Sci-Fi Storm

Syfy has acquired another foreign-produced program – this time, it is British action-adventure series Sinbad, about the famous mythological sailor.

Starring newcomer Elliot Knight in the title role, the 12-part series follows Sinbad’s sea-bound journey after he is forced to flee from his home town of Basra. Surviving a violent and magical storm, Sinbad embarks on an emotional journey to embrace his destiny.

Naveen Andrews (Lost) stars as Sinbad’s nemesis, Lord Akbari. The series also features appearances by Sophie Okonedo (Hotel Rwanda, The Secret Life of Bees), Timothy Spall (Harry Potter, The King’s Speech) and Dougray Scott (Hitman, Mission Impossible: II).

On board “The Providence,” Sinbad is joined by an intriguing band of travelers including Norwegian sailor Gunnar (Elliot Cowan), the jewel-thief Rina (Marama Corlett), and aristocrat Nala (Estella Daniels). Completing the ship’s complement is the Cook (Junix Inocian) and the cerebral doctor Anwar (Dimitri Leonidas).

Sinbad joins an increasing portfolio of imports on Syfy which includes Merlin, Lost Girl and the recently acquired Continuum. Sinbad is expected to begin airing on Syfy next April.

I head various reports from Fax Expo Canada that it was said that the Canadian SF series Continuum, a futuristic police drama starring Rachel Nichols (Criminal Minds) as a police officer from the year 2077 who finds herself in the present day while pursuing convicted terrorists who escape into the past, was picked up by Syfy UK, and that a US outlet had been signed but not announced who. Now it seems that the US outlet is indeed Syfy, picking up the 10-episode series which was also given a second season order recently.

This mirrors their pickup of Lost Girl, another Canadian production that was acquired but they didn’t announce when it would air until the second season of that show was in production, and Syfy is airing both seasons straight through.

We may get an official announcement soon – no later than the October Digital Press Event I’d guess (and hopefully I’m attending again this year).

In two separate suits, both Marvel and NBCU/Syfy are being sued for alleged trademark and copyright infringements.

Marvel (along with Disney corporate sibling Buena Vista Home Entertainment) is being sued by the German luggage manufacturer who made a special luxury briefcase used in the movie. Not because if its use in the movie, however – they had permission – but because Marvel/BVHE planned to distribute a [sfs=1253]special box set of Avengers movies[/sfs] in a replica attache case, and they haven’t received permission for that – yet.

In the other case, Preston Asevedo, a Louisiana artist, filed suit against NBC Universal/Syfy and the creators of the show Dream Machines over the use of a piece of art that can be seen on the outside sign of the Parker Brothers’ shop in each episode of the recently aired first season of the show, where the brothers and their team build custom futuristic vehicles for celebrities and charities. Check out the images below of the original work and the one seen in the show:

It isn’t just similar – it looks like someone took the original, inverted it and dressed it up. It also appears that Asevedo had contacted the Parkers, who acknowledged that they used a variation of the art for their own logo but were unable to determine who the original artist was, and wanted to work with Asevedo to give him credit and remuneration. But apparently they weren’t able to reach and agreement, and Asevedo filed suit.

Lesson learned – unless the art is provably in the public domain, make sure you get permission or don’t use it…

Warehouse 13 star Eddie McClintock must stop the Boogeyman, while Danny Trejo and Charisma Carpenter tackle a deadly ghost, in Syfy’s “Most Dangerous Night on Television” Original Movie premieres in August.

In Boogeyman, premiering Saturday, August 11 at 9PM (ET/PT), a group of young boys inadvertently free the creature from captivity. Going on a rampage, the Boogeyman, whose origin dates back to the time of Genesis, targets an innocent child – whose father is the town Sheriff (McClintock). Boogeyman also stars Emma Samms (General Hospital). The movie is a production of UFO Films.

Just in time for back-to-school, Haunted High, premiering Saturday, August 25 at 9PM (ET/PT), follows a group of teens trapped in their high school by the vengeful ghost of a former principal. Only the grandson of the dead principal holds the key to ending the killing spree terrorizing the school. Haunted High stars Danny Trejo (Machete), Charisma Carpenter (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel) and M.C. Gainey (Justified). The movie is a production of Active Entertainment.

Syfy has ordered two pilots, one from a genre writer/producer known for his quirky shows, and another from a well known mystery/thriller writer/producer/director marking his first foray into scripted television.

Bryan Fuller, who started off as writer and later co-produced Star Trek: Voyager and then created Dead Like Me,Wonderfalls and Pushing Daisies and worked on Heroes, will team up with Robert Halmi Sr., to executive produce High Moon, and adaption of the 1969 John Christopher young adult novel The Lotus Caves, which is about two rebellious boys from a moon colony who crash into an underground cave to discover an alien life form.

In the other project, M. Night Shyamalan will join with Marti Noxon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Mad Men) for Proof, about the “son of a billionaire tech genius who offers a large reward for anyone who can find proof of life after death following the tragic accident and sudden passing of his parents.” Shyamalan is best know for his thriller films, such as The Sixth Sense and The Village.

