NIN: 'Year Zero' May Be An HBO Series

Geoff Boucher of the Los Angeles Times reports that Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails has been in talks in with HBO about making a two-season maxi-series out of "Year Zero", the dark future tale that Reznor has chronicled in his music as well as in a celebrated Alternate Reality Game (ARG) with the same title that was created by 42 Entertainment.

"It's the most exciting thing on the horizon, it's the thing that when I wake up in the morning it makes me say, 'God it would be cool if that happened," Reznor said. "This is my grand ambition. Will it happen? I don't know. It was fun sitting and telling [the HBO] guys and watching them shake their head and having writers on board and producers that are in to it. It's been a fun thing."

Read the entire report from the Los Angeles Times.

Comments

[D. Hero]

I think it would be really cool and interesting to see it happen. I'd definitely watch it.

[joshua029]

terrible idea to make seasons of this. but wait, they're in for 2! yet another reason to keep the tv off...

[[x]Huffy[x]]

Oh yes Trent, make a decent album, then RUIN your reputation by turning it into a crappy HBO series!

[pinky_demon]

That would be awesome!

[idontloveyou]

God no
Year Zero is meant to be heard only, not seen

[Deliriumbassist]

idontloveyou wrote:

God no
Year Zero is meant to be heard only, not seen

Trent has been playing around with the idea of Year Zero being a film or a TV series for quite a while now, during it's production.

[stepco12345]

=/
This could be either really good or really bad. No in between.

...I'm thinking the latter. =(

[webbtje]

I'll be really interested in this, as the story of Year Zerp is murky as hell. Trent might well have himself a winner here.

[snoogins17]

would reznor star in this show?

[tim western]

To be honest - Year Zero sucked and what the hell is HBO?

[vans1170]

wow, he was talking about this since he started the album.
why is this a bad thing? HBO, maybe. but a visual of year zero would not be a bad thing.

[mercurymay]

tim western wrote:

To be honest - Year Zero sucked and what the hell is HBO?

Year Zero was different from the others, but i personally love the concept of concept albums like Serj Tankian's "elect the dead" and NIN's "year zero"

oh and HBO is a TV channel. it stands for "home box office"

[Shredder Guitar]

mercurymay wrote:

tim western wrote:

To be honest - Year Zero sucked and what the hell is HBO?


Year Zero was different from the others, but i personally love the concept of concept albums like Serj Tankian's "elect the dead" and NIN's "year zero"

oh and HBO is a TV channel. it stands for "home box office"

Don't forget The Wall =P

I loved the movie version of The Wall... he visuals brought a whole lot more insight to the whole story. Maybe this show will do the same? i mean its doubtful... but who knows? He's got the money and ambition to do it... so let him do what he wants. Best of luck, trent.

[SylKain]

It could be a good idea, if it doesn't get watered down to a broader audience-friendly serial with hip actors straight out of teen soaps (or God forbid anything with the disney stamp on it)

[mdr9inchnails]

I think it would be better if Trent released a dvd movie about Year Zero, rather than a tv series...

[latkingz781]

Year Zero was epic. Anyone who says otherwise is not welcoming to great ideas and obviously concept albums of great ideas.

[NightEmbers]

Up with the idea, as long as producers dont twist it up, Year Zero is a great and Interesting story, I think it would be epic to turn it into a show

[hamsterman64]

I'm sure Trent would make something great. He made the Broken Movie after all, and that was only a collection of videos with faux-snuff in between. That is an awesome vid, and I'm sure Year Zero will be as well. Trent's just awesome that way.

[Bentheemo]

I think its a good idea, maybe season 2 will dear with YZ2?

[LordArbiter]

It would be the only good thing on HBO. I want to see it and balls to the doubters.

[craigspyke]

I hope this works out. The ARG was immense, especially with Year Zero playing in the background.

[sottpwn]

Calm down everyone, they are only IN TALKS about it.

Wait and see, it could be the next LOST.

[Monolith295]

sottpwn :
Calm down everyone, they are only IN TALKS about it.

Wait and see, it could be the next LOST.

Huge the first season then forgotten? Yeah, I can see that.

[llama_guitarist]

HBO isn't that bad. It could be with a worse network. And I don't think that Trent would let his work turn into something he didn't want it to be, so I think it could work. Nonetheless, it's gonna be interesting if it happens.

