Sci-Fi Storm

Here is the latest trailer for Insurgent, the second in the Divergent Series starring Shailene Woodley.

In Theaters 3/20/15

Syfy’s upcoming drama series 12 Monkeys, based on the 1995 Terry Gilliam movie starring Bruce Willis and Brad Pitt, has the potential to really pull out all the questions regarding time travel, and twist your mind while it does.

The show follows the journey of a time traveler, Cole, from the post-apocalyptic future. Using a dangerous and untested method of time travel, Cole arrives in the present day on a mission to locate and eradicate the source of a deadly plague that will eventually decimate 93.6% of the human race. Will Cole be able to save the fate of mankind or is mankind bound by fate? Taking place in the ravaged future of 2043 and the present day (2015), 12 Monkeys explores themes of destiny, fate, love and the possibility of second chances.

Could you go back on a mission to kill someone, especially if killing that person will create a paradox that will wipe you from existence? What if it would save 7 billion people? And what if you fell in love in the process?

Check out the preview below, along with some behind the scenes looks and a transcript of the panel from the Syfy Press Tour. But first, a few thoughts about the show.
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I met Al Sapienza, who plays Councilman Rose on the upcoming Syfy event series Ascension which debuts next Monday night at 9/8c, in October with the rest of the cast (check out our previous article on the show and cast discussion), and then had a one on one discussion with him recently to talk about the upcoming series.

Rose is the head politician of the show. On the face of it, he’s second only to the Captain, played by Brian Van Holt, who is still an elected official but is ultimately in charge, followed by a council – something similar to a city’s mayor and council. But Rose has eyes on the Captain’s uniform – as well as for the Captain’s wife (played by Battlestar Galactica‘s Tricia Helfer).

Al’s a busy guy too…he recently appeared in a recurring role as a detective in Person of Interest, he played Mikey in The Sopranos, and many many guest roles. IMDB lists 24 future roles as well!

Al LOVES to talk about the show. He genuinely seems enthralled by all the various thought-provoking aspects of the show – the history (or lack thereof – see below), the culture, and yes, the politics. Alas, this stretched in to areas that would be some serious spoilers…so I can’t tell you a lot of what was said…yet. Next week, maybe. 🙂

Doc: One thing you said [during the press panel] that I thought was very interesting was that when researching the role, as opposed to trying to learn a new role, one thing you have to do in this show is you actually have to forget everything you do know.
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Canada’s Showcase and Syfy in the U.S. have agreed to a six episode conclusion of Vancouver-based sci-fi action drama series Continuum, to air in 2015.

“All great stories deserve an end. I am excited and grateful to finish Continuum with the riveting conclusion it deserves,” said series star, Rachel Nichols. “This series finale is dedicated to the devoted fans who have loyally supported us since day one.”

Continuum ended its third season with a cliffhanger that reached more than 2.35 million viewers and won the night as the #1 program in key demos in Canada.

“Continuum‘s award-winning success on Showcase is a testament to the quality of our Canadian original productions,” said Christine Shipton, Senior Vice President, Content, Shaw Media (parent company of Showcase). “With Executive Producer Simon Barry at its helm, the fourth and final season of Continuum is bound to deliver a heroic conclusion to the futuristic series.”

Continuum is created by Executive Producer Simon Barry (The Art of War) while DGC Award winner Patrick Williams (Shattered, Smallville) is Executive Producer and Director. Reunion Pictures partners Tom Rowe, Lisa Richardson and Matthew O’Connnor are Executive Producers. Additional casting details will be announced in the coming weeks.

Filmed on location in Vancouver, B.C., Continuum is developed and produced by Reunion Pictures. International distribution is handled by Endemol. The series is now seen internationally in over 132 countries.

We’ve seen several version of what happened to the planet Krypton when Jor-El sent his only son Kal-El to Earth to escape its destruction…but we’ve seen little about what got them there.

Syfy and Warner Horizon Television announced today they are developing a one-hour drama series project Krypton, which will reveal a chapter of the DC Comics universe that has rarely been told.

Years before the Superman legend we know, the House of El was shamed and ostracized. This series follows The Man of Steel’s grandfather as he brings hope and equality to Krypton, turning a planet in disarray into one worthy of giving birth to the greatest Super Hero ever known.

Krypton is being executive produced by David S. Goyer (Constantine, Da Vinci’s Demons, Man of Steel, The Dark Knight trilogy, upcoming Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice) and Ian Goldberg (Once Upon a Time, FlashForward) for Warner Horizon Television.

Goldberg is writing the pilot teleplay, based on a story conceived by Goyer & Goldberg.

Australian actor Aaron Jakubenko (Neighbours, Spartacus: War of the Damned) will join the MTV straight-to-series fantasy series Shannara from Sonar Entertainment and Farah Films. Jakubenko will play Ander Elessedil, an Elven prince with the reputation for being the wild party boy who has yet to find his way in the world.

The fantasy drama is based on the popular Shannara series of novels by Terry Brooks. MTV has committed to 10 episodes.

At Syfy, another regular cast member for pilot The Magicians was announced, with Summer Bishil (Towelhead, The Last Airbender) playing Margo Hanson, a brilliant young student at the Brakebill’s Academy.

The Magicians is an adaptation of Lev Grossman’s best-selling fantasy book series from Universal Cable Productions, the pilot script was written by John McNamara (Prime Suspect) and Sera Gamble (Supernatural). The one-hour drama follows 20-somethings who, while studying magic in New York, discover that the magical fantasy world they read about as children is all too real and poses a grave danger to humanity.

Deadline reported last evening and then Variety seems to have confirmed that Paramount is kicking Roberto Orci out of the director’s chair for the Star Trek franchise.

The heir-apparent to J.J. Abrams, who left one franchise to take on Star Wars for Disney/Lucasfilm, apparently continued to butt heads with the studio over plans for the direction of the film/franchise (in one rumor I heard it involved a time machine gimmick that could have invalidated the events of the first two movies). He will remain on as a producer.

Paramount now needs to scramble to fill the center seat if they hope to still make a planned 2016 release. Rumors swirl about a short list already, with Trek fan Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World) at the top of the list.

I’ll be checking out the Season 2 premiere of Helix along with Syfy’s new series 12 Monkeys this weekend, but you’ll unfortunately have to wait until January 16th for them. But in the meantime, check out this extended preview for Helix!

“On the third day, the screaming started…”

In tomorrow’s season finale of Z Nation, the survivors search for the mysterious and evil Dr. Merch. Check out how this all may have started on “Doctor of the Dead” tomorrow night at 10/9c on Syfy!
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In the “Marvel but someone else is in charge” department…

The X-Men franchise spinoff Deadpool movie is finally moving forward, and Ryan Reynolds will reprise the role he originated in X-Men Origins: Wolverine. In that film, the character of Wade Wilson, an amoral expert in martial arts, particularly with a pair of katanas he can wield fast enough to defend against bullets, is believed to be killed but instead is turned into Deadpool by Striker, having absorbed the ability of other mutants including Wolverine’s healing. Wolverine and Sabretooth appear to kill him, but some DVD materials imply he somehow survives.