Sci-Fi Storm

It’s been a while since we said anything about the Mark Wahlberg starrer Six Billion Dollar Man project, but it was ready to go in front of cameras in a couple months and be released next May, or so we thought. Now it appears that scriptwriter and director Damian Szifron is off the project, apparently due to creative differences over his script and possibly a “language barrier” – Szifron (Wild Takes) is Argentinian, and this appears to be his first major English language project.

12 Monkeys will air its fourth and final season next month on SYFY, and the network will air the 11-episode season over four weeks, with a 3-episode premiere on Friday, June 15th from 8-11pm ET, and the final two episodes on June 6th from 9-11pm. Check out the teaser…

Fiona Dourif is set to join SYFY’s upcoming The Purge, based on the movie franchise of the same name. Dourif will play Good Leader Tavis, described as a “cool and offbeat” charismatic cult leader. Considering her wonderfully bizarre turn as Bart Curlish on Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency, I’m looking forward to “offbeat”…

The CW picked up The 100 for a sixth season, just two weeks after season 5 started airing. The show was left behind when the network renewed the bulk of its lineup last month, but it received the renewal yesterday after showing decent ratings on its return.

Syfy announced its spring/summer schedule today, which includes the new unapologetic orgy-of-action grindhouse series, BLOOD DRIVE, from Universal Cable Productions. Additionally, the summer staple SHARKNADO will return for its 5th installment, and Syfy will once again feature live coverage from the summer’s biggest genre event, San Diego Comic-Con.

In addition, 12 MONKEYS, KILLJOYS, DARK MATTER, WYNONNA EARP and FACE OFF return.

SERIES PREMIERE

BLOOD DRIVE – Series premieres Wednesday, June 14 at 10/9c
Get uncomfortable…! In the tradition of classic grindhouse movies, BLOOD DRIVE is a new series soaked in high-octane chaos and just barely approved for television. After Los Angeles’ last good cop (Alan Ritchson) is forced to join a twisted cross-country death race, his only hope of survival is a dangerous femme fatale who has the need for speed (Christina Ochoa). Oh, and forget gasoline… these cars run on human blood! The series is from Universal Cable Productions and executive producers John Hlavin (“Underworld Awakening”), David Straiton (“Bates Motel”) and Frederik Malmberg (“Let Me In”), along with producer Mark Wheeler (“Becoming”). James Roland (“Weeds”) created the project and is a co-executive producer on the series.

MOVIES AND LIVE EVENTS (in order of air date)

LIVE FROM COMIC-CON – Coverage runs Thursday, July 20 – Saturday, July 22 at 11/10c
For the second year in a row, Syfy telecasts live from the heart of San Diego Comic-Con. Bringing the hottest party of the summer to the fans, with direct access to the biggest stars, breaking news, insider party coverage, exclusive content and sneak peeks of the most anticipated films and TV series, each night will bring you the news you need to know from the ‘Con.

SHARKNADO 5 (Working Title) – Premieres Sunday, August 6 at 8/7c
The pop culture phenomenon SHARKNADO blows into town this summer… and this time, the shark-infested storms pick up wind as the world braces for the inevitable – a global shark takeover. Will our chainsaw-wielding hero Fin Shepard (Ian Ziering) and partner in crime April Wexler (Tara Reid) save the world from this jaw snapping-nado…again?

RETURNING SERIES (in order of air date)

12 MONKEYS – Season 3 premieres over 3 consecutive nights Friday, May 19 to Sunday, May 21 from 8-11/7-10c (Previously Announced)
Critically-acclaimed series 12 MONKEYS follows the journey of James Cole (Aaron Stanford), a man from 2043 sent back in time to eradicate the source of a deadly plague that will all but annihilate the human race, and his partner, brilliant virologist Dr. Cassandra Railly (Amanda Schull). In Season 3, the duo embarks on a desperate search across time to find the man responsible for the apocalypse – a time traveler who calls himself the Witness. Killing the Witness will save the world, but the journey will come at tremendous personal stakes for the pair.

