Sky One has announced that it has greenlit development on two scripts of the iconic British science fiction series Blake's 7. Elaine Pyke, Commissioning Editor, Drama, Sky One, Two and Three is working alongside Andrew Mark Sewell at B7 Productions, a subsidiary of B7 Media, on an exciting reinvention of the iconic brand. Sky One has ordered 2 x 60' scripts for a potential event series.

Pyke commented: "At a time when science fiction shows often discard good story-telling for overblown visual effects - and following the lead of Doctor Who and Battlestar Galactica - the time is ripe for a revival of a show that represents the best traditions of the genre, not to mention one of the best-loved and most successful dramas of all time."

Blake's 7 presented to the world a vision of the future, a future where the galaxy is ruled by the iron fist of a galactic federation, in which freedom and justice are things of the past. Into this vision creator Terry Nation cast a small band of outlaws who find themselves in control of the most powerful space vessel in the galaxy, the Liberator. Led by the enigmatic Roj Blake, the group of rebels would strike at the very heart of the Federation, and change the face of science fiction television.

Blake's 7 originally ran for four seasons between 1978 and 1981 and recently topped a British Film Institute poll to find the UK public's favourite television show. The series has inspired the creators of such seminal series as Babylon 5 and Buffy The Vampire Slayer, and was sold in over 40 countries worldwide.

Blake's 7 will form part of Sky One's eight figure commitment to drama in 08/09; one of the largest from a UK broadcaster in original HD drama and the largest commitment to UK drama in the broadcaster's history.

The development comes in addition to the already announced slate of adaptations of works by best-selling authors including Chris Ryan (Strike Back), David Almond (Skellig), Terry Pratchett (Going Postal) and Martina Cole (The Take and The Graft).

The first photo from geek maestro Joss Whedon's highly anticipated Dollhouse reveals the killer cast behind the upcoming sci-fi drama. The seven-episode series, which follows a group of highly skilled men- and women-for-hire known as "dolls," launches in January on Fox in the US. The show is tentatively scheduled to air Mondays at 8, before 24.

The dolls have had their memories and personalities wiped clean -- think Bourne Identity -- and are rented out to perform tasks by a mysterious agency.   

Remember ass-kicking babe Eliza Dushku from Buffy and Tru Calling? She stars as Echo, who becomes self-aware and begins to investigate her surroundings, including the futuristic, lab-like dorm (pictured above) she lives in.

Whedon tapped Battlestar Galactica stud Tahmoh Penikett to stand in as Echo's twisted love interest and an FBI agent obsessed with the urban myth of a such a "Dollhouse."

Fran Kranz stars as Dollhouse's nerdy programmer Topher Brink, who imprints the dolls with their task-specific personas. 24-alum Harry Lennix serves as a bodyguard for Echo, and Buffy Angel alum Amy Acker is doll-handler Dr. Claire Sanders. X-Men's Olivia Williams plays the ruthless Adelle DeWit, who governs over the dollhouse.

Dushku's own experiences as an actress inspired Whedon, according to an interview with the Los Angeles Times. "When we really discussed the whole thing, she said, 'You're talking about my life. In my life, everybody tells me who they want me to be while I try and figure out who I am.' And that spoke to me. I agreed that I'll write and maybe oversee the pilot," said Whedon, who created and penned hit shows Firefly and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Source: Wired Blog