Sci-Fi Storm

Syfy today unveiled the cast of Z Nation, an all-new zombie series set to debut in the fall. From production company The Asylum (Sharknado), the 13-episode action-horror series depicts the epic struggle to save humanity after a zombie apocalypse. Harold Perrineau (Oz, Lost) Tom Everett Scott (Southland, Beauty and the Beast), DJ Qualls (Supernatural), Michael Welch (Twilight trilogy) and Kellita Smith (The Bernie Mac Show) have joined the ensemble drama, currently in production in Spokane, WA.

In Z Nation, three years have passed since the zombie virus has gutted the country, and a team of everyday heroes must transport the only known survivor of the plague from New York to California, where the last functioning viral lab waits for his blood. Although the antibodies he carries are the world’s last, best hope for a vaccine, he hides a dark secret that threatens them all. With humankind’s survival at stake, the ragtag band embarks on a journey of survival across three thousand miles of rusted-out post-apocalyptic America.

Perrineau will play Hammond, the leader of the group headed west; Scott portrays Garnett, Hammond’s second-in-command; and Qualls plays the role of Citizen Z, a computer hacker who joins the team and helps them navigate the zombie-infested terrain. Welch and Smith are Mack and Addy, respectively, two disparate wanderers drawn to the team – and to each other – by a shared goal: survival.

Rounding out the ensemble are Anastasia Baranova (The Darkness II) as Addy, Russell Hodgkinson (Big Fish) as Doc and Keith Allan (Rise of the Zombies) as Murphy.

Z Nation is a dynamic ensemble action-drama that will plunge viewers into a fully-imagined post-zombie America and take them on an adventure with a diverse group of richly-drawn characters. As the reluctant heroes learn to work as a team and battle ever-more-menacing zombies, their flaws, idiosyncrasies, and moral dilemmas will ultimately become the heart of the show.

Karl Schaefer (Eerie Indiana, Eureka, The Dead Zone) serves as executive producer and showrunner. Acclaimed action director John Hyams (Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning) will direct the pilot. The series is produced by The Asylum and sold internationally by Dynamic Television.

So it appears that Harrison Ford’s injury was perhaps a bit more series than originally thought, as his publicist confirmed to the BBC his left leg had been broken and required surgery, which was successful.

Lucasfilm’s original statement only stated that he had an ankle injury, while local police confirmed they had been called for an injury involving a “garage door”, although some reports claim that it was in fact the door to the Millennium Falcon itself that may have caused the injury.

Ford will be undergoing rehab for the leg while shooting continues. No further word from Lucasfilm or Disney as to how this might affect the shooting schedule.

Only two episodes left! Time is running out for Kiera and John Doe (Ryan Robbins, Sanctuary), who must work together to put an end to the Freelancers. Check out “The Dying Minutes”, Friday night at 10/9c on Syfy!
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Syfy’s fan-favorite series Haven will get a new resident when Laura Mennell (Nina Theroux on Alphas, Janey Slater on The Watchmen) joins the cast in a recurring role playing Dr. Erin Reid, a brilliant and beautiful epidemiologist from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) who fears the town of Haven is on the verge of a deadly viral outbreak. Filming for the series’ 26-episode fifth season is currently underway on location in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Dr. Erin Reid is a worldly scientist whose focus is investigating the diseases that plague mankind. She’s a force to be reckoned with, as Audrey Parker (Emily Rose), Nathan Wuornos (Lucas Bryant) and Duke Crocker (Eric Balfour) quickly discover. Meanwhile, Dwight Hendrickson (Adam Copeland) works overtime to keep the troubles hidden from Erin. But, when she unknowingly uncovers a genetic marker found only in Troubled people, the residents of Haven realize her discovery could lead to a scientific cure for the Troubles that plague the town.

When the series returns this fall, Haven’s protectors are thrust into uncharted waters: Duke is now a ticking time bomb, fighting to contain the Troubles within him, while Nathan faces his greatest fear that Audrey — the woman he’s fought so desperately to save — may be gone forever.

