Sci-Fi Storm

Seems some of the doom prognosticators clamoring over Doctor Who getting old may have missed the mark (although we’ll see with Episode 2 numbers next week). In the UK, it scored 6.79M/32.5 share in the overnight ratings, which means nearly 1/3rd of all TV sets in use in the UK were tuned to BBC One for the Series 8 debut of Peter Capaldi, “Deep Breath”. This made it the most watch Who opener since 2010.

In the U.S. the numbers may not seem as spectacular, with 2.2M viewers, but it was a significant increase over the Series 7 opener at 1.56M, and the Series 8 opener is now the most watch Doctor Who series opener of all time for BBC America. In addition, with the debut of Intruders afterwards, it is in fact the most watched Saturday night of all time for the channel.

Syfy and Alcon TV yesterday announced that Steven Strait (Magic City) and Emmy winner and Oscar nominee Shohreh Aghdashloo (House of Saddam, House of Sand and Fog) will star in The Expanse, the new 10-episode space opera based on the international best-selling book series, premiering on Syfy in 2015.

Strait plays Holden, an officer on the ice-carrying freighter the Canterbury. Holden is a natural leader who’s not sure he wants responsibility, but who will soon have no choice when he is drawn into a dangerous plot. Strait’s many credits include the movies 10,000 BC and City Island.

Aghdashloo portrays Chrisjen Avasarala, a smart and passionate member of a political family legacy who has risen high in the ranks of Earth’s governing body without once standing for election. In addition to appearing in the long-running TV series 24, Aghdashaloo has starred in films such as X-Men: The Last Stand, The Exorcism of Emily Rose and The Stoning of Soraya M. She just completed filming on Septembers In Shiraz with Adrien Brody and Salma Hayek, and The Last Knights with Clive Owen and Morgan Freeman.

Earlier, Syfy and Alcon TV announced that three-time Golden Globe nominee Thomas Jane (Hung, The Punisher) will also star as the world-weary Detective Miller, a native of “the Asteroid Belt” between Mars and Jupiter.

The Expanse is a thriller set two hundred years in the future. The series follows the case of a missing young woman who brings a hardened detective (Thomas Jane) and a rogue ship’s captain (Steven Strait) together in a race across the solar system to expose the greatest conspiracy in human history.

In making the announcement, Bill McGoldrick, Executive Vice President, Original Content, Syfy, said: “Steven and Shohreh are both outstanding talents who we feel lucky to have in our series.”

Said Sharon Hall, President, Alcon Television: “We knew this material would attract high end talent. Steven Strait embodies the humor, gravitas and humanity that the character of James Holden possesses. Having him alongside Thomas Jane as our leading men is thrilling. The incomparable Shohreh Aghdashloo is our dream Chrisjen Avasarala.”

Award-winning director Terry McDonough (Breaking Bad, Suits, Better Call Saul) will direct the first two episodes.

The Academy Award-nominated screenwriting duo Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby (Alfonso Cuaron’s Children of Men, Iron Man) wrote the pilot and will continue to serve as writers as well as executive producers. Fergus and Ostby are showrunners alongside fellow executive producer Naren Shankar (CSI, Farscape).

From StarWars.com:

Continuing the epic tradition of the legendary Star Wars saga, an exciting animated one-hour movie Star Wars Rebels: Spark of Rebellion is set to premiere Friday, October 3 (9:00 p.m. ET/PT in the US) on Disney Channels around the world, ushering in the highly anticipated series Star Wars Rebels on Disney XD. In the US, Star Wars Rebels episodes will debut Monday nights beginning Monday, October 13 (9:00 p.m. ET/PT) on Disney XD. Worldwide, the series will air in 33 languages across 163 countries in over 400 million households.

Leading up to its global television debut, Star Wars Rebels: Spark of Rebellion will be available on Disney Channel SVOD and to verified users beginning Monday, September 29, on WATCHDisneyXD.com and the WATCH Disney XD app.

