Will FOX Give American “Torchwood” A Real Chance?

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Yep, the alien-investigating Doctor Who spin off is headed to FOX for an all-American remake.

The Hollywood Reporter says the American version of Torchwood will have the original production team in tow, including series creator Russell Davies (Doctor Who, Queer As Folk). THR is also claiming the U.S. series would feature a global plot line and that John Barrowman would be likely to reprise his role as Capt. Jack Harkness.

(More on Techland: What We’re Looking Forward To In 2010: Sci-Fi TV)

Right now, the the show is only in development and still needs the official green light from FOX to become a pilot.

It’s an exciting announcement yes, but we can’t help think of all of FOX’s other once-exciting sci-fi shows that have been axed, or sent into relative obscurity.

FOX: The Sci-Fi History, Abridged

Dollhouse (2009-2010)

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3J9713IyOVw]

Joss Whedon’s latest FOX series about rentable human “dolls” with an erasable memory and implantable personalities was a fraction of the way through its second season when it was canceled.

(More on Techland: Joss Whedon: Dollhouse Too Sexy For FOX)

Terminator: The Sarah Conner Chronicles (2008-2009)

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtp2kupgQLY]

Four words: Friday Night Death Slot. Even The X-Files was nearly canceled once it moved there.

Firefly (2002)

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWo6nXIj9Bk]

Another ill-fated Whedon show canceled after just one season, but strong DVD sales spawned 2005’s spin off movie Serenity … which we named one of the worst superhero films of the decade most underrated sci-movies of all time.

Dark Angel (2000-2002)

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDZq6hMUaNI]

Not even James Cameron (or Jessica Alba for that matter) could keep sci-fi alive on FOX.

(More on Techland: But Wait: James Cameron Almost Saved Spidey 18 Years Ago)

And these are just a few of the shows that met their science fiction death on FOX (M.A.N.T.I.S!, Brimstone!, Sliders!), though admittedly, some were much-needed mercy killings.

But, where does that leave Torchwood? Guess we’ll wait and see.