Comic-Con 2012: TV We Can't Wait To See

01 of 15

Elementary

Lucy Liu, Jonny Lee Miller | How would a proper Englishman like Sherlock Holmes survive on the streets of New York? That's the question that exec producer Rob Doherty set out — CBS

How would a proper Englishman like Sherlock Holmes survive on the streets of New York? That's the question that exec producer Rob Doherty set out to answer with his new procedural, Elementary. Fresh out of rehab, our modern-day detective (played by Jonny Lee Miller) has just moved from Scotland Yard to Manhattan, where he feels even more like an outcast. ''In most Sherlock stories, he's wildly intelligent, always 10 steps ahead of everyone,'' Doherty explains. ''But I liked the idea of putting him in a new place that's tough for anybody, including Sherlock Holmes.'' Though the characters were inspired by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Doherty says the cases aren't based on the books: Here, Dr. Watson is a woman — her name is Joan (Lucy Liu) — and she's been hired by Holmes' father to serve as his live-in ''sober companion.'' For now, their relationship is purely platonic. Mostly she's there to do what the rest of us are doing: watch his cocaine-quick brain at work, and try to keep up. ''His true addiction is what he does for a living,'' Doherty says. ''At the end of the day, that's the one thing he can't live without.'' (CBS, Fall 2012) —Melissa Maerz

02 of 15

The Walking Dead

Robert Kirkman knows why everyone is so excited for season 3 of his zombie drama. ''If you ask anyone, 'What do you like best about the Walking Dead comic?'?'' says the creator of the comic and exec producer of the AMC show, ''it's the prison story line, and the Governor, and Michonne — and that's all stuff that hasn't even existed in the TV show yet. I feel like we're getting to the good stuff now.'' We got our first glimpses of the katana-sword-wielding Michonne (Danai Gurira) and the prison — which the survivors will make their new fortress/home — in the season 2 finale, and showrunner Glen Mazzara promises we'll see much more of each when the series returns. ''It's a haunted house,'' Mazzara says of the jail. ''It's scary, it's frightening, and there are parts of the prison that are always terrifying. It's not necessarily the blessing that the prison in the comic book turned out to be.'' And then there is the Governor (David Morrissey). ''The zombies are always a huge problem, but they have become a known quantity,'' Mazzara says. ''What's unknown is the darkness of humanity and the evil that other people can do. The Governor is the new threat in our world.'' (AMC, Oct. 2012) —Dalton Ross

03 of 15

Sons of Anarchy

After the wild ride of season 4, which ended with Clay (Ron Perlman) in a hospital bed and Jax (Charlie Hunnam) replacing him as president of the arms-dealing, cocaine-muling motorcycle club, season 5 will feel less like a runaway train. ''There's a method to the madness this season that is being orchestrated by Jax,'' says creator Kurt Sutter. The premiere will introduce two new characters. Nero Padilla (Jimmy Smits), an OG gangbanger with an exit strategy, becomes a sort of mentor for Jax. ''His whole thing is making enough money to punch that ticket and get out,'' Sutter says. On the flip side is Damon Pope (Harold Perrineau), a gangster who is the father of the young woman killed in Tig's (Kim Coates) misplaced retaliation for Clay's shooting. He too becomes an example for Jax. ''He's a guy who has turned his drug dynasty into a legitimate business and has given back to his community and become this savior to the hood,'' Sutter says. ''He has success and happiness and has utilized the outlaw life to his advantage. So you have these conflicting visions, the sort of good-Jax/bad-Jax dynamic that happens over the course of the season.'' (FX, Sept. 2012) —Mandi Bierly

04 of 15

Arrow

No, it's not a spin-off for the Green Arrow seen on Smallville. And while this Arrow may be based on the same legendary comic-book character with extraordinary skills, the team behind this edgy CW adaptation insists it's not really about a superhero at all. ''It's a show about a hero,'' says exec producer Marc Guggenheim. ''We tend to write it more like a crime thriller than a live-action comic book.'' The series stars Stephen Amell as Oliver Queen, a playboy who morphs into a bow-wielding vigilante after getting shipwrecked on an island for five years. Although much of the show focuses on the vendettas Queen takes up when he returns home to his struggling city, coexec producer Andrew Kreisberg says that viewers will also get to see what occurred on the island. ''Every week is sort of its own origin story,'' he says. ''We're seeing both the hero and how he got to be that way.'' And though fans of the franchise may know Tommy Merlyn (Colin Donnell) as Green Arrow's nemesis, they're portrayed here as partying pals who just happen to like the same girl (Katie Cassidy). Well, make that pals for now, at least. (The CW, Oct. 10, 2012) —Nuzhat Naoreen

