The cash-strapped and loss-making SABC is again popping - and paying for - expensive Veuve Clicquot and Night Nectar Krone.

- The SABC1 event where it happened was filled with hiccups; media were milling about not knowing what to do for hours. Despite the SABC's champagne culture, no reports from media of what SABC executives actually said. TVwithThinus has a report.


■ Parliament slams acting SABC CEO James Aguma and SABC spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago.
Parliament says there seems to be no good faith from James Aguma and Kaizer Kganyago - "they treat this committee with contempt". Parliament asked "Why should James Aguma and Kaizer Kganyago make such terrible decisions on behalf of the SABC?"


■ Science fiction series The Expanse isn't just great TV - it's transforming TV.
Like Game of Thrones on M-Net Edge and A Series of Unfortunate Events on Netflix based on books and having the author involved and part of the writing team, The Expanse is now part of growing the trend of making television based on books better by consulting the original writer.


 ■ First look at the second season of the BBC's Top Gear has viewers divided.
After yet another shake-up of the presenters of the British magazine car show, viewers are wondering if Matt LeBlanc, Chris Harris and Rory Reid will work and gel this time.

■ "Please tell me that is not your penis".
New Zealand TV soap Shortland Street ended with this cliffhanger at the end of Friday's episode.

■ Zambia's government keeps saying ZNBC hasn't been bought by the Chinese.
While China's StarTimes took 60% shareholding in the digital terrestrial television (DTT) venture of Zambia's state-run broadcaster. Zambian government spin tsar foams at the mouth and blames the media for lies about the private take-over deal of the country's national broadcaster.

■ Indian films can again be shown in Pakistan on private pay-TV channels.
After a Pakistan court overturns a ban.

■ Canadian film and TV producers are worried ...
that government regulations about local Canadian content and productions could be eased, leading to an influx of more American talent into Canada's series and films.

■ Venezuela blocks out and censors a Hugo Chavez TV series.
Biographical show blacked out across the country because Venezuela can't "risk losing years of indoctrination of the people by allowing them to watch the show".


■ Deborah Turness is out as president of NBC News
Replaced by Noah Oppenheim. Deborah Turness will be placed in charge of creating the new NBC News International news channel out of euronews as a new rival for CNN International (DStv 401). euronews is going to be renamed euronews NBC.
euronews NBC has a long way to go before it can be and compete with CNN International and BBC World News.


■ Efe Obioma quits after 3 years as GOtv Nigeria's PR manager.
Where will the MultiChoice marketing executive resurface?


■ Lovely long read: The Apprentice at the Donald Trump White House - "whose up, whose down?"
South African viewers can't see Saturday Night Live (SNL) that used to be on Comedy Central (DStv 122) but that neither Comedy Central in Africa or CNBC Africa (DStv 410) are interested in showing.

With it's best (meaning funniest) season in years - and SNL ratings also the highest in years thanks to Alec Baldwin and Melissa McCarthy - Donald Trump is very upset with the portrayal of Stephen K. Bannon as the Grim Reaper.

Donald Trump's White House staffers are constantly secretly buzzing about "who is up and who is down" and the unflattering portrayals on Saturday Night Live.


■ John Oliver (jokingly) blames Oprah for Donald Trump.
Because he thought he was powerful, he became powerful, just like when Oprah told people lectured people on the book The Secret.

■ See the BBC's Planet Earth II in glorious 4K ...
... if you're in America. In South Africa the best you can see the natural history series on BBC Earth (DStv 184) is maximum 1080i.

■ Britshow looking for naked TV contestants.
In the Naked Attraction dating game show, contestants appear naked full frontal and people are picked by potential lovers based on their naked bodies.

■ Netflix is making its own Game of Thrones.
The new animated series is based on the Castlevania game show.

■ Facebook is coming to TV.
Will launch a stand-alone app soon for Apple TV, Samsung's Smart TV and Amazon Fire TV.

■ Wendy Williams on BET (DStv 129) says she doesn't care if celebrities like her.
Keeps bringing heat to daytime TV with her no-prisoners approach to celebrity culture commentary.

New science fiction drama, The Expanse, set 200 years into the future, ordered directly to series with a first season of 10 episodes.

2014 will be a good year for viewers who like science fiction TV dramas: A new TV drama, The Expanse, has just been ordered straight to series with a first season of 10 episodes.

The Expanse, based on James S.A. Corey's trilogy of science fiction books, will get a full first season of 10 episodes, NBCUniversal announced.

South African viewers can look forward to - irrespective of what TV channels it will be shown on - the second season of Defiance, the new The 100, the new The Helix, the new Star-Crossed, Dominion, Olympus, 12 Monkeys, Ascension, Z Nation, The Last Ship, Bitten, Sleepy Hollow starting soon (oddly on DStv's Vuzu which completely isn't the right channel for it).

Don't forget the 4th season of Falling Skies, and the new Star Wars TV series on Disney, Star Wars Rebels starting this year.

The Expanse revolves around spaceship captain who, with a ragtag bunch of characters including a detective, goes in search of a missing woman in a journey through the Solar system, slowly uncovering the "greatest conspiracy" in human history.

"The Expanse is epic in scale and scope and promises to be Syfy's most ambitious series to date," says the Syfy channel in a press statement, saying that its overall strategy is now to produce "bold, provocative and compelling sci-fi fantasy stories".