Mercy Reef (Aquaman)

[Brian in Mesa]

Aquaman Pilot Swims to The WB
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
November 13, 2005

Smallville executive producers Miles Millar and Alfred Gough are developing an Aquaman pilot for The WB network, says The Hollywood Reporter.

The new project is envisioned as a contemporary reinterpretation of the DC Comics character who lives in the deep sea and enlists sharks and other oceanic creatures to help him in his crime-fighting endeavors.

The new-model Aquaman will be a man in his early twenties, adds the trade. As is the case on Smallville, there won't be any presto-chango into costumes or other superhero accessories when his superpowers are invoked.

The October 20 episode of Smallville, titled "Aqua," featured Clark Kent encountering a mysterious young swimmer and do-gooder dubbed "A.C.," played by Alan Ritchson. The episode was not meant to be a template for the Aquaman project and Millar and Gough will search for a new actor for the lead role.

The pilot tentatively is set to shoot early next year in Florida.

According to the Aquaman lore, the character is the exiled king of the lost underwater civilization of Atlantis. The former Prince Orin was abandoned as a child, raised by dolphins and later adopted by a lighthouse keeper named Arthur Curry.

Aquaman made his first appearance in a DC Comics publication in 1941 and remains an active comic book franchise.

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Millar and Gough have done realy well with Superman (Smallville). It'll be interesting to see what they can do with Aquaman.

 

[Ryanwb]

I never really understood Aquaman....

If I'm a criminal and I want to defeat Aquaman I would just move to Arizona and avoid Tempe Town Lake at all costs.

 

[Pariah]

The October 20 episode of Smallville, titled "Aqua," featured Clark Kent encountering a mysterious young swimmer and do-gooder dubbed "A.C.," played by Alan Ritchson. The episode was not meant to be a template for the Aquaman project and Millar and Gough will search for a new actor for the lead role.

It's a shame they're not going to use this actor. I thought he made a pretty good Aquaman. Same with the set-up--I liked that he was a kid that was fighting environmental crimes.

 

[joeshmo]

It's a shame they're not going to use this actor. I thought he made a pretty good Aquaman. Same with the set-up--I liked that he was a kid that was fighting environmental crimes.

I thought that guy was a horrible actor. I liked his look and how they did the character but that guys acting skills stunk.

He got his big break trying out for the last American Idol I believe. He was grinding all up and down Paula.

 

[Pariah]

He got his big break trying out for the last American Idol I believe. He was gringing all up and down Paula.

That was THAT guy? Huh.

I admit his acting wasn't terrific, but he sure did look the part.

 

[joeshmo]

I admit his acting wasn't terrific, but he sure did look the part.

Which is why I dont think he could carry a whole show all to himself.

 

[Assface]

Aquaman is lame. Green Lantern is the greatest DC hero ever.

 

[Pariah]

Assface is lame. Pariah is the greatest ASFM poster ever.

 

[Assface]

You may be the better ASFM poster but I rule ASFN.

BTW, only I'm allowed to do misquotations. Jerk.

 

[AzCards21]

I never really understood Aquaman....

If I'm a criminal and I want to defeat Aquaman I would just move to Arizona and avoid Tempe Town Lake at all costs.

lol! Being hunted by a do gooder fish would be punishment enough.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

You may be the better ASFM poster but I rule ASFN.

BTW, only I'm allowed to do misquotations. Jerk.

 

[Pariah]

Shut up!

 

[Brian in Mesa]

The WB Casts Aquaman
Source: Variety
January 9, 2006

The WB has set 28-year-old newcomer Will Toale to star in Aquaman, a new series from Smallville creators Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, says Variety.

The Florida-born Toale worked as a model before landing a supporting role in "A Streetcar Named Desire" at Broadway's Roundabout Theater alongside Natasha Richardson and John C. Reilly.

"In the [three month] search for Aquaman, we saw over 400 people in England, Australia, Canada and several U.S. cities," Gough said. "We saw Will's tape over Christmas, and he was the only guy we took to the network."

