Back in September, we heard that Syfy was putting together a deal to order a series based on Game of Thrones creator George R.R. Martin's 1980 novella Nightflyers. That deal has now gone through: Syfy has officially ordered the series, which will also be available for viewing through the Netflix streaming service after it airs on Syfy in the U.S.
This is the second adaptation of Nightflyers, the first being a feature film that was released in 1987. The novella follows
eight scientists and a telepath who embark on a quest to make contact with alien life. They board The Nightflyer, a ship bound for the outer edges of the solar system, with a reclusive captain and a tightknit crew. However, terrifying events plan to make the journey more complicated than they once thought.
Along with the announcement that the series is happening comes a reveal of who's in the cast.
Nightflyers stars Gretchen Mol (pictured above) as Dr. Agatha Matheson, Eoin Macken as Karl D'Branin, David Ajala as Roy Eris, Brian F. O'Byrne as Auggie, Sam Strike as Thale, Maya Eshet as Lommie, Angus Sampson as Rowan, and Jodie Turner-Smith as Melantha Jhir.
I haven't read the novella, so those names don't mean anything to me. They might not mean much to fans who have read the novella, either, as apparently some of the character names have been changed.
The series is being produced by Universal Cable Productions, Netflix, and Robert Jaffe, who wrote the '87 film. George R.R. Martin serves as executive producer alongside Gene Klein, David Bartis, Doug Liman, Alison Rosenzweig, Michael Gaeta, Lloyd Ivan Miller, Alice P. Neuhauser, and showrunner Daniel Cerone.
Jeff Buhler, screenwriter of the upcoming JACOB'S LADDER remake, wrote the pilot, which was directed by Mike Cahill. Andrew McCarthy (yes, the Brat Pack member) is on board to direct some episodes of the first season.
