AMC announced today from the Television Critics Association (TCA) Press Tour that it has greenlit a new documentary series, JAMES CAMERON'S STORY OF Science FICTION (Working Title), from James Cameron, the acclaimed filmmaker behind legendary sci-fi films The Terminator, Aliens, The Abyss, Terminator 2: Judgement Day, and Avatar. The series, which explores the evolution of sci-fi from its origins as a small genre with a cult following to the blockbuster pop-cultural phenomenon we know today, will consist of six one-hour episodes and will debut on AMC in 2018.
From Star Wars and Avatar to The Hunger Games and "The Walking Dead," sci-fi has become a cornerstone of pop culture. In each episode of "James Cameron's Story of
Science Fiction," Cameron introduces one of the "Big Questions" that humankind has contemplated throughout the ages, and reaches back into sci-fi's past to better understand how our favorite films, TV shows, books, and video games were born, and where the genre - and our species - might be going in the future. Cameron and his contemporaries, who have helped to fuel sci-fi's spectacular growth over the last several decades, debate the merits, meanings, and impacts of the films and novels that influenced them.
Before James Cameron became one of the most successful and accomplished filmmakers of his generation, he was a self-proclaimed "sci-fi nerd." "When I was a kid, I basically read any book with a spaceship on the cover and I saw 2001: A Space Odyssey many, many times," said Cameron. "The movie inspired me to become a filmmaker. I liked the special effects, but I really loved the ideas and the questions behind them: How will the world end? Will technology destroy us? What does it mean to be human?"
"These are subjects sci-fi has never been afraid to tackle," added Cameron. "With this series, we are going back to the origins of sci-fi, following the DNA of these ideas back to the source. Without Jules Verne and H.G. Wells there wouldn't have been Ray Bradbury or Robert A. Heinlein, and without them, there wouldn't be Lucas, Spielberg, Ridley Scott or me. As a filmmaker who specializes in
Science fiction, I'm interested in exploring the struggles and the triumphs that brought these incredible stories to life and seeing how art imitates life, as well as how
Science fiction imitates and sometimes informs science."
"James Cameron is one of the great filmmakers of our time, and his films have literally defined the genre of
Science fiction for this generation, and generations to come," said Joel Stillerman, president of original programming and development for
AMC and SundanceTV. "As we continue to pursue event documentary series at
AMC that our viewers are passionate about, it's hard to imagine a better fit to explore the rich history of this genre than Mr. Cameron. He's a consummate entertainer, a scholar, and an explorer. We are incredibly fortunate to be working with him and the amazing team at Left/Right on this endeavor."
"James Cameron's Story of
Science Fiction" is produced by Left/Right. Executive producers are James Cameron, Maria Wilhelm, Ken Druckerman and Banks Tarver. Seattle's Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP), which houses the
Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame, is consulting on the series.
"James Cameron's Story of
Science Fiction" is part of a growing slate of non-fiction programming on AMC, including the #1 talk show on television, "Talking Dead," the Robert Redford produced event miniseries "The American West," "Comic Book Men," "Ride with Norman Reedus," and the upcoming documentary series "Heroes and Villains: The History of Comic Books," executive produced by Robert Kirkman and David Alpert.
About
AMC AMC is home to some of the most popular and acclaimed programs on television.
AMC was the first basic cable network to ever win the Emmy® Award for Outstanding Drama Series with "Mad Men" in 2008, which then went on to win the coveted award four years in a row, before "Breaking Bad" won it in 2013 and 2014. The network's series "The Walking Dead" is the highest-rated series in cable history and the number one show on television among adults 18-49 for the last five years. AMC's other current original drama series include "Better Call Saul," "Hell on Wheels," "Turn: Washington's Spies," "Halt and Catch Fire," "Humans," "Fear the Walking Dead," "Into the Badlands," "The Night Manager," "Preacher," and the forthcoming "The Son," "The Terror," "Lodge 49," "Loaded" and "McMafia."
AMC also explores authentic worlds and discussion with original shows like "Talking Dead," "The Making of The Mob," "Comic Book Men," "Ride with Norman Reedus" and "The American West."
AMC is owned and operated by
AMC Networks Inc. and its sister networks include IFC, SundanceTV,
BBC America and WE tv.
AMC is available across all platforms, including on-air, online, on demand and mobile.
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