Sci-Fi Storm

While we were celebrating the renewal of Killjoys for two more runs, we just learned that Dark Matter has been canceled by Syfy. The news was confirmed by co-creator Joseph Mallozzi on his blog.

“It is with great sadness that I confirm the news. Syfy has cancelled Dark Matter after three seasons,” he said.

“To say that I’m incredibly disappointed would be an understatement.

“I’ll save my comments and field your questions in a future blog entry. For today, I just want to extend a heartfelt thanks to my amazing crew, my wonderful cast, and to all of you, our incredible fans.

“You all deserved better.”

Dark Matter starred Melissa O’Neil, Anthony Lemke, Alex Mallari Jr., Zoie Palmer, Jodelle Ferland and Roger Cross and followed the crew of the Raza, who woke up on board with no memory of who they are, and in the middle of a tense galaxy run by corporations. It was based on the graphic novel series from Dark Horse.

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.

Hooray! As the summer shows reach their season finales, Syfy today announced a season three renewal for the space action dramas Killjoys and Dark Matter. Both are currently wrapping their second seasons on Syfy: Killjoys will air its second season finale tomorrow, Friday, September 2 at 9/8c, while Dark Matter will air a double episode on Friday, September 9 at 10/9c and 11/10c, and its season two finale on Friday, September 16 at 10/9c.

From Temple Street Productions (Orphan Black, Being Erica), Universal Cable Productions and creator Michelle Lovretta (Lost Girl), Killjoys follows a trio of interplanetary bounty hunters sworn to remain impartial as they chase deadly warrants throughout the Quad, a distant system on the brink of a bloody, multiplanetary class war. Starring Hannah John-Kamen as Dutch, and Aaron Ashmore and Luke Macfarlane as brothers John and D’avin, this season the Killjoys struggled to find the balance between politics, family and the good of the Quad. The series is produced by Temple Street Productions in association with Space and Syfy. Creator and showrunner Lovretta serves as executive producer, along with Temple Street Productions’ David Fortier and Ivan Schneeberg. Universal Cable Productions distributes the series worldwide.

From Prodigy Pictures and Joseph Mallozzi and Paul Mullie (both of Stargate), Dark Matter centers on a crew who awaken on a derelict spaceship with no memories of who they are or how they got there. Facing threats at every turn, they have to work together to survive a voyage fueled by vengeance, betrayal and hidden secrets. This season, the crew found themselves embroiled in an intergalactic conspiracy, seeking a mysterious device that may hold the key to victory in a looming all-out corporate war. Created by Mallozzi and Mullie, developed and produced by Prodigy Pictures, Dark Matter is based on Mallozzi and Mullie’s graphic novel of the same name, published by Dark Horse Comics. The series features Melissa O’Neil, Anthony Lemke, Alex Mallari Jr. and Jodelle Ferland with Roger Cross and Zoie Palmer. Executive Producers are Jay Firestone, Joseph Mallozzi and Paul Mullie.

BBC America’s Dirk Gently series added a slew of new cast members this week, joining series stars Samuel Barnett (Gently) and Elijah Wood (Todd).

Neil Brown Jr. (Straight Outta Compton) and Richard Schiff (The West Wing) will play Estevez and Zimmerfield, missing person detectives operating increasingly off book as they follow the trail of a complex and mystifying case; Jade Eshete (Shades of Blue) plays Farah Black, a bad-ass Security Officer for a billionaire; Mpho Koaho (Falling Skies) plays Ken, a nerdy, friendly-faced tech trapped in increasingly difficult and bloody circumstances; Fiona Dourif (When We Rise) will play Bart Curlish, the terrifying “Holistic Assassin”; Michael Eklund (The Call II) is Martin, violent ring leader of the Rowdy 3; Miguel Sandoval (Medium) plays Colonel Scott Riggins, beleaguered CIA head of a defunct secret bureau investigating the paranormal; Dustin Milligan (Schitt’s Creek) is Sergeant Hugo Friedkin, Riggin’s subordinate, unpredictable, wildly ambitious and dangerous moron; and Aaron Douglas (Battlestar Galactica) portrays Gordon Rimmer, an enigmatic loser with an impressive series of horrible secrets.