Set between the events of Star Wars: Episodes III and IV, the story unfolds during a dark time when the evil Galactic Empire is tightening its grip of power on the galaxy. Imperial forces have occupied a remote planet and are ruining the lives of its people. The motley but clever crew of the starship Ghost — cowboy Jedi Kanan, ace pilot Hera, street-smart teenager Ezra, the “muscle” Zeb, warrior firebrand Sabine, and cantankerous old astromech droid Chopper — is among a select few who are brave enough to stand against the Empire. Together, they will face threatening new villains, encounter colorful adversaries, embark on thrilling adventures, and become heroes with the power to ignite a rebellion.

At the Star Wars Rebels: Spark of Rebellion Fan Event at San Diego Comic-Con this year, the movie garnered rave reviews from fans who found the story and look akin to the classic trilogy of films. The series’ designs are influenced by the work of original Star Wars concept artist Ralph McQuarrie.

Star Wars Rebels is created by Dave Filoni (Star Wars: The Clone Wars), Simon Kinberg (X-Men: Days of Future Past, Sherlock Holmes), and Carrie Beck. The Lucasfilm Animation production is also executive-produced by Filoni and Kinberg as well as Greg Weisman (Gargoyles).

The talented voice cast includes Freddie Prinze Jr. as Kanan, Vanessa Marshall as Hera, Steve Blum as Zeb, Tiya Sircar as Sabine, Taylor Gray as Ezra, David Oyelowo as Agent Kallus, and Jason Isaacs as the Inquisitor.

The multi-platform schedule in the US is:

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 29

Star Wars Rebels: Spark of Rebellion one-hour movie will be available on Disney Channel SVOD and to verified users on WATCHDisneyXD.com and the WATCH Disney XD app for smartphones and tablets.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3

Television premiere of one-hour movie Star Wars Rebels: Spark of Rebellion (9:00 p.m. ET/PT) on Disney Channel.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4

Star Wars Rebels: Spark of Rebellion will be available for purchase through Apple iTunes, Amazon Prime, Google Play, and Disney XD VOD.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 6

Star Wars Rebels: Spark of Rebellion (8:00 p.m. ET/PT) premieres on Disney XD.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 13

Star Wars Rebels (9:00 p.m. ET/PT) series premieres on Disney XD.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14

Star Wars Rebels: Spark of Rebellion will be available on DVD in retailers nationwide.

Tomorrow night will have a double feature of Defiance, with two episodes…first, in “Bottom of the World” at 8/7c, Nolan tries to save Amanda and Pottinger after a deadly mine collapse traps them with little oxygen remaining. Then on “Doll Parts”, a shocking murder rocks the town and people.

Check out the previews of both below, plus the latest “Inside Defiance“!
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Syfy’s new competition series Wizard Wars makes its debut tomorrow night at 10/9c…what is it about? Check the trailer!
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The U.K. tabloid The Mirror is reporting that a source inside the Doctor Who production says that Jenna-Louise Coleman, who plays current companion Clara Oswald, will depart the show with this year’s Christmas episode. “The conversations about Jenna’s exit have started, and a plan is in place which is being ironed out,” according to the source.

Keep in mind this is only being reported by The Mirror, so I’d treat it as a moderate rumor right now. But despite the love shown for Coleman, we would not be surprised if it is true. Jenna will have officially been on the show for nearly two full series, plus the special episodes bridging Matt Smith to Peter Capaldi, which gives here a fair amount of time on the show. But it is rare for a companion to span much beyond a Doctor’s regeneration – notable exceptions were Billy Piper’s Rose, who did two full series (and some guest episodes) between Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant, and of course Elisabeth Sladen’s Sarah Jane Smith, who worked several series between Jon Pertwee and Tom Baker.

What does cast some doubt is the source saying, “By the time she leaves she will be one of the longest-standing companions ever.” That really isn’t true by any measure I can think of, considering the leader of the current run of the series is Karan Gillan with two and a half series, plus Sladen and some other companions in the classic series lasted longer.

Now, if you want to debate cutest companions, I agree she’s near the top of the list…

The wheels of Hollywood turn slowly, but they turn…a mini-series based on Arthur C. Clarke’s novel Childhood’s End, about a peaceful alien invasion by the mysterious Overlords who put an end to all war and conflict and help the Earth to a near-Utopia state – but no one knows why, is nearing a deal at Syfy.

