In 2001, the Fox network made a brave programming move with its sitcom version of "The Tick." Based on the superhero comic book of the same name, the show starred "Seinfeld" alum Patrick Warburton in the title role. While critically applauded, the show's run would be brief. After just nine episodes, it would be relegated to the sitcom junk pile. However, thanks to a 2003 DVD release, the show found afterlife and became a cult classic.
Given the show's untimely demise, news of a proposed reboot to be done by Amazon Studios, with Warburton reprising the role, came as quite a surprise to fans. Now, 18 months later, the series is one step closer to becoming a reality.
"We're doing it," revealed Warburton to HNGN while promoting his new NBC series "Crowded" at the Television Critics Press Tour in Pasadena, Calif.
"We just got Ben Edlund's latest draft, it's probably his tenth draft, they have been beating him up," he continued. "I think it's brilliant. It's ready to go, and I got a carve-out from NBC as 'The Tick' had already been in development."
Warburton was not at liberty to divulge much more than a pilot had been greenlit, but did reveal the new "Tick" would be darker in tone compared to the original series.
"It's going to be a new, somewhat darker incarnation of 'The Tick,'" he said. "I really can't expose too much, but the Tick is still the Tick, and he still has his essence and is just as beautiful and insane as he was."
Since the original series ended, the show has remained a passion project for Warburton, who lived in hope of donning that big blue suit one more time.
"It was the most fun I've ever had in my whole life," he admitted. "We did nine episodes and got no support from Fox at the time. They just decided it was too expensive and didn't care that every critic from New York to L.A. loved the show. They were going to kill it because of reality shows."
According to Warburton, the success of cheaper-produced reality shows like "Joe Millionaire" premiering to huge numbers and a timeslot against the second year of "Survivor" were the final nail in the coffin for "The Tick."
While an airdate has yet to be set, an excited Warburton revealed: "They're talking prospectively, relatively soon. We don't have an exact date yet."
"This is wholly Ben Edlund's 'The Tick.' It's his creation with Amazon and it's all Ben," he added. "It's brilliant and deep and dark and funny, and I love the direction and purity of it."