05 of 15

Fringe

The countdown to Fringe's fifth and final season begins on Comic-Con's biggest stage. Literally. For the first time ever, Fox's sci-fi saga will hold court inside fabled Hall H. ''It's bittersweet,'' admits exec producer J.H. Wyman, ''but I think we have lots of good stuff in store for our fans.'' The goodies include the poster you see on this page, plus cryptic teases of what's to come. There are rumors that Fringe's swan-song season will be set in the 2036 dystopia glimpsed in last spring's instant-classic outing ''Letters of Transit.'' The title of the season premiere: ''Transilence Thought Unifier Model-11.'' Sounds like time travel via mental projection to us, but Wyman himself ain't saying squat, except that ''the future of the Fringe team...and the world'' is at stake. ''If I give you any spoilers,'' he says, ''it will just force me to go back in time and prevent myself from answering this question.'' (Fox, Sept. 28, 2012) —Jeff Jensen

06 of 15

The Big Bang Theory

There's no fooling the Comic-Con crowd. The fans who attend the CBS comedy's panel are routinely holding the producers' feet to the fire. ''One gal came up to nitpick about a continuity issue involving Sheldon's [Jim Parsons] first kiss,'' recalls exec producer Steven Molaro, who adds that the fan was absolutely right. This year, Bangers will want to know whether Penny (Kaley Cuoco) will respond to Leonard's (Johnny Galecki) marriage proposal. ''We have no immediate plans to follow that up,'' Molaro says. ''We will come back to a relationship that will rapidly become awkward again.'' (CBS, Sept. 2012) —Lynette Rice

07 of 15

Family Guy

The animated comedy will hit Comic-Con for the sixth time, but we've got some season 11 scoop right here. In the 200th episode, Brian swipes Stewie's time machine...and reverses the direction of time. On the plus side: ''He realizes it's a turn-on to women to take them back in time,'' says exec producer Mark Hentemann. ''Brian's having sex in all different historical situations. Like the explosion of the Hindenburg.'' (Fox, Sept. 30, 2012) —Dan Snierson

08 of 15

Game of Thrones

How intense is next year's Game of Thrones? Producers David Benioff and Dan Weiss can't even join cast members like Emilia Clarke, Kit Harington, and Richard Madden at Comic-Con because they're hard at work on season 3, adapting what fans widely consider the best (and most shocking) of George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire novels, A Storm of Swords. The book is so packed with scheming, it's being split into two seasons. We couldn't possibly tease all of the upcoming Thrones story lines in the remaining space...or could we? Let's try: A reluctant betrothal. A devastating imprisonment. A ferocious army. A debated sacrifice. A spy in love. An undead lord. An unexpected wedding. There! (HBO, Spring 2013) —James Hibberd

09 of 15

Grimm

After a strong rookie season, Grimm co-creator David Greenwalt is heading to Comic-Con in a celebratory mood: ''We're going to Rome and marching in triumphant!'' Season 2 will explore the ramifications of Nick (David Giuntoli) telling his (currently comatose) girlfriend (Bitsie Tulloch) all about his secret life protecting mortal folk from incognito mythological creatures. ''Season 1 was about how being a Grimm affected Nick,'' says exec producer Jim Kouf. ''Now we're looking at how it affects those around him.'' (NBC, Aug. 13, 2012) —Jeff Jensen

10 of 15

Once Upon a Time

When the fairy-tale drama returns, the characters will have to deal with a new — and unpredictable — reality. ''The dynamics in Storybrooke now that the curse is broken, they're going to be evolving,'' says exec producer Adam Horowitz. Fans can also look forward to seeing more of Rumplestiltskin (Robert Carlyle) and Belle (Emilie de Ravin) in season 2, as well as a few new faces. Says exec producer Edward Kitsis: ''We're going to take all the toys off the shelf.'' (ABC, Fall 2012) —Nuzhat Naoreen

11 of 15

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Since launching as a comic book in 1984, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise has manifested as everything from a TV show to feature films, videogames, action figures, and yes, even turtle-shaped Chef Boyardee pasta. So where do we find the heroes in a half shell now? Exec producer Ciro Neili explains that Nickelodeon's version is a back-to-the-beginning reboot, using the comics as source material. ''We settled on the idea that it would be day one of when they first came out of the sewers,'' Neili says. ''They're very much teenagers, so they've not been allowed to leave by Splinter, their master.'' Of course, they're still wielding weapons, eating lots of pizza, and fighting crime. And each turtle still plays a particular role: Leonardo (Jason Biggs) is ''the leader,'' Donatello (Rob Paulsen, who originally voiced Raphael in the 1987-96 series) is ''the brains,'' Raphael (Sean Astin) is ''the muscle,'' and Michelangelo (Greg Cipes) is ''the wild one.'' ''It's like a band,'' Neili says. ''You want a Beatles thing.'' Astin agrees that it's all about the power of four. ''I'm excited because there are four turtles. There were four hobbits,'' says Astin, who famously played Sam Gamgee in the Lord of the Rings film series. ''I love the idea that somehow guys in four can make a change in the world, make a difference.'' (Nickelodeon, Fall 2012) —Tanner Stransky