Tallying its best season ever in social mentions and Twitter activity, Haven’s fourth season was up 11% among Adults 18-34 (314,000) and up 3% year-to-year among Adults 18-49 (926,000). Overall, Haven averaged 1.1 million Adults 25-54 and 2.3 million viewers per week and ranked second in Adults 18-49 and Adults 25-54 among original cable series in its Friday 10PM ET/PT time slot. (All data Live +7).

Haven, based on the novella The Colorado Kid from renowned author Stephen King, follows former FBI agent Audrey Parker, who becomes a cop in the small town of Haven, Maine, and soon discovers the town’s many secrets, which also hold the key to unlocking the mysteries of her lost past.

From leading independent studio Entertainment One (eOne), Haven is co-commissioned by Shaw Media in Canada and globally via Universal Networks International (UNI).

The creative team behind Haven includes executive producers John Morayniss (Klondike, Rogue) from eOne Television and David MacLeod (Legends of the Fall, The Ray Bradbury Theater) of Big Motion Pictures, who are joined by Lloyd Segan, Shawn Piller, Scott Shepherd (Stephen King’s The Dead Zone, Greek) of Piller/Segan/Shepherd and Matt McGuinness (Journeyman, Franklin and Bash) and Gabrielle Stanton (The Vampire Diaries, Grey’s Anatomy). The series was developed by Sam Ernst and Jim Dunn (Stephen King’s The Dead Zone).

Haven is produced by Entertainment One and Big Motion Pictures in association with Piller/Segan/Shepherd and airs on Syfy in the US, Showcase in Canada and internationally on UNI’s multiple Syfy channels. Entertainment One controls the worldwide distribution rights to the one-hour series.

War is coming and humans face extinction! Check out the sneak peek of the season premiere of Dominion below, including the stars describing the fight between the angels and humans…and tune in for the premiere Thursday at 9/8c on Syfy!
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The second season of Defiance is just a couple days away! Check out this preview of a couple scenes, and tune in Thursday at 8/7c!
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[Edit…I have reason to believe the picture below was modified from the original where the sign said something else…but still, it’s humorous]

So the geekdom side of the Internet had a practical meltdown of sorts as word of Harrison Ford getting injured on the set and needing to be taken to a hospital spread faster than point five past light speed, and the injury just started getting more gruesome as it went through various questionable “sensational headline” sites that are popping up everywhere, at one point saying Ford had been “crushed” – by the Millenium Falcon, no less.

Yes, he injured his ankle, and the latest reliable reports indicate that it is simply a fracture – not surprising given that Ford is 71. But Ford is having some fun with his clumsiness at least, with this picture making the rounds:

Here’s wishing him a speedy recovery. Filming will continue while he recuperates, and reports of the release date having to be pushed back this far are unfounded.

DC finally appears to be gearing up to go head to head with Marvel. According to the returning Nikke Finke, DC has set a release plan that explains the delay of Batman vs. Superman – to better launch the upcoming Justice League, DC’s answer to The Avengers. It also includes a few new items, such as Shazam (a.k.a. Captain Marvel), the long-gestating Wonder Woman, and a Flash/Green Lantern crossover that reportedly will NOT feature Ryan Reynolds (honestly, I think it gets a bad rap…I enjoyed it) and not sure how it will deal with the upcoming WB series.

The reported schedule is:

May 2016 – Batman vs. Superman
July 2016 – Shazam
Xmas 2016 – Sandman
May 2017 – Justice League
July 2017 – Wonder Woman
Xmas 2017 – Flash and Green Lantern team-up
May 2018 – Man Of Steel 2

In addition, Justice League will feature cameos that will launch further standalone movies, but those are still being negotiated with potential stars.

On the next Continuum, John Doe remembers how he and Kiera are connected. Watch the next episode of Continuum, “3 Minutes to Midnight”, Friday at 10/9c.
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