[Year Zero]

It'll be cool

[NorCalLos]

I think it's funny how everyone has such a strong opinion about this without knowing a damned thing about it. You people are hilarious. It's just a concept and concepts don't make or break t.v. series. Take for example another HBO series, Curb Your Enthusiasm. Concept: Old, bald Jewish television producer stars as himself in series based on his day to day life. With great writing, innovative directing (dialogue is improvised), and good performances, it's hilarious. Year Zero is a concept is as plausible as anything. Kinda like a modern mad max or some ish. Could be really cool.

I also liked the album. The tCapital G is a sick song, as is The Good Soldier.

[AnimatedHand]

This will either be brilliant or terrible to be honest. I loved Year Zero, Capital G rules.

[Shyne]

could be good, could be a flop... all i know is that 'the great destroyer' is one of the best songs of the '00's... simply magical!
and amazing live too!

[SlashNX]

I trust in Trent that if this is done.... it is done right!

[LazyLatinoRocke]

I'd watch it

[aebers79]

i hope he comes through with it, because it seems like every time modern musicians try to do something like this, it gets delayed and then put off.

[GR1NG0_SU4V3]

I do enjoy the maxiseries Generation Kill.
Maybe this will be good too.
After all it is NIN.

[Philly.D.S.]

how would this be bad? Trent is a genius let him do it. Whats wrong with HBO??? NBC and all those crappy 5 pm time show suck ass. HBO has unreal shows like Entourage, Californication, Dexter.

[redh0tchilip3pp]

stepco12345 wrote:

=/
This could be either really good or really bad. No in between.

...I'm thinking the latter. =(

Trent would never buy into something if it was gonna be bad.

[dieloony2]

Have you guys watched tv recently? Even a shitty show based off year zero would be better then 90% of whats on lol

best case scenario it's actually good.

[Hobbs333]

No, I think its not really met to be heard...

Id much rather not watch a TV show based offa it.

[Ibanez__33]

i think it'd be better done like The Wall, not so much as a show or movie, but just a visual accompaniment to the record that helps tell the story. kinda like a series of inter-connected music videos.

[NorCalLos]

I wish they would make a maxiseries based on high school musical. Great concept album.

[yearzero]

stepco12345 wrote:

=/
This could be either really good or really bad. No in between.

...I'm thinking the latter. =(

I was thinking the same thing. Even as a huge fan of NIN I must agree

[Keyphur]

pssh, ill watch it. Trent is an amazing artist, im sure it wont be horrible :\

[Suav Nitebeest]

I keep thinking of Children of Men when I hear about this. If you pay attention to the lyrics and anything about the ARG then you'll know there's a lot of potential as far as storylines go. There's the Survivalism video as well...

[The Spoon]

I would by a DVD set.

isnt there like a "sequel" to year zero coming out?

[Nebjy]

mercurymay wrote:

tim western wrote:

To be honest - Year Zero sucked and what the hell is HBO?

Year Zero was different from the others, but i personally love the concept of concept albums like Serj Tankian's "elect the dead" and NIN's "year zero"

oh and HBO is a TV channel. it stands for "home box office"

Don't ever compare trent and serj. Serj wrote a song called "bethoven's ****"

I don't know if this will be good but I know I liked year zero better than with teeth deffinitely.

[Castlebravo]

Monolith295 wrote:

sottpwn :
Calm down everyone, they are only IN TALKS about it.

Wait and see, it could be the next LOST.


Huge the first season then forgotten? Yeah, I can see that.

Forgotten? Just because something isn't watched by every single person doesn't mean it's forgotten. I know plenty of Lost fans IRL and tons on the internet.

[zeroyon]

Another Rock Opera?? Yeah!! Hell yeah!

[Broken_Drum]

The Spoon wrote:

I would by a DVD set.

isnt there like a "sequel" to year zero coming out?

Yep.

[zombiekangaroo]

for all u people thats saying its a bad idea cuz its gonna ruin the album, i dont think trent would let that happen, i think it would make an amazing show as long as trent stays in charge, i mean, look at all the albums he gave us, would he really let us down now?

[not_dead_enough]

I DON'T BELIEVE IT!!!!

If any other industrial artist did this, all the little Trent-fanboys would be crying sellout and saying how their man would never do such a thing!

The only thing separating Trent from any other musical sellout is the fact Trent doesn't admit to it. He has the audacity to insult our intelligence by pulling stunts like the "download my music" thing, and next album it's more like "download my music...for a nominal fee". He's as greedy and self-controlling as any musician I can think of. Every other industrial musician seems happy to give a cut to the label...

[Echoplex]

This is gonna suck, and what happened to the video game called year zero?

[.6.bullets.]

o.o
interesting, but will it work?

[areese82]

What???

