Serialized version of George R.R. Martin's 'Nightflyers' premiering Dec. 2 on SYFY
While “Game of Thrones” fans continue to champ at the bit for the final season of HBO’s much-loved Westeros saga – as well as the oft-delayed sixth installment of the book series, “The Winds of Winter” - author George