12 of 15

Defiance

Thirty-five years into the future after an ill-fated war, all sorts of aliens are living among the humans in an eclectic boomtown that's built on top of old St. Louis. But think of Defiance — which will launch concurrently as an MMO videogame — not as an extraterrestrial-versus-human saga but as more of an immigrant drama. ''The seven races of aliens never liked each other all that much, and humans are essentially the eighth race,'' says exec producer Kevin Murphy. ''And all of these factions form different alliances and perspectives on what the world should be and where we should be going as a society.'' This particular society includes aspirational new mayor Amanda (Julie Benz), whose sister, Kenya (Mia Kirshner), is the town madam; and Nolan (Grant Bowler), a drifting scavenger who settles in Defiance with his adopted alien daughter, Irisa (Stephanie Leonidas). ''It's very unusual for a human and an Irathient to be joined at the hip the way Nolan and Irisa are,'' Murphy notes. ''He's basically our Han Solo, and she's our hot alien Chewbacca.'' Hot alien Chewbacca? We defy you not to watch now. (Syfy, April 2013) —Dan Snierson

13 of 15

Spartacus: War of the Damned

Spartacus: Blood and Sand | With Spartacus retiring his sword next season, Comic-Con will be bittersweet for fans. So titular star Liam McIntyre and creator Steven S. DeKnight are focusing — Starz

With Spartacus retiring his sword next season, Comic-Con will be bittersweet for fans. So titular star Liam McIntyre and creator Steven S. DeKnight are focusing on the good news: bloody final-season awesomeness. ''Liam sent me a message saying, 'So pretty much every episode is going to be gigantic and impossible this season?'?'' DeKnight recalls of giving his star a look at the show's upcoming story lines. ''And I told him, 'That's exactly what we're shooting for.' It's building to an epic conclusion.'' The Starz historical drama's team has mastered employing copious amounts of CGI to depict fights in gladiatorial arenas, and now producers plan to up the level of spectacle by tackling large-scale battles showing thousands of slaves versus Romans. With the show's longtime villain Gaius Claudius Glaber having been sent to the afterlife last season, expect Sparty and his band of rebels to face two newcomers: tough Roman general Marcus Crassus (Simon Merrells) and an ambitious young soldier named Julius Caesar (Todd Lasance). We'll save you a trip to Wikipedia — Spartacus and Caesar are not known to have crossed swords in ancient Roman history. But hey, who's to say it didn't happen? ''We're definitely extrapolating on that one,'' DeKnight admits. (Starz, Jan. 2013) —James Hibberd

14 of 15

Revolution

Revolution envisions a postapocalyptic world without electricity, which means that it's the exact opposite of the drama's writers' room, where geek-pop powerhouses J.J. Abrams (Lost, Star Trek), Jon Favreau (Iron Man), and Eric Kripke (Supernatural) can be found lighting up the joint with ideas. ''Obviously those two are huge, and I'm not as huge,'' says Kripke. ''I have to play it cool while I'm trying to run the room, but inside I'm like, 'Holy s---! It's Favreau and J.J.! Talking about story!''' The pilot introduces viewers to a planet gone dark from a mysterious blackout. Crossbow-wielding Charlie (Tracy Spiridakos) must seek out her jaded uncle (Billy Burke) for help rescuing her brother (Graham Rogers). ''We hesitate to call it 'postapocalyptic,'?'' Kripke says. ''We want to do a show that's about hope and rebirth, that's fun, funny, and full of swashbuckling and action.'' That said, look for a first season that builds toward calamitous conflict. Hint? See: title. (NBC, Sept. 17, 2012) —Jeff Jensen

15 of 15

666 Park Avenue

666 Park Avenue may not feature a man wearing a black rubber suit, but the minds behind the drama are prepared for the comparisons to FX's American Horror Story, seeing as how both series center on a haunted building. However, 666 Park Avenue is more of a relationship-focused soap with a supernatural bent. The show follows young couple Jane (Rachael Taylor) and Henry (Dave Annable), who are hired to manage the Drake, a creepy old NYC apartment building owned by the mysterious duo Gavin (Terry O'Quinn) and Olivia (Vanessa Williams). The building — and its owners — are clearly sinister, though. ''What Gavin and Olivia have planned for Jane and Henry is going to be shocking,'' says exec producer David Wilcox. And despite the show's sudsiness, there are gory and spooky moments, too, such as when the Drake's elevator goes rogue and nearly kills a tenant in the pilot. ''I've seen that elevator scene probably 50 times,'' Wilcox says, ''and I still wince every time I see it.'' (ABC, Fall 2012) —Tanner Stransky