The future is coming. Helmed by Seth MacFarlane (Family Guy), Peacock along with Universal Studio Group’s UCP have procured the rights to a new TV series, Skywatch. Skywatch may sound familiar as it went viral in the form of a science fiction short film posted on Youtube in 2019. MacFarlane is set to executive produce with his production company Fuzzy Door Productions via the The Hollywood Reporter.
Though only ten minutes long, Skywatch was no easy feat to complete. Written and directed by Colin Levy (The Secret Number), he is a former Pixar Artist who remained persistent as it took him six years to bring his ideas to life. Enlisting volunteers he was able to to create his short film, even getting big names like Jude Law (The New Pope) to make a brief appearance. Now, it’s on to bigger things at Peacock. Along with writing and directing the original short, Levy has now signed on as an executive producer for the upcoming series. Mike Sundy (Inside Out) will also serve as executive producer, a seasoned Pixar employee who worked on Skywatch with Levy according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Levy posted a series of tweets this morning expressing his joy in finding his passion project a new home. See his full tweet below:
Released in December of 2019, Skywatch became a viral hit. With 1.4 million views and counting, it was a race with intense competition to see who would get the rights to the show first. Earlier this year, MacFarlane signed $200 million dollar deal with NBCUniversal to create original content and Skywatch marks his third project with them.
Skywatch follows two teenage boys as they get in over their heads, possibly stumbling upon a conspiracy in a future where technology rules. With winks to films such as Rear Window, the boys spy on neighbors with binoculars, using drones to deliver things such as burgers and fries. But, their pranks go too far. When one of their drones explodes, it sets off a chain of events which involves being chased by angry robots. Leaving off on a cliffhanger, it’s now in Peacock’s hands to continue on the dystopian mayhem that is Skywatch.
No casting announcements have been made nor confirmation if Law will reprise his role in the upcoming series. In the meantime feast your eyes on the short film that could, Skywatch.