[NorfIrIon]

I don't really like Trent or his music, quite honestly, but I think it's a really great idea. I just hope it works out. I'm so glad someone out there keeping things interesting.

[HughF]

FUCK YES!

Man...Nine Inch Nails fans are a critical bunch. Calm down people, look at it from Trent's point of view. I would jump at the chance if I was him, and so would most people.

It oughta be interesting.

[Zodiac62391]

not_dead_enough :
I DON'T BELIEVE IT!!!!

If any other industrial artist did this, all the little Trent-fanboys would be crying sellout and saying how their man would never do such a thing!

The only thing separating Trent from any other musical sellout is the fact Trent doesn't admit to it. He has the audacity to insult our intelligence by pulling stunts like the "download my music" thing, and next album it's more like "download my music...for a nominal fee". He's as greedy and self-controlling as any musician I can think of. Every other industrial musician seems happy to give a cut to the label...

I find this bit pretty damn ridiculous. What makes Reznor a mainstream sellout? That's like getting Radiohead releasing In Rainbows for free, or whatever you want for it, and then making an album you actually have to pay for, and people like you getting pissed off, agitated at the notion that not everything they will do is free. Album creation isn't free. Trent has done so many generous things for his fans for free. He deserves to be showered with gold, praised for his work, and he also deserves money just like any other hard working citizen. Industrial artist or not, he was the best of the genre, and anyone else in that genre would jump at the notion that their mediocre albums could be invented into a live action visual interpretation. It's so easy to critique and condemn another's actions behind a ****ing computer. Try doing half of what he has and you would die of exhaustion. I would hope for it.

[theocao]

Awesome can't wait to see it I hope it isn't crap though :[

[GuitarCrazyFrog]

Shredder Guitar wrote:

mercurymay wrote:

tim western wrote:

To be honest - Year Zero sucked and what the hell is HBO?


Year Zero was different from the others, but i personally love the concept of concept albums like Serj Tankian's "elect the dead" and NIN's "year zero"

oh and HBO is a TV channel. it stands for "home box office"


Don't forget The Wall =P

I loved the movie version of The Wall... he visuals brought a whole lot more insight to the whole story. Maybe this show will do the same? i mean its doubtful... but who knows? He's got the money and ambition to do it... so let him do what he wants. Best of luck, trent.

Well yeah, think of it this way. Trent Reznor is one of the most brilliant musical minds of our generation, and of generation x. And people here have no faith in him? Like he would do this show and **** it up. If he wants to do it, it's going to be good, or its not going to air.

Zodiac62391 wrote:

I find this bit pretty damn ridiculous. What makes Reznor a mainstream sellout? That's like getting Radiohead releasing In Rainbows for free, or whatever you want for it, and then making an album you actually have to pay for, and people like you getting pissed off, agitated at the notion that not everything they will do is free. Album creation isn't free. Trent has done so many generous things for his fans for free. He deserves to be showered with gold, praised for his work, and he also deserves money just like any other hard working citizen. Industrial artist or not, he was the best of the genre, and anyone else in that genre would jump at the notion that their mediocre albums could be invented into a live action visual interpretation. It's so easy to critique and condemn another's actions behind a ****ing computer. Try doing half of what he has and you would die of exhaustion. I would hope for it.

God bless you sir. You just about wrapped up every thought I ever had about whiny musical hippocrits perfectly. Thank you very much.

Philly.D.S. wrote:

how would this be bad? Trent is a genius let him do it. Whats wrong with HBO??? NBC and all those crappy 5 pm time show suck ass. HBO has unreal shows like Entourage, Californication, Dexter.

all those are on Showtime...

checked.

[Macabre_Turtle]

I could be wrong... but, I'm pretty sure this news is a good two years old...

[Suav Nitebeest]

Macabre_Turtle wrote:

I could be wrong... but, I'm pretty sure this news is a good two years old...

Well, it's been talked about pretty much since the album came out, I guess this means it's still a possibility.

[clincher09]

not_dead_enough wrote:

I DON'T BELIEVE IT!!!!

If any other industrial artist did this, all the little Trent-fanboys would be crying sellout and saying how their man would never do such a thing!

The only thing separating Trent from any other musical sellout is the fact Trent doesn't admit to it. He has the audacity to insult our intelligence by pulling stunts like the "download my music" thing, and next album it's more like "download my music...for a nominal fee". He's as greedy and self-controlling as any musician I can think of. Every other industrial musician seems happy to give a cut to the label...

