According to The Hollywood Reporter, Fox is developing a stateside version of the U.K. hit series Torchwood.
Unlike Fox’s unsuccessful attempt to create an American version of Doctor Who, the network plans to involve the Original, U.K. production’s team – with original series creator Russell Davies writing the script.
A more grown-up spinoff of "Doctor Who," "Torchwood" is about a covert group that protects the Earth from creatures and alien technology that find there through a trans-dimensional rift in Cardiff, Wales – but the American version would take on a more global jurisdiction. Two series/seasons aired domestically on BBC America as well as last year’s well reviewed stand-alone miniseries, "Children of Earth," which broke all ratings records for the network.
In addition to Davies, executive producers include Julie Gardner (former head of drama at BBC Wales for the show’s first season) and Jane Tranter (another BBC vet, now executive vice-president of programming and production at BBC Worldwide Prods. in the U.S.).
Word is that some of the current cast — most likely John Barrowman, who plays the immortal Capt. Jack Harkness – could star if Fox orders "Torchwood" to pilot.
Tranter might also try to produce a Doctor Who for U.S. audiences while departing "Doctor Who" star David Tennant stars in NBC’s pilot "Rex Is Not Your Lawyer."Torchwood (an anagram of "Doctor Who") premiered in 2006 on BBC 3 and set ratings records, then was moved to BBC 1.
Russell also reinvented Doctor Who in 2003 and was writer-creator of the series Queer as Folk – which he successfully sold to Showtime, where the U.S. version enjoyed a five-season run