AHC - Successful TV/movie franchise based on ISOT

The success of the original and the 1632 series, plus how good some of the ones are in ASB, got me to thinking this might be an interesting challenge.

At first blush, this seems more of a clear book thing. It's easier for a reader to soak it all in, with all the nuances required, since there's a fair amount of thought requried, than it is for a TV show or movie series. Because, on some levels, an ISOT is required to be more realistic than, say, "Lost in Sace" with its really kooky aliens.

But, while it might be difficult, it seems like it might be doable. It would be better than some of the stuff they put out, that's for sure. So, here are the parameters:

it can be British or American TV (because I'm not sure if the BBC might not be a bit more willing to produce it than Hollywood, which except for a few hasn't tended to enjoy doing stuff set more than a few decades earlier). It can also be movies. But to be a franchise, my totally arbitrary and random parameters for this challenge:) are:

1 show of at least 3 seasons (the "Star Trek: TOS length) and 2 movies; or,
3 movies; or,
A show of at least 6 episodes in length and one movie; or,
A TV series of at least 9 seasons in length (I added that since i seem to be equating 3 seasons to 1 movie for no apparent reason:D);
At least some related toys, video games, etc.;
and, at least some somewhat famous celebrity starring in it.
 
I'm pretty sure Outlander is basically an ISOT, but only of one person and not an entire city/country/region.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think he is asking for a wide area ISOT with a population and infrastructure, rather than a typical "sent through time" thing with one or a few people.
 
Well, you had Journeyman where protagonist is thrown back in time at random points. Too bad it got axed.

Then there is Continuum.

As for creating something fresh, King's 11/22/63 is being made into series (crap of a book but it's King so obvi it's going to get made into series :rolleyes:)

As for "wider area gets ISOTed" I don't think it would work. Simply because idea is not that entrenched in general popualtion and you'd suffer from usual problems, either cast is too big for anybody to get deyent air time or majority of characters are ignored)
 
The Axis of Time might work and be successful in a Star Trekkie way.

A whole international fleet of modern ships fighting the "War on Terror" ISOTted to 1942 and get embroiled in WW2. Both time periods are at least somewhat familiar to the average moviegoer, and the social/cultural/ideological differences between early 21st century Americans, Germans, Japanese, Brits, etc and their mid 20th Century counterparts could make for some very good programming. I suspect, the producers would probably make a few changes to the uptimers from the Birmingham's books, and they could create more friction and more uncertainty regarding how the uptime Japanese or Germans will react to their 1940's compatriots...especially if they scattered the fleet more widely and they did not know who else made the transition.
 
Closest thing OTL that comes to mind is The Final Countdown (1980). Perhaps ATL it gets some decent writing and it's such a success it spurs a TV series where the Nimitz remains back in time and changes the course of the war. This series is in turn a success, (say 3-5 seasons) which in turn spurs a rival networks to up the ante. Soon someone else ISOTs Hawaii, or Manhattan, or LA. Viola.
 
Closest thing OTL that comes to mind is The Final Countdown (1980). Perhaps ATL it gets some decent writing and it's such a success it spurs a TV series where the Nimitz remains back in time and changes the course of the war. This series is in turn a success, (say 3-5 seasons) which in turn spurs a rival networks to up the ante. Soon someone else ISOTs Hawaii, or Manhattan, or LA. Viola.

I could see that. The Final Countdown was actually not that bad considering when it was made.
 

MrP

Banned
Let's start with a fairly obvious contender. As "The Final Countdown" is in the pre-production phase, it occurs to director Don Taylor that he could expand the original story to turn the film into a trilogy. Instead of a short return trip to the past, he has the USS Nimitz remain permanently stuck in the Pacific War era; the story is now about the alterations to history that a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier from 1980, with the technology and the knowledge of how the next four decades were going to play out, will introduce.

He sells the idea to an initially reluctant US Navy (which had allowed him to film on location aboard the actual Nimitz) by putting it forward as an Americawank--though of course he doesn't use that word. The first film, "Time Storm", takes place during and immediately after the Japanese raid on Pearl Harbor, which of course goes quite differently in this ATL. The second one, "Storm of War", is released in 1982; it depicts a much shorter Pacific War and a decisive Allied victory against Germany by 1943. The last and most controversial one, "The Final Storm", released in 1984, depicts the rollback of Communist influence in the immediate post-WW2 period and the collapse of the USSR by 1950.
 
I could see that. The Final Countdown was actually not that bad considering when it was made.

It ultimately suffered for being The Final Copout, IMO, when (spoiler alert!!) they finally decide to engage the Japanese and the ISOT storm returns and sucks 'em back to 1980. OTL ensues. :rolleyes: Mostly it ended up being Aviation Tech Porn and a useful recruiting tool, but underwhelmed audiences and critics only grossed $16m with a $12m budget.

Maybe ATL someone at UA has some huevos and fronts the $$ to finish it with a massive battle scene instead, leaves the Nimitz ISOTed, and thereby has a nice sequel hook.

Edit: LOL, Mr.P ya' beat me to it! :p
 
Would Quantum Leap qualify? It had a famous producer plus it had some related comics.

Not really, because he never stayed in the same time.

Now, I guess I'd give credit if his entire house was sent back to one time and stayed there as a sequel to the series. (An ISOT of one hour has been done on here before very well.) Part of the first season in a spot like that could even be trying to figure out whether (and how) to hide it till they figure out what's going on. But, it would have to have a number of people in the house, and sent back to, say, the '50s or earlier.

It could also be one someone invents, too; I thought of that after I had to leave just after posting. I wasn't sure if I made it clear it doesn't have to be an OTL ISOT.
 
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