When I first heard there was going to be a show about ‘Sleepy Hollow,’ I was intrigued yet skeptical. It would be a difficult feat to pull off, especially when the premise has the potential to be a bit campy. It can go wrong in so many ways, but I don’t think it will.
I was immediately hooked after watching the trailer. This first look at ‘Sleepy Hollow’ promises alluring action sequences, suspenseful plot twists, cheeky humor and a very gripping storyline.
Here is FOX’s detailed description of this fun and fascinating new series:
What if you suddenly woke up from the throes of death 250 years in the future to find the world is on the brink of destruction, caused by unimaginable events, and you are humanity’s last hope?
Welcome to SLEEPY HOLLOW, the thrilling new mystery-adventure drama from co-creators/executive producers Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci (“Star Trek” and “Transformers” franchises, “Fringe”).
In this modern-day retelling of Washington Irving’s classic, ICHABOD CRANE (Tom Mison, “Salmon Fishing in the Yemen”) is resurrected and pulled two and a half centuries through time to unravel a mystery that dates all the way back to the founding fathers. Revived alongside Ichabod is the infamous Headless Horseman who is on a murderous rampage in present-day Sleepy Hollow. Bound to the Headless Horseman by a blood spell cast on the battlefield of the American Revolution, Ichabod quickly realizes that stopping Headless is just the beginning, as the resurrected rider is but the first of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.
As this re-invented Ichabod finds himself in present-day Sleepy Hollow, he discovers a town and a world he no longer recognizes. All that is brutally familiar are Headless and Ichabod’s determination to annihilate this immortal being. It’s a mission he must complete quickly, as Headless already has viciously slain Sheriff AUGUST CORBIN (guest star Clancy Brown, “Cowboys & Aliens,” “Carnivale”). Grey served both as mentor and father figure to Detective ABBIE MILLS (Nicole Beharie, “Shame,” “American Violet”), a young cop whose own supernatural experiences help her form an unlikely bond with Ichabod. But Sleepy Hollow’s head of police, Captain FRANK IRVING (Orlando Jones, “The Chicago 8,” “Drumline”), isn’t buying any of this.
In fact, the only person who is on Abbie’s side is Ichabod. His extensive first-hand knowledge of our secret American history, coupled with her superior profiling and modern threat assessment skills, will make them a formidable duo as they work together to triumph over evil. The complex pasts of Ichabod and Abbie, from Ichabod’s inclusion in the powerful and secretive Freemasons Society and the ghostly appearance of his late wife, KATRINA (Katia Winter, “Dexter”), to Abbie’s childhood visions, will help them solve the intricate puzzles of Sleepy Hollow in order to protect its future.
As history repeats itself, the oddly-linked pair will draw on the real stories and hallowed secrets this nation was founded on in their quest to stop an increasingly vicious cycle of evil.
SLEEPY HOLLOW is from K/O Paper Products in association with 20th Century Fox Television. The series is co-created by Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci, Phillip Iscove and Len Wiseman (“Hawaii Five-0,” “Underworld” and “Total Recall”). The series is executive-produced by Kurtzman, Orci, Wiseman and Heather Kadin. Iscove serves as supervising producer. Wiseman directed the pilot.
‘Sleepy Hollow’ creators, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, shed more light on their modern twist to a classic tale in this interesting behind the scenes video featuring cast interviews and footage from the pilot.
First impression:
‘Sleepy Hollow’ offers comedic relief in the midst of a gritty crime drama grounded on a captivating supernatural mythology. The series seems like a fascinating combination of ‘National Treasure,’ CW’s ‘Supernatural,’ NBC’s ‘Grimm,’ and FOX’s short-lived drama, ‘Alcatraz’ (which was way too good to be so quickly cancelled). If you are a fan of supernatural, fantasy, horror, mystery and crime drama genres, then ‘Sleepy Hollow’ will have a lot to offer.
Series leads, Tom Mison and Nicole Beharie, are an engaging duo. Mison is quirky, yet earnestly charming as Crane. His chemistry works well with Beharie, who looks believable as a dedicated detective. Their contrasting characters provide an entertaining dynamic and they seem to play nicely off of one another. Cast chemistry is vital on any show, so it is good to see that their banter works well from the start.
Some early reviews criticize the complex mythology explaining Crane and the Horseman’s history and present predicament. As a ‘Supernatural’ fan, I relish in a juicy show mythology, especially when it involves secret societies, religious undertones, and mysterious matters of the occult. Using apocalyptic themes inspired from the ‘Book of Revelations’ puts a creative twist on an old tale. ‘Sleepy Hollow’s’ Headless Horseman is Death, the first of four horsemen unleashed to bring upon the end of days. You must admit it is a clever and fitting choice, which would allow for more villains and obstacles to arise as the series continues. Crane’s wife, Katrina, was a witch who cast a spell on her husband so he could stop the impending apocalypse. Plus, Abbie has her own mystical secrets (what kind of “childhood visions” did she have?), so she is inclined to believe Crane. Seriously, who would not get sucked it?
I’m eager to learn more about the show and get to know the cast during ‘Sleepy Hollow’s’ Comic-Con panel on Friday, July 19. Here is the official schedule:
Executive producers Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci (Star Trek, Fringe, Spider-Man 2) and Len Wiseman(Underworld, Total Recall) unveil their highly anticipated project with an exclusive world premiere screening of the pilot, followed by a Q&A with fans featuring series lead Tom Mison (Parade’s End) and Nicole Beharie (42, Shame).
Friday July 19, 2013 3:30pm – 4:30pm
‘Sleepy Hollow’ premieres Monday, September 16 at 9 p.m. on FOX.
What are your first impressions on ‘Sleepy Hollow’? Are you captivated by the show’s mythology? Are you excited to tune in this Fall?
Share your thoughts below and stay tuned for more news!
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