The rise of WGN America as a real force in TV drama is an impressive one. Known, if it was known at all, as a home of re-runs, the Tribune-owned network began producing original programming in 2014, clearly inspired by the success that AMC had had in reinventing itself. Its first show, “Salem,” was mostly ignored (though is still on, with a third season on the way this fall), while follow-up “Manhattan” got good reviews, but tiny ratings and was cancelled after its third season.
This year’s been highly successful for them, though, with both Appalachian-set drama “Outsiders” (which got better ratings than “Vinyl”) and the acclaimed slavery series “Underground” proving to be legitimate hits. And they only seem to be aiming higher, as they’ve just announced that they’re moving forward with a project that’s among the more ambitious TV ideas we’ve heard in a while.
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According to Deadline, “The Good Wife,” “Watchmen” and “Downton Abbey” star Matthew Goode has signed on to star in “Roadside Picnic,” a pilot for the network that will shoot soon. Written by “Transcendence” and “Alien: Covenant” scribe Jack Paglen, and to be directed by “Thor: The Dark World” helmer Alan Taylor, it’s based on the novel of the same name by Russian writers Arkady and Boris Strugatsky, which was then adapted by Andrei Tarkovsky into 1979’s “Stalker,” a strong contender for the title of the greatest film ever made.
The show will see Goode play Red, a former ‘Stalker’ who enters the ‘Zone’ (an area briefly inhabited by alien visitors) in order to scavenge technology). It could end up being a lowest-common denominator translation of the book and film, but it could also turn into something quite interesting if its creatives are allowed to do so. It’s also hitting at an interesting time, as Alex Garland’s next movie “Annihilation” is in many ways something of an homage to the Strugatsky’s (and Tarkovsky’s) work. We’ll see if that is a blessing or a curse for “Roadside Picnic” — either way, we’re intrigued, and are glad to see the underrated Goode getting a part like this. Shooting will begin soon.