Sci-Fi Storm

When the algorithm for the Stitchers program turns up among thousands of classified documents hidden by a conspiracy theorist, Kirsten starts to suspect her colleagues. Meanwhile, Kirsten starts getting cryptic messages from an unexpected source.

Check out “The Stitcher in the Rye” on ABC Family tomorrow night at 9/8c!

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On Friday’s new episode of Defiance, Amanda & Doc Yewll must enlist the Omec for help; Datak & Stahma prepare a decisive move against Votanis Collective general Rahm Tak.

Tune in for “History Rhymes” at 9/8c on Syfy!
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Veteran British-American actor Patrick Macnee passed away earlier today at his home in Rancho Mirage, CA from natural causes. He was 93.

First and foremost he is remembered as John Steed, the James Bond-esque secret agent in The Avengers opposite the tight-suit-wearing Diana Rigg in the 60s, turning the simple Bowler hat into a weapon. But he was no stranger to genre and non-genre TV all over the map. With his distinctive voice he provided the opening narration for the original Battlestar Galactica (listen to the long form version of the narration – it still gives me chills) as well as the Cylon Emperor, and later appeared in person in a memorable guest role as Count Iblis (along with Baltar recognizing the voice of the Emperor.) No role seemed too small for him either, guesting on shows from War of the Worlds and The Love Boat to even starring in voice-only on Super Force (aside from a brief in-person appearance in the pilot). He even provided his voice to Invisible Jones in the 1998 feature film version of The Avengers.

A tip of the hat to you, sir.

Actor Julian McMahon (Nip/Tuck, Fantastic Four, Childhood’s End) has just been announced to be joining the cast of Syfy’s Hunters from producer Gale Anne Hurd (The Walking Dead).

Syfy gave a direct-to-series greenlight for the new series back in September, and is based on Whitley Strieber’s best seller [asin=076536848X]Alien Hunter[/asin], which follows Flynn Carroll (Nathan Phillips, Snakes on a Plane), a police detective who investigates the mysterious disappearance of his wife. In the process he attracts the attention of a secret organization, one run by shadowy figures who may not be of this world…

McMahon will play McCarthy, an unhinged junkie and Hunter cell leader with a predilection for house music and violence.

Update 6/23: Horner’s representatives confirmed his death.

Oscar- and Grammy-winning composer James Horner, who scored more than 75 films including Titanic (for which he received two Oscars), Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (his film debut), Braveheart, Aliens, Apollo 13 and The Amazing Spider-Man and Avatar, is believed to be the pilot who died in a single-engine plane crash in Central Florida on Monday. No one else was on board.

Officials have not confirmed the name of the pilot yet, but the 61-year-old composer is a licensed pilot and has not been heard from since the crash. Condolences from those who knew him have been coming in, however. Director Ron Howard, who worked with Horner on Apollo 13, Cocoon and several other movies, tweeted early this morning:

Brilliant Composer James Horner, friend & collaborator on 7 movies has tragically died in a plane crash. My heart aches for his loved ones.

— Ron Howard (@RealRonHoward) June 23, 2015

At 9pm ET/6pm PT tonight, 20th Century Fox is hosting a live streamed Q&A right from the set of Roland Emmerich’s sequel to Independence Day! See the cast answer questions about this upcoming project and tune in for an exciting reveal, with host Jake Roper of VSauce3, and participating talent include director Roland Emmerich and cast, Liam Hemsworth, Jeff Goldblum, Bill Pullman, Judd Hirsch, Vivica A. Fox, Brent Spiner, Angelababy, Maika Monroe, Sela Ward, and Jessie Usher!
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This is an article I should have written months ago…Rhode Island Comic Con, in Providence, RI took place in November. But various events got in my way (including a few medical issues), and just keeping caught up on the news was a challenge. But my wife mentioned who was coming to the con this year and booked us a room, I remembered – I never wrote anything! In fact, I thought I had at one point…

Luke’s Landspeeder

Several years ago I had planned to go to San Diego ComicCon, but had to cancel. Now it just seems like it is too crazy to even think of attending. Last year we all planned a trip to New York ComicCon, and I even had my press credentials in hand, but had to cancel that as well.
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Syfy’s second new SF series in a week (after Dark Matter, which debuted last week) is Killjoys, a fun high-energy action show that I think draws some comparisons to Firefly if only if it has the same elements that made Firefly a fan favorite.

