'The Last Starfighter' for TV in the Works With an Ambitious Twist
It seems that "The Last Starfighter" is trying to make history again. The 1984 science fiction film was among the first feature films in Hollywood to use computer-generated imagery or CGI, together with Disney's "Tron." According to reports, plans are underway to develop a TV series based on the film, but not just an ordinary TV series, it seems.
The film's writer Jonathan Betuel is reported to have teamed up with a Los Angeles-based company called Surreal to work on a TV series with the same theme with a twist, according to Variety. The TV series that Betuel envisions is one that will incorporate virtual reality scenes, which will make use of currently available VR technology.
The new series which will be called "The Starfighter Chronicles" is said to be based on the original film but will not follow the story or reboot the story of Alex Rogan, who was recruited by an alien defense league after he successfully gets a high score on a space adventure video game. According to Betuel, it will be a "serialized story about alien law enforcement."
Get Our Latest News for FREE
The VR technology will supposedly come in when it comes to some scenes wherein viewers with VR headsets can explore the scene or scenes a bit more, compared to those who are watching using traditional TVs.
Surreal.tv, Betuel's partner in developing this series, is a new virtual-reality entertainment company founded by Andy Vick and Rick Rey. Vick has indicated that they have started talking to possible outfits who will pick up the series.
Both Vick and Rey, who have had experience with online video, think that VR needs to have a "hit" that will entice people to watch and therefore take up the technology. And they are hoping that "Starfighter Chronicles" will be this "hit" that is needed to get others to develop VR content.
The project is in its early stages of the development so only time will tell how far it can go given its ambitious objective.
