Sci-Fi Storm

A couple more quick items from Syfy…Wendy Crewson (The Santa Clause trilogy) will join the upcoming event series Ascension as Martha Warren, Harris Enzmann’s (played by The Shawshank Redemption‘s Gil Bellows) boss, an elegant woman with a polished exterior, but a formidable adversary.

Ascension is 6-hour event series drama following a covert U.S. space mission launched in the 1960’s that sent hundreds of men, women and children on a century-long voyage aboard the starship Ascension to populate a new world. Half way into their journey, as they approach the point of no return, the mysterious murder of a young woman causes the ship’s population to question the true nature of their mission.

In addition, Syfy has put into development Absolute Zero, a futuristic alien invasion drama from Michael Horowitz (Burn Notice), Hypnotic and Universal Cable Productions. Set in 2124, Absolute Zero follows the denizens of a remote mining colony who discover a dangerous new species on a moon of Jupiter, setting off the first stage of an alien invasion ultimately heading for Earth.

Opens November 21st, 2014

Following the social media bonanza that was Sharknado, the sequel, dubbed Sharknado 2: The Second One airs tomorrow on Syfy at 9/8c, and if you’ll be watching, be it part fan, part curiousity, or even part drinking game, you’ll be able to catch the teaser for the upcoming Syfy zombie apocalypse series Z Nation!

Produced by Sharknado producer The Asylum (and the source of many of Syfy’s popular B-movies), Z Nation is an action-horror series about the epic struggle to save humanity after a zombie apocalypse. The cast also includes Michael Welch (The Twilight trilogy), Kellita Smith (The Bernie Mac Show), Anastasia Baranova (The Darkness II), Russel Hodgkingson (Big Fish) and Keith Allan (Rise of the Zombies).

Z Nation starts three years after the zombie virus has gutted the country, when 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.

Syfy’s adventure thriller, 12 Monkeys will commence series production August 6 in Toronto, Canada. The season, consisting of 13 episodes, stars Aaron Stanford (as time-traveler Cole), Amanda Schull (Dr. Cassandra Railly), Kirk Acevedo (Ramse) and Noah Bean (Aaron Marker).

Syfy also confirms additional casting, inking Tom Noonan (Damages, Hell on Wheels) and Emily Hampshire (Rookie Blue) for recurring roles.

Noonan portrays a mysterious villain who is the face of the enigmatic Army of the 12 Monkeys. Imposing and intelligent, Noonan’s character will be at the center of the conspiracy. A Yale alumnus and former professor, Noonan is known for his edgy roles, most notably as the “Tooth Fairy” serial killer in the popular Michael Mann film, Manhunter. Noonan is represented by Vanguard Management and AKA Talent Agency.

Hampshire will portray Jennifer Goines, a dangerous, unstable mental patient who might have the key to unraveling the mystery of the 12 Monkeys locked away in her head (the character was male and played by Brad Pitt in the original film). Canadian actress Hampshire has starred in Cosmpolis and will next be seen in the CBC series Schitt’s Creek alongside Eugene Levy and Catherine O’Hara. Hampshire is represented by Intellectual Artists Management and Creative Drive Artists.

Atlas Entertainment’s Charles Roven (American Hustle, Man of Steel, The Dark Knight Trilogy) and Richard Suckle (American Hustle, The International), will executive produce. Roven served as producer on the original film. Jake Kurily will serve as Atlas’s executive on the series. Natalie Chaidez (In Plain Sight, V, Heroes) is the executive producer/showrunner and Terry Matalas & Travis Fickett (Nikita), who co-wrote the pilot, will serve as Co-Executive Producers. Jake Kurily will serve as Atlas’s executive on the series. 12 Monkeys is produced by Atlas Entertainment, with Universal Cable Productions.

Inspired by the classic blockbuster film, 12 Monkeys explores the provocative story of Cole (Stanford), a time traveler from a decimated future in a high-stakes race against the clock. Utilizing a dangerous and untested method of time travel, he journeys from 2043 to the present day on a mission to locate and eradicate the source of a deadly plague that will all but annihilate the human race. The series will explore the themes of fate, destiny, love and the possibility of second chances.