Wrong. All of it. By the way, The Slip (NIN's newest album) was and still is 100% free to download on nin.com

[alaub1491]

FUCKKKK YESSSSS.

Trent has so much tact and an eye for whats lame and annoying and uncool that he would never let a television show he produced fail because of something like a bad script or poor actors. Trent would ensure the best for his fans no matter what. In my book Trent is ALMOST perfect.

[not_dead_enough]

Zodiac62391 wrote:

not_dead_enough :
I DON'T BELIEVE IT!!!!

If any other industrial artist did this, all the little Trent-fanboys would be crying sellout and saying how their man would never do such a thing!

The only thing separating Trent from any other musical sellout is the fact Trent doesn't admit to it. He has the audacity to insult our intelligence by pulling stunts like the "download my music" thing, and next album it's more like "download my music...for a nominal fee". He's as greedy and self-controlling as any musician I can think of. Every other industrial musician seems happy to give a cut to the label...



I find this bit pretty damn ridiculous. What makes Reznor a mainstream sellout? That's like getting Radiohead releasing In Rainbows for free, or whatever you want for it, and then making an album you actually have to pay for, and people like you getting pissed off, agitated at the notion that not everything they will do is free. Album creation isn't free. Trent has done so many generous things for his fans for free. He deserves to be showered with gold, praised for his work, and he also deserves money just like any other hard working citizen. Industrial artist or not, he was the best of the genre, and anyone else in that genre would jump at the notion that their mediocre albums could be invented into a live action visual interpretation. It's so easy to critique and condemn another's actions behind a ****ing computer. Try doing half of what he has and you would die of exhaustion. I would hope for it.

The fact you want me to die says a lot about your maturity...grow up.

Trent ran a record label himself until it went bust. He is then happy to criticize the one he was signed to (who probably got him many valuable fans). After he was released he then made his albums downloadable for a price (which I agree he is entitled to) but correct me if i'm wrong but the most expensive package was in excess of $300! I don't care if he hand-delivers it himself; that's just pure greed and all the money goes to him; in fact I doubt the live guys (whose significance he is the first to play down) get much beyond a nominal reimbursement.

I don't expect everything he or any artist does to be free, and I don't take it for granted when it happens. But I don't seem to see the various charitable actions he has done that you seem to; and I think the way he criticizes other artists a bit too readily says a lot about just how competitive he is in this industry. To this day he still bitches about Marilyn Manson, whom I have not heard even mention Trent in the better part of a decade.

He is a control freak with both his music, and the money he makes from it. What I don't like is the way he gets people to 'perceive' him as this god-given gift-bearer to the human race when he is simply trying to make a buck just like the next artist. The members of KISS are greedy bastards but at least they admit it with a cheeky grin. Yes Trent's done a few good things but no more than many other artists, and it's really just a marketing investment so people like yourself will pay for his next album, since he no longer has a major label paying for his advertising.

And I disagree that his albums were the best in the genre. Not only were they a little 'too' influenced by Skinny Puppy's, but they weren't as good. I mean I do like them, but NiN's significance in the genre is blown way out of proportion too.

But hey, if you want to give him gold bars then be my guest!

[bloodred16]

I swear this is old old news and I read it on UG months ago...

Anyway....

I think this could be quite good and has potential, I look forward to it .

[Zodiac62391]

If indeed his bandmates were ones who felt disregarded, then they wouldn't tour with him and play his music. Making a note that he invented it all, beyond just physical means. Sure he has always enlisted minds alike to help him create it, particularly on The Fragile, but he has always had a keen regard to the people around him. He knows he could not tour without a backup band, I mean he could, but the result would never compare to the actual tours. Skinny Puppy is something he was heavily influenced by, and he has stated Down In It was a blatant rip off of Dig It. So he obviously respects the idea that his influence was Skinny Puppy. It's like a comparison between Black Sabbath and any other metal band afterwards that was successful. They are influenced by that band, and expand upon it's ideas. Nine Inch Nails over its years have had a very broad range of songs, attracting a broad range of audience members. We don't all have a step by step manuscript of the things that Reznor has done, and I will never glorify him as a golden god. But to go against the concept of him being highly unique, that's absurdity. Every musician has a criticism of another. Cobain hating Vedder. Cobain hating Corgan. Cobain hating anything other than himself. Heh. But honestly. Maturity level, no maturity level. It is understandable to think that people will desire money, and other Industrial bands, whom generally despise being labeled as such, have simply not had the same opportunities as Reznor, but I will guarantee that Reznor has helped other Industrial bands get noticed as well, much as Skinny Puppy has helped Reznor. And please never utter KISS and Nine Inch Nails, for the level of "selling out" in terms of KISS infinitely outweighs anything Reznor could ever do, unless of course he put out a disco album and starred in a movie where he played himself defending the world against robots with his superpowers. He will never have to do that because, unlike KISS, his career isn't in a point of recession. As I said before, if you are an artist, you will demand a little compensation for your art. As soon as he puts a "Through The Glass" or a "I Wanna Be A Rockstar", then I will label him a sellout. But he has yet to appear on every radio station and make shit conformist "music".