DARK MATTER – Season 3 premieres two episodes back-to-back Friday, June 9 at 8/7c (then single episodes air weekly on Fridays at 9/8c)
Based on the graphic novel created by Joseph Mallozzi and Paul Mullie, DARK MATTER centers on an intergalactic crew who awaken on a derelict spaceship with no memories of who they are or how they got there. After the EOS 7 space station is destroyed, the survivors fight to stay alive and find the rest of their crew.

WYNONNA EARP – Season 2 premieres Friday, June 9 at 10/9c
Based on the IDW Publishing comic book created by Beau Smith, WYNONNA EARP follows the life of famous lawman Wyatt Earp’s demon-fighting great-great-granddaughter Wynonna (Melanie Scrofano), who inherited Wyatt’s mythic abilities. In Season 2, Wynonna and the gang must face a whole new level of evil when more paranormal beings enter the Ghost Triangle.

FACE OFF – Season 12 premieres Tuesday, June 13 at 9/8c
The award-winning competition series FACE OFF features innovative artists competing for a grand prize and top honor of being Hollywood’s next great special effects make-up artist. McKenzie Westmore, a member of a multigenerational family dynasty whose name is synonymous with the make-up effects field, returns to host.

KILLJOYS – Season 3 premieres June 30 at 8/7c
After sustaining serious personal losses, our trio of interplanetary bounty hunters must come together and prepare themselves for what lies ahead. Tension and tragedy loom over the J Star System as they struggle to assemble an army and prepare for battle.

Syfy today announced that it has renewed critically-acclaimed original series 12 Monkeys for a fourth and final chapter ahead of its Season 3 premiere. The network also announced that the series’ entire 10-episode third season will premiere over three consecutive nights, from Friday, May 19 to Sunday, May 21 from 8-11PM ET/PT. The first four episodes will premiere on Friday, with three episodes airing each night on both Saturday and Sunday.

Produced by Universal Cable Productions in association with Atlas Entertainment, the beloved drama, developed by Terry Matalas and Travis Fickett (Nikita), is based on the 1995 Golden Globe® award-winning film of the same name. Said co-developer, showrunner and executive producer Matalas: “Universal Cable Productions and Syfy have given us the opportunity to tell an ambitious, emotional story with a beginning, middle and an end – if not always in that order. I couldn’t be more grateful for their faith and support. Like our fans who may want to turn their clocks ahead to see what we’ve got in store, I only wish I could turn mine back to relive this incredible experience over again.”

“12 Monkeys has a dedicated and enthusiastic fan-base thanks to the epic storytelling by Terry Matalas, and the stellar cast and crew,” said Jeff Wachtel, President, Chief Content Officer, NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment. “We are thrilled to be able to offer fans an opportunity to binge the third season as a reward for their lasting support, and we couldn’t be more excited to see where Terry takes us with the final chapter of this fabulous story in the fourth season.”

“With its time-twisting themes and edge-of-your-seat storyline, 12 Monkeys is the perfect show to air this way,” said Chris McCumber, President, Entertainment Networks, NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment. “It’s grown into a world well beyond the original film, and after seeing the creative strength of Season 3, we couldn’t wait to pick it up for a fourth season.”

Upon its premiere in May, Season 3 will continue the journey of James Cole (Aaron Stanford), a man sent back in time to eradicate the source of a deadly plague, and his partner, brilliant virologist Dr. Cassandra Railly (Amanda Schull). While attempting to untangle an insidious conspiracy that’s been spun throughout centuries, the duo embark on a desperate search across time to find the man responsible for the apocalypse – a time traveler who calls himself the Witness. Killing the Witness will save the world, but the journey will come at tremendous personal stakes for the pair. 12 Monkeys also stars Kirk Acevedo (Ramse), Emily Hampshire (Jennifer Goines), Barbara Sukowa (Katarina Jones) and Todd Stashwick (Deacon).