The six-hour mini was mentioned at Syfy’s 2013 upfronts, but little had been heard since until now. The series would be produced by Michael De Luca (The Social Network, Captain Phillips) and Akiva Goldsman (A Beautiful Mind, I Am Legend), with Nick Hurran (Doctor Who “Day of the Doctor”) in the director’s chair and Matthew Graham (Doctor Who “The Rebel Flesh/The Almost People”) writing the script.

This may have been the only survivor announced at those upfronts, although I will be scoping out what the status of Ringworld is when I can corner some Syfy execs…

After Saturday’s debut episode of Starz’ Outlander series, based on the novels by Diana Gabaldon and produced by Battlestar Galactica‘s Ronald D. Moore and Sony Pictures, the premium cable network picked the show up for a second season. This is normal for Starz, who often pick up series after one airing, or even before – like with Black Sails.

The premiere of Outlander managed about 5 million viewers over the week, but perhaps more importantly is Nielsen’s new Twitter Ratings – a measure about the “buzz” of a show on social networks, which is perhaps a better early indicator of how interested and excited viewers are – where the show was number one among all TV series on its premiere day.

With the increase in interest of networks in buzz about their shows, producers have been organizing “live tweet” sessions with cast and crew, where they talk about the episode as it airs, giving behind the scenes info and interacting with fans, giving unprecedented access to the talent, and hopefully generated more viral interest in the shows.

Actor Steven Weber, who starred on the 90s sitcom Wings and more recently on Murder in the First, is joining Syfy’s Helix in a major recurring role.

Weber will play Brother Michael, a charismatic cult leader who just also happens to be a brilliant geneticist, trying to create a utopian society on a secluded island. The CDC investigators are led to this island after a new disease is found on a ship.

Don’t think the judges credentials are enough, and want to see them put their make-up skills where their mouths are? On Tuesday, September 2 at 9 p.m. ET/PT, Syfy debuts Face Off: Judge Match, an all-new original special showcasing the incredible talents of Face Off’s Ve Neill, Glenn Hetrick and Neville Page, as they go head-to-head in a special make-up competition for their charity. McKenzie Westmore will host the high-level and visually stunning competition.

For the first time in its seven-season history, Face Off fans will finally see the judges get their hands into the clay, pick up the brushes and show the audience their creative genius. For the competition, the judges will pair up with two team members — a former Face Off all-star contestant, as well as a former champion — to create a pair of living chess pieces designed to appear in a colorful, stylized fantasy film. In keeping with Face Off’s current season theme of “Life and Death,” one of the characters must be pure and pristine while the other is evil and twisted.

Joining the judges to assist in the competition are all-stars and fan favorites Roy Wooley (seasons 3 and 5), Miranda Jory (seasons 2 and 5), Wayne Anderson (season 4) and previous Face Off champions Conor McCullagh (season 1), Anthony Kosar (season 4) and Laura Tyler (all-star from season 2 and season 5 champion). At stake is a cash prize for the winning judge’s favorite charity and $5,000 for each of their team members.

The judges quickly learn what it’s like to be a contestant on Face Off. Over the course of three days, they showcase their incredible talents and enjoy some friendly competition as they push each other to create characters of astonishing quality. It all culminates with astounding creations, making for a tough decision. Multiple Academy-Award winner and world-renowned Hollywood makeup artist Michael Westmore (Mask, Star Trek and McKenzie’s dad), along with Academy-Award winning makeup artist Lois Burwell (Lincoln, Braveheart, Saving Private Ryan, War Horse, War of the Worlds) have the difficult task of choosing a champion.

Ve Neill is competing for A Window Between Worlds, a non-profit organization dedicated to using art as a healing tool for survivors of domestic violence. Glenn Hetrick is competing for The North Shore Animal League, the world’s largest no-kill animal rescue and adoption organization. Neville Page is competing for The Orangutan Foundation International, dedicated to the conservation of wild orangutans and their rainforest habitat.

Season seven of Face Off is in all-new episodes Tuesday nights at 9PM ET/PT on Syfy. In tonight’s episode, the remaining contestants are tasked with creating fantastically twisted tree characters.