[not_dead_enough]

I agree with your point on his influence from Skinny Puppy, just as Skinny Puppy did with Throbbing Gristle. But your comparison with Black Sabbath and most metal bands is spot on, so everybody on this site who thinks that Trent conceived the industrial genre on his own (and I know you did not say that) needs to remember he was just the next piece of meat on the chain after SP. What I wish Trent would remember is that it was not only SP who helped him get noticed - it was the major record label backing him too. And it is unrealistic for a new band to become world-famous just through self-production and internet-advertising, and I fear Trent is sending out the message to abandon major labels when, let's be honest, we'd probably never have heard of Trent had interscope or whoever not signed him up in the late 80s. Major labels still serve a purpose.

And I don't necessarily think any more of Cobain either. But tbh in spite of all I said, I see nothing wrong with a bit of artist rivalry. My favourite two bands are Megadeth and Metallica, and between them is arguably the biggest feud in heavy metal. Yet I think, having both bands constantly trying to out-do one another, results in only the fans winning. So if Trent still hates Manson then good for him, provided he doesn't kill him or anything because I'm really keen to hear the next MM album with Twiggy back on board!

I will clarify I do like NiN as a "band" - I generally like their music and would see them if they came to my city (but they always decide to skip it). It's Trent's actions and comments away from NiN that I am critical of - and blind-fanboys who spoil it.

[xberserkx]

eh, Reznor wanting to make a series about it just further proves that he was concentrating on the concept of the album way more then the music, because I mean while he had an interesting concept, the music on the album was extremely disappointing. The golden age of NIN is done, he hasn't released anything halfway decent since Fragile

[IfTheWorld]

not_dead_enough wrote:
What I wish Trent would remember is that it was not only SP who helped him get noticed - it was the major record label backing him too. And it is unrealistic for a new band to become world-famous just through self-production and internet-advertising, and I fear Trent is sending out the message to abandon major labels when, let's be honest, we'd probably never have heard of Trent had interscope or whoever not signed him up in the late 80s. Major labels still serve a purpose.

Oh really? Trent was originally signed to TVT, an independant label. Pretty Hate Machine was released on TVT. Trent then went into a joint venture with Interscope and TVT and he forfeited some of his publishing rights to form Nothing Records. NIN got attention first by playing at Lollapalooza in '91 and then got through to the mainstream by playing at Woodstock, which was broadcasted on TV, in '94. See NIN got attention by actually playing, before Woodstock they were still pretty much an underground band. Sure a major label helped but Trent didn't rely on it.

*checked*

[marssox]

if any c.d should be a movie it should be tools lateralus....rumor says it would cure starvation

[waveningkan]

personally,i thnk trent has come to the point where he feels that the music hes doin is not givin him as much 'orgasm' as b4.and as an artist he juz wants to explore different entities of this thng called art and for self satisfaction alone.i thnk anyone who is mad about music will face this phase of creativity where if ur a guitarist,u will hate anythng u hear bout gtr and u juz wan it 2 sound horible or then u'd turn to various other instruments.i thnk dat cud b one of the cause for the existance of jazz.art knows no boundary.however dis dream of trent's turn out,i dont thnk he really gives a s**t bout what others thnk.its all about self satisfaction.my 2 cents of thought.

[ateitup]

yeah a series would be cool, but a movie or two would be epic.

[sugna_slays]

so.....is anybody aware of what we already have of year zero?
no, i don't mean the album.
I'd check out www.iamtryingtobelieve.com for a little year zero preview.

[tylerspyder23]

That sounds exciting! I've read over some comments on this page and it's strange to me how people are against the idea of seeing a visual concept of the album.

That's the best part, to me personally, showing the visual side of the songwriter's ideas; such as the music videos that come to be from that album.

And seeing as Year Zero definitely had a very interesting concept idea, that would be bad ass to make it into a Series. Year Zero reminds me a lot of "1984" and "V for Vendetta" so I'd be excited to see what new story would come to be from Orwellian Ideals.