For a show that launched with a massive amount of hype and started with strong ratings, Heroes left the small screen with more of a whimper than a bang, petering out to disappointing viewership and fan complaints about overcomplicated stories after four seasons. Now US network NBC, clearly inspired by the current trend for miniseries, is giving it a new shot with Heroes Reborn in 2015.
The original show featured a group of characters who discovered they had incredible powers. Some chose to use them for good, while others went the path of darkness. Actors who either got a launch pad or a boost for their career from the show included Zachary Quinto, Hayden Panettiere, Greg Grunberg and Milo Ventimiglia.
Nothing has been released about the limited new series’ plot, but we do know it’ll run across 13 episodes next year. “The enormous impact ‘Heroes’ had on the television landscape when it first launched in 2006 was eye-opening,” says NBC Entertainment President Jennifer Salke in a statement picked up by The Wrap. “Shows with that kind of resonance don’t come around often and we thought it was time for another instalment. We’re thrilled that visionary creator Tim Kring was as excited about jumping back into this show as we were and we look forward to all the new textures and layers Tim plans to add to his original concept. Until we get closer to air in 2015, the show will be appropriately shrouded in secrecy, but we won’t rule out the possibility of some of the show’s original cast members popping back in.”
Heroes almost became more popular here and in international markets than it was in the US, so we’d expect it to screen over here shortly after its US airdate. We can but hope the producers have a better handle on the writing and the mythology this time.