Here are the press releases:
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The second season of hit series Alphas begins on July 23rd on Syfy, and Syfy has announced a long line of new and returning guest stars who will be appearing this season, including fan favorite Summer Glau who will appear in three episodes!

New this season are Sean Astin (The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Rudy), C. Thomas Howell (Southland), Lauren Holly (NCIS), Steve Byers (Immortals, Total Recall), Kandyse McClure (Battlestar Galactica) and Noah Reid (Rookie Blue). Returning guest stars include John Pyper-Ferguson (Caprica, Brothers and Sisters) as Stanton Parish, Kathleen Munroe (Haven, Stargate Universe) as Dani Rosen and Mahershala Ali (Treme, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) as Agent Nathan Cley. Summer Glau (Dollhouse, Firefly) who was a fan favorite last season playing an Alpha, Skylar Adams, will return for three episodes.
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Once again, while the cookouts take place and the fireworks fly, Syfy will celebrate America’s birthday by transporting viewers into a fifth dimension with its traditional The Twilight Zone marathon. The iconic series will air Wednesday, July 4 from 8AM through 5AM (ET/PT).

The marathon kicks off a rich programming schedule in July, including the premiere of Haunted Highway on Tuesday, July 3; the fifth season return of Destination Truth on Tuesday, July 10; the series finale of Eureka on Monday, July 16 and the season premieres of Warehouse 13 and Alphas on Monday, July 23.

Syfy announced today that it has renewed its hit series Lost Girl – the #1 cable drama among Adults 18-49 and Adults 25-54 in its time period – for a third season of 13 episodes, beginning January 2013.

During season two to-date, Lost Girl is averaging 895,000 Adults 18-49, 930,000 Adults 25-54 and 1.64 million total viewers, based on available Live +7 data.

On July 20, Lost Girl will move from Mondays at 10PM (ET/PT) to Fridays at 10PM.

Anna Silk (Being Erica) stars as seductress Bo, a Succubus (a powerful female entity in folklore) who feeds off sexual energy. Raised by human parents, Bo had no reason to believe she was anything other than the girl next door – until she “drained” her first boyfriend to death.

Bo discovers she is one of the Fae, creatures of legend who pass as humans while secretly feeding off them. Faced with choosing between an allegiance to the Dark or Light Fae clans, Bo takes the middle path between the human and Fae worlds while embarking on a mission to unlock the secrets of her origin.

Returning for season three are Kris Holden-Ried (Ben Hur, The Tudors, Underworld 4) as “Dyson”; Ksenia Solo (Life Unexpected; Black Swan) as “Kenzi”; Zoie Palmer (The Guard, Instant Star, XIII) as “Lauren”; Rick Howland (Billable Hours, Murdoch Mysteries) as “Trick” and K.C. Collins (Owning Mahowny, Doomstown) as “Hale.”

Joining the Lost Girl cast this season is Rachel Skarsten (The Vow; Flashpoint) in a recurring role as “Tamsin,” a thrill-seeking, sexy new Fae who ruffles many feathers. Emmanuelle Vaugier (Two and a Half Men, Covert Affairs) will reprise her role as “The Morrigan,” the leader of the Dark Fae.

Lost Girl was developed by Prodigy Pictures, in association with Shaw Media and Showcase. Executive producers are Jay Firestone, Emily Andras, Plato Fountidakis, and Paul Rapovski. James Thorpe is co-executive producer, Vanessa Piazza is co-producer and Wanda Chaffey is producer.

Syfy and Trion Worlds today released an all-new trailer detailing the production of the highly-anticipated transmedia event, Defiance™. Featuring cast from the series (Grant Bowler, Julie Benz, Jaime Murray and Tony Curran) as well as members of the visionary creative teams from both the game and show, this making-of video is a first look behind the scenes in developing the most immersive entertainment experience ever produced.

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The series has begun production on the pilot in Toronto, with an eye towards an April 2013 premiere.

Syfy officially announced today that it will not renew Sanctuary for a fifth season, according to Mark Stern, Syfy President of Original Content.

“We’re honored to have been part of this incredible series. In addition to garnering unmatched devotion by fans worldwide,” Stern said in a release, “Sanctuary was a bona fide trailblazer, setting new standards with its highly innovative production techniques–including pioneering green screen and RED camera technology–and Emmy-nominated visual effects. It’s been an amazing ride and we look forward to our next project with Amanda Tapping, Martin Wood and Damian Kindler.”

I’m still sure that stars Amanda Tapping and Robin Dunne will find themselves working on something else together, and Space Milkshake is pending release. And I have a feeling that whatever it is will be produced by Damian Kindler and Martin Wood, who have been working with Tapping since Stargate SG-1. Tapping and Wood already working with Sanctuary supervising producer Gillian Horvath on new series Primeval: New World, with Amanda taking a spin as director.