A pilot will shoot in March, probably in Miami. The series is expected to be a signature offering next fall for the network and Warner Bros. TV.

"We call him 'the much-maligned Aquaman,' but when we first pitched 'Smallville,' Superman was considered cheesy," Gough said. "In the comic, Aquaman's the lost king of Atlantis, but in our version, he is Arthur Curry, this twentysomething who owns a dive shop."

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Will Toale

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Ving Rhames to Star in Aquaman
Source: Variety
February 20, 2006

"Mission: Imposssible" franchise star Ving Rhames is joining The CW's untitled Aquaman project, reports Variety.

Rhames will play McCaffery, a lighthouse keeper who serves as mentor to series lead A.C. Curry (played by Will Toale) in the Warner Bros. TV project.

Denise Quinones has joined the cast as Navy fighter pilot Rachel Starling, a potential love interest for Curry.

Rhames next will be seen in the feature "Mission: Impossible: III."

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Nice casting.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Aquaman Series Casts New Leading Man
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
February 22, 2006

The CW network's "Aquaman" project, titled Mercy Reef, has netted a new leading man, says The Hollywood Reporter.

In a major recasting, Justin Hartley has been hired to play the lead role, A.C. Curry, in the drama pilot from Warner Bros. Television. Hartley replaces Will Toale, who originally was cast in the role when the pilot was ordered by The WB.

Hartley joins Ving Rhames, who plays lighthouse keeper McCaffery, and Denise Quinones, who stars as fighter pilot Rachel Starling.

 

[D-Dogg]

Isn't Vince Chase supposed to play this role???

 

[Brian in Mesa]

The CW Passes on Aquaman
Source: Variety
May 17, 2006

While The CW, the combo of The WB and UPN, won't officially release its 2006-07 primetime schedule until Thursday, Variety has learned that the network has passed on Aquaman:

Meanwhile, the CW's adaptation of "Aquaman," once considered a shoo-in for fall, wound up being sunk.

Developed by Smallville creators Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, the show (aka "Mercy Reef") was to have starred Justin Hartley in the title role as well as Denise Quiñones and Ving Rhames.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Here's a leaked commercial/trailer:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=pv7YlUiI1-w

 

[Pariah]

Here's a leaked commercial/trailer:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=pv7YlUiI1-w

Interesting. this could have gone either way, IMO. Seems like they gave a lot of what maybe should have been a mystery for at least a season (atlantis in the triangle, Ving being an exiled atlantean, etc...).

But, it seemed interesting.

I wonder what the character being owned by WB (Warner Brothers owns DC Comics) does to its chances of getting picked up on another network. Probably kills it, huh?

 

[nathan]

I just watched the pilot for this and was very impressed. It's too bad the WB didn't pick it up. This was by far the best new show pilot I've seen for this season. I can't believe they didn't pick it up with Smallville being so stale. I downloaded it with bittorrent, but it supposedly has been on itunes for a few days. It's the most popular video download right now so maybe there is a small glimmer of hope at this point that it will come back.
http://www.latimes.com/entertainmen...ry?coll=la-headlines-entnews&track=crosspromo

Other shows I've seen:
Heroes
Runaway
Friday Night Lights
Jericho
The Nine
Shark
Traveler (mid-season replacement)

The only show I think is going to be a hit is Friday Night Lights. The only other shows I kind of liked were Runaway and Traveler. They both have intriguing plots but I definitely see the potential for absurdity. Traveler would also be better served by doing some recasting.

 

[D-Dogg]

I think Heroes is going to be a hit.

 

[nathan]

I think Heroes is going to be a hit.

You've seen it too?

I am willing to admit there is some potential there but I see a very good chance of the plot spinning out of control. I guess they pretty much just developed the characters in the pilot and didn't really take the action anywhere. I'll probably watch a few more episodes but again I'm not expecting much.

 

[D-Dogg]

I saw about 15 minutes of it...looks interesting to me.

 

[Pariah]

I almost downloaded it from iTunes just yesterday.