Tai Freligh looks forward to the return of Heroes with Heroes Reborn…
When Heroes went off the air abruptly in 2010 after four amazing seasons, we were all left hanging. People with special abilities had been revealed to the world, but we would never find out what happened to them. After five years of silence, it was announced that a special 13 episode mini-series would pick up the story of Heroes appropriately enough, five years after the events of season four’s finale. A teaser trailer was shown to thunderous applause at Comic-Con this year along with a panel of guests, including Tim Kring and several actors from the original show along with new actors for Heroes Reborn. A whole series of marketing tools are being released, including a mobile app and PC game, interactive websites, magazines, graphic novels, comic books, webisodes and more. The mini-series will premiere on September 24th of this year with a special two-hour episode. Here are some ways that the show has come back better than ever.
Sure, it’s been five years since we last saw our heroes, but NBC has put together an iPhone app that you can use to get back up to speed on the show. You can watch every episode or individual clips from all four seasons. You can click on a particular character and learn all about them (one very cool feature is the ability to watch video of an individual characters narrative arc through the entire series). Also available exclusively on the app is a prequel series called Dark Matters, a six chapter series that picks up where the original show left off.
Dark Matters gives us an introduction to the world of Heroes, five years after Claire Bennett’s outing to the world. People with special powers are called EVOs and are treated like mutants. Tech conglomerate Renautas is introduced as the big bad and former Primatech worker Noah Bennett, AKA HRG, is tracked down to help support the EVOs who are being persecuted. Perfect introduction to where the new show will pick up.
A Heroes Reborn comic, produced by Titan Comics, written by Supervising Producer Seamus Fahey and Zach Craley and illustrated by Rubine, will help tell the story of one of the show’s new characters. Chris Teather, Publishing Director for Titan Comics said, “Our new Heroes series is being created in close collaboration with the team behind the NBC show. These aren’t just comics; they’re bonus episodes!”
Imperative Entertainment has teamed with Universal Partnerships & Licensing to produce two new Heroes Reborn games to coincide with the launch of the series- one for smart phones and tablets, the other for PC, Mac and consoles. Heroes Reborn: Gemini and Heroes Reborn: Enigma tell the stories of two different people with special abilities. The two games share plot points, characters and style of gameplay and while the two stories are inter-connected, they can be enjoyed separately.
The show’s creators have launched a new website where fans can enjoy photos, GIFs, behind the scenes pictures and more. The site is Tumblr based and can be found at www.9thwonders.com.
Finally, go to the official website at www.nbc.com/heroes-reborn to download the app, watch web clips and trailers and see cast bios and photo galleries. As a huge fan of the original show, I plan on immersing myself in everything I can get my hands on before September 24th rolls around so that I am absolutely prepared for the premiere! In the meantime, here’s the official synopsis and trailer for Heroes Reborn.
A year ago, a terrorist attack in Odessa, Texas, left the city decimated. Blamed for the tragic event, those with extraordinary abilities are in hiding or on the run from those with nefarious motives.
Two such vigilantes include Luke (Zachary Levi, “Chuck”) and Joanne (Judith Shekoni, “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2“), who are seeking to avenge a tragic loss.
Noah Bennet, aka H.R.G. (Jack Coleman, “Heroes”), has gone off the grid but conspiracy theorist Quentin Frady (Henry Zebrowski, “A to Z”) finds him and opens his eyes to the truth behind the Odessa tragedy.
While in hiding, some are discovering their newfound skills. Awkward teen Tommy (Robbie Kay, “Once Upon a Time”) just wants to be normal and win the girl of his dreams, Emily (Gatlin Green, “Criminal Minds”), but normalcy is virtually impossible after learning of a new ability that terrifies him. Coming from a very sheltered upbringing, a bold and ethereal teenager, Malina (Danika Yarosh, “Shameless”), has been told she is destined for greatness. In Tokyo, a quiet and unique young woman, Miko (Kiki Sukezane, “Death Yankee 3”), is trying to track down her missing father while hiding an extraordinary secret that will make her a force to be reckoned with. Elsewhere, a different type of hero is emerging through former soldier Carlos (Ryan Guzman, “The Boy Next Door“).
Meanwhile, Erica (Rya Kihlstedt, “Masters of Sex”), the head of the highly successful tech conglomerate Renautas, has an agenda of her own.
For better or for worse, some are fated to cross paths with assorted heroes of the past, including Hiro Nakamura (Masi Oka), Matt Parkman (Greg Grunberg), Mohinder Suresh (Sendhil Ramamurthy) and the Haitian (Jimmy Jean-Louis), among others. Yet, together, their ultimate destiny is nothing less than saving the world and mankind.
Joining Kring are executive producers James Middleton (“Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles”) and Peter Elkoff (“Sons of Anarchy”). “Heroes Reborn” is produced by Imperative Entertainment, in association with Universal Television.
Tai Freligh
(Article originally appeared on Flickering Myth)