WGN America Greenlights 'Roadside Picnic,' DC Comics's 'Scalped' Pilots

WGN America will add to its original scripted series lineup with the deveopment of two new shows, the network announced Monday.

The network has greenlit to pilot Roadside Picnic, a sci-fi series based on the novel by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky in which aliens have come and gone on earth, leaving humans to explore the mysteries left behind in the remains of the alien culture, said network officials. Jack Paglen (Transcendence, Alien: Covenant), Alan Taylor (Mad Men), Vivian Cannon (Preacher) and Neal Moritz (The Fast and the Furious) will serve as executive producers on the project.

Scalped, based on the DC Comics grahic novel series written by Jason Aaron, takes palce in the world of a Native American Indian reservaion led by an ambitious Chief who has to deal with a renegade who has returned home after years away from the reservation. Doug Jung (Banshee) and Geoff Johns (The Flash) will serve as executive producers on the project, said network officials. 

R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.