Joining the cast as recurring guest stars in Season 3 are Hannah Waddingham (Game of Thrones), Faran Tahir (Iron Man) and James Callis (Battlestar Galactica). Emmy® award-winner Christopher Lloyd (Back to the Future) is set to appear in a memorable guest-starring role as a deadly cult leader with sinister motives.

Matalas, who also has an overall deal with UCP, will make his directorial debut with the Season 3 premiere episode. Original film producer Charles Roven (Suicide Squad, The Dark Knight Trilogy) and Richard Suckle (Suicide Squad, American Hustle) of Atlas Entertainment, as well as David Grossman (Desperate Housewives, Buffy the Vampire Slayer), serve as executive producers.

Syfy announced today that award-winning actor Christopher Lloyd (Back to the Future) has been cast in a guest role in season three of the time-travel thriller 12 Monkeys. Lloyd will play Zalmon Shaw, a charming but deadly cult leader who preys upon other’s tragedies and losses in order to recruit new members into the apocalyptic cult the “Army of the 12 Monkeys.” Shaw is the father of the series’ most imposing villain, the enigmatic Pallid Man.

Best known for his iconic role as Doc Brown in the blockbuster film series Back to the Future, Lloyd made his feature film debut in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and has won three Emmy Awards: one for outstanding lead actor in Road to Avonlea and two back-to-back wins for outstanding supporting actor in Taxi. He is represented by The Gersh Agency and managed by Andrew Freedman.

In addition, Terry Matalas, co-creator and series showrunner, will make his directorial debut in the premiere episode, which started production in Toronto this week. 12 Monkeys is produced by Universal Cable Productions, in association with Atlas Entertainment, who produced the original cult classic film, 12 Monkeys. The series, starring Aaron Stanford (James Cole), Amanda Schull (Dr. Cassandra Railly), Kirk Acevedo (Jose Ramse), Emily Hampshire (Jennifer Goines), Barbara Sukowa (Katarina Jones), and Todd Stashwick (Deacon), follows the journey of James Cole, a man from the future sent back in time to stop the malevolent “Army of the 12 Monkeys” from destroying the world.

In season three, James Cole and Cassandra Railly embark on a desperate search across time to find the man responsible for the apocalypse, a time traveler who calls himself the Witness. Killing the Witness will mean saving the world. But the journey will come at tremendous personal stakes for both Cole and Railly and will call into question new alliances, old bonds, and the virtue of the mission itself.

Plague? Temporal anomalies? Hell on Earth? A psychotic group wanting to end the world? Lately I’ve been in a temporal fog, so missed the announcement earlier that Syfy has ordered up a 10-episode third season to cult face 12 Monkeys! This show has grown into one of my favorites of the current productions. A big congratulations to the cast: Aaron Stanford, Amanda Schull, Kirk Acevedo, Emily Hampshire, Barbara Sukowa and Todd Stashwick, along with showrunner Terry Matalas and the entire crew.

I have seen the future – and it is changing.

What started out as a Syfy TV series remake of the Terry Gilliam movie of the same name, where a traveler from the future goes back to the present day in an attempt to stop the release of a deadly virus that wipes out most of humanity by a mysterious group called the Army of the 12 Monkeys, 12 Monkeys the series appears to be on the verge of bursting out of it’s original bubble.

Season 2, which starts tonight at 9/8c, shifts gears to place more focus on the time travel, and the consequences of altering the timeline. With James Cole (Aaron Standford) changing things at various points prior to the plague being released, those changes have repercussions on the future where Project Splinter and the time machine exist – and things are changing even for Katarina Jones (Barbara Sukowa), in rather unexpected ways. And lots of people want to control the time machine.

While all of this time-twisting is going to be hard to keep a head around, it does fortunately hold together enough for a compelling story for its characters. We will also learn more about the blue guys called the Messengers, and it looks like we’ll find out that some of the incoherent rambling of Jennifer Goines (Emily Hampshire) might have more meaning.