Over on Syfy, Franka Potente (Copper) will have a recurring role on the second season of Dark Matter as Commander Shaddick, Chief Inspector of the Galactic Authority Serious Crimes Division. She is described as “cool, calculated and determined to prove the crew of the Raza were involved in the destruction of Iriden 3.”

Syfy has just announced that it has renewed freshman series Killjoys and Dark Matter. Both will return in 2016, with Killjoys getting 10 episodes and Dark Matter getting 13. No word on a fourth season of Defiance yet.

Produced in association with Space and distributed worldwide by Universal Cable Productions, Killjoys follows a trio of interplanetary bounty hunters who chase deadly Warrants (fugitives) throughout the Quad, a distant planetary system on the brink of a bloody class war. The series stars Hannah John-Kamen as Dutch, Luke Macfarlane as D’avin and Aaron Ashmore as John.

Killjoys averaged 1.5 million viewers (L3) in its first season.

“With exciting space-based action, deep world building, and a standout cast, Killjoys has struck a nerve with viewers and critics alike,” said Bill McGoldrick, Executive Vice President, Original Content, Syfy. “We can’t wait to see what adventures Michelle Lovretta and Temple Street take Dutch, John and D’avin on in season two.”

“We couldn’t be more excited to bring back Killjoys and its stellar cast to audiences across the U.S.,” said David Fortier and Ivan Schneeberg, co-Presidents of Temple Street Productions and Executive Producers of Killjoys. “We look forward to working with the team at Syfy for a thrilling second season.”

Killjoys is produced by Temple Street Productions in association with Space and Syfy. Creator and showrunner Lovretta serves as executive producer and writer. Executive producers are David Fortier, Ivan Schneeberg and Karen Troubetzkoy.

Dark Matter averaged 1.8 million viewers in its first season.

The series, produced by Prodigy Pictures, follows six people who wake up on a derelict spaceship with no memories of who they are or how they got on board.

“With its mysterious premise and fascinating characters, Dark Matter has built an incredibly loyal, passionate and engaged fan base,” said Chris Regina, Senior Vice President, Program Strategy, Syfy. “We look forward to another out-of-the-world season from this talented creative team.”

Created by Joseph Mallozzi and Paul Mullie, executive producers and writers of the Stargate franchise, and developed with Prodigy Pictures (Lost Girl), Dark Matter is based on Mallozzi and Mullie’s graphic novel of the same name, published by Dark Horse Comics. The series features Melissa O’Neil, Marc Bendavid, Anthony Lemke, Alex Mallari Jr. and Jodelle Ferland with Roger Cross and Zoie Palmer.

Executive producers are Jay Firestone, Joseph Mallozzi, Paul Mullie and Vanessa Piazza.

In Episode 12, a retrieval op at a remote research facility becomes a dangerous and surprising homecoming for one member of the crew. Guest Starring Wil Wheaton!

And in Episode 13, personalities clash, long-held secrets are revealed, and the crew is rocked by a shocking betrayal.

It all starts at 9/8c Friday night on Syfy!
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On the next episode of Dark Matter, the crew plots to retake the ship from a group of ruthless mercenaries hell-bent on delivering them to the Galactic Authority. Tune in Friday at 10/9c on Syfy!
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Four abandons ship to reclaim his past, unknowingly walking into an ambush on a remote, abandoned mining planet as his crewmates race against time to time save him. Watch Dark Matter Friday night at 10/9c!
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On the next episode of Dark Matter, the crew stops at a space station to refuel and rest, but Six has a different agenda — revenge. Tunr in Friday at 10/9c on Syfy!
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Ruby Rose guest stars as an entertainment model android designed to bring ultimate pleasure to the crew, but as they will discover, she has been programmed with a dark side.

Dark Matter airs Friday at 10/9c on Syfy!
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