NBC PLOTS ‘FREQUENCY’ REBOOT WITH ‘SUPERNATURAL’ BOSS

NBC has handed out a script-plus-penalty commitment to a reboot of 2000 sci-fi thriller Frequency, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

Based on the New Line Cinema feature written by Toby Emmerich, Supernatural showrunner Jeremy Carver will pen the new version for Warner Bros. Television, where he is under an overall deal.
NBC’s Frequency is described as a character-driven drama in which an NYPD detective connects with his son, 30 years in the future. The two must work together to change the history of tragic events to come while also getting the chance to heal their complicated relationship.

Emmerich’s feature took place in New York in 1999 and starred Jim Caviezel as a homicide detective who strangely makes contact with his late father (Dennis Quaid) exactly 30 years in the past on the day before his death. The film grossed $68 million worldwide on a budget of $31 million.

Carver will also executive produce the drama alongside Emmerich, John Rickard and Lin Pictures’ Dan Lin and Jennifer Gwartz.
Frequency becomes the latest feature to be adapted for the small screen this development season as networks look to cut through the clutter in an increasingly competitive scripted landscape. Key to the remakes is having the original producers on board — something 20th TV learned with its planned Say Anything reboot. While the studio’s parent company owns the rights to the feature, the original producers were not involved. The studio legally could have moved forward without their consent but ultimately opted to scrap the TV follow-up.

Meanwhile, CBS is tackling Limitless, Rush Hour and In Good Company; Fox is reviving Big, Hitch, Monster-in-Law and Minority Report; NBC is readying Bewitched, Marley & Me, Problem Child and The Money Pit; and The CW is plotting The Illusionist, to name a few.

Carver, who oversees The CW’s veteran procedural — which this week celebrated its 200th episode — counts Being Human and feature Fearless among his credits. Carver is also attached to The CW/WBTV’s Supernatural spinoff. The drama, which went to pilot last season but did not move forward, is being redeveloped this season.