Syfy has announced the premiere dates for the first season of Hunters and the second season of 12 Monkeys, both produced by Universal Cable Productions (in association with Valhalla Entertainment and Atlas Entertainment, respectively).

Hunters, which debuts Monday, April 8th, at 10/9c, follows Baltimore FBI agent Flynn Carroll (Nathan Phillips, Wolf Creek) as a search for his missing wife leads him to a highly-classified government organization – the Exo-Terrorism Unit (ETU) – who track and fight alien terrorists. Britne Oldford (American Horror Story) plays Regan, a valuable ETU operative keeping secrets of her own. The show comes from executive producers Gale Anne Hurd (The Walking Dead, The Terminator Trilogy) and Natalie Chaidez (12 Monkeys, Heroes), and Emile Levisetti (Royal Pains). Chaidez will serve as showrunner. The series is inspired by best-selling author Whitley Strieber’s novel, Alien Hunter.

12 Monkeys returns for a second 13-episode season on Monday, April 18 at 9/8c. Aaron Stanford (James Cole), Amanda Schull (Dr. Cassandra Railly), Kirk Acevedo (Ramse), Emily Hampshire (Jennifer Goines), Barbara Sukowa (Katarina Jones) and Todd Stashwick (Deacon) reprise their roles.

EW is reporting that actors Jay Karnes (The Shield) and Brendan Coyle (Downton Abbey) will be appearing in the upcoming second season of Syfy’s 12 Monkeys.

Karnes will recur as a savvy FBI agent in the 1940s named Robert Gale, who believes a series of grisly murders may have something to do with a man named James Cole (Aaron Stanford) — an outsider who Gale suspects might not be from this time.

Meanwhile, Coyle will first appear in the season premiere as Dr. Benjamin Kalman, a former Markridge bioengineer racked with guilt over the deadly virus his team gave birth to. Cole and Ramse (Kirk Acevedo) find him in Budapest and recruit him in their efforts to stop the Army of the 12 Monkeys.

Syfy’s critically-acclaimed time-travel thriller 12 Monkeys will commence Season 2 production on July 14 in Toronto, Canada. The new 13-episode season will air in Winter 2016 on Syfy, with Aaron Stanford (as time-traveler Cole), Amanda Schull (Dr. Cassandra Railly) and Kirk Acevedo (Ramse) reprising their starring roles.

In addition, it was announced today that Barbara Sukowa (Dr. Jones), Todd Stashwick (Deacon) and Emily Hampshire (Jennifer Goines) will also return, now appearing as series regulars. Sukowa’s Dr. Jones is a renowned physicist who, in an unapologetic quest to stop the plague, creates the time machine and recruits Cole to send him back into the past. Stashwick’s Deacon is the cunning and brutal leader of a deadly band of scavengers in 2043 called the West 7. And Hampshire’s Jennifer Goines is a brilliant and unpredictable mental patient with potential ties to the 12 Monkeys’ conspiracy to destroy the world with a deadly virus.

Michael Hogan (Battlestar Galactica) will also join the series as a guest star for a four episode arc, playing Dr. Vance Eckland, a charismatic and intelligent scientist from the future. He’s a comrade of Dr. Jones’ working alongside her at the temporal facility — who reveals that they may have a closer relationship than first meets the eye.

12 Monkeys is produced by Universal Cable Productions in association with Atlas Entertainment, who produced the original Golden Globe winning theatrical film.‎

Terry Matalas and Travis Fickett (Nikita) have been upped this season to Executive Producers and Showrunners with Charles Roven (Suicide Squad, American Hustle, Man of Steel, The Dark Knight Trilogy) and Richard Suckle (Suicide Squad, American Hustle, The International) on board as Executive Producers.

On the season finale of 12 Monkeys, Cole and Cassandra attempt a final confrontation with the Witness, while Jones faces a new threat to the mission. Tune in Friday night at 9/8c!
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