Killjoys stars Aaron Ashmore (Warehouse 13) as John Jaqobis, a Level 3 Reclamation Agent who works alongside the flirty Dutch (Hannah John-Kamen, The Hour), a Level 5 who has a hidden past. They then pick up D’avin (Luke Macfarlane, Brothers & Sisters), John’s brother, who John hasn’t seen for 8 years, after John sees a “Level 5 warrant” – a kill order – for D’avin. And the fourth member of the team is Lucy – the ships computer.

The Reclamation Agents – nicknamed Killjoys, related to the slang term of “joy” for money – work for the Reclamation Apprehension Coalition (RAC). This organization runs independently from “The Company”, the mysterious corporation that essentially runs the Quad, the planetary cluster where Killjoys takes place. The Company is RAC’s biggest customer, however…

The agents carry out warrants – warrants can be given for a variety of reasons, including somebody with enough money and power simply wanting you dead. A Level 4 warrant is “dead or alive”, while a Level 5 warrant wants you dead, period. Agents don’t take sides. “The warrant is all.” But if an agent takes on a Level 5 warrant and then fails to carry it out, the warrant transfers to them until they rectify it – or are killed by another agent.

The Quad consists of a dwarf planet and 3 moons which is part of the “J Cluster”, a large planetary system. The Quad has a decidedly caste system between the inhabitants.
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Actor Sir Christopher Lee, who has played many many roles but around these circles is perhaps best known for his portrayals of Saruman in Peter Jackson’s Middle-earth films and Count Dooku in the the Star Wars prequels, passed away on his birthday this past Sunday morning. He had just turned 93. He was in the hospital for several weeks being treated for respiratory and heart issues.

His wife Gitte, to whom he had been married for over 50 years, delayed the announcement while they informed closed family members.

Lee first became a star with the Hammer Horror films, including playing the title role in The Mummy and several memorable performances of Dracula. He was no stranger to other iconic roles, such as the title character in 5 Fu Manchu films in the 1960s, and a number of appearances as Sherlock Holmes.

In the 70s, he would take on James Bond as Scaramanga, The Man With the Golden Gun and played Rochefort in The Three Musketeers/The Four Musketeers and reprise the role in 1989’s The Return of the Musketeers. He also had a guest role in a memorable episode of Space: 1999 called “Earthbound”.

In later years he also appeared in or lent his booming voice to several Tim Burton movies, including Sleep Hollow, Alice In Wonderland, Corpse Bridge and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

He helped define generations of characters that forever will be remembered as the defining portrayals.

May Saruman find peace and travel into the West to the Undying Lands…

Based upon Lev Grossman’s [asin=0525427341]best-selling books[/asin], The Magicians stars Jason Ralph (A Most Violent Year, Aquarius) as Quentin Coldwater, a brilliant grad student who enrolls in Brakebills College for Magical Pedagogy, a secret upstate New York university specializing in magic. He and his 20-something friends soon discover that the magical fantasy world they read about as children is all too real – and poses grave danger to humanity. Stella Maeve (Chicago P.D.), Hale Appleman (Teeth), Arjun Gupta (Nurse Jackie) and Summer Bishil (Towelhead, Lucky 7) also star in this one hour drama.

Groundswell Productions’ Michael London and Janice Williams (Milk) will executive produce. John McNamara (Aquarius) and Sera Gamble (Supernatural), writers of the pilot, will serve as executive producers. Mike Cahill (I Origins) directed the pilot. Universal Cable Productions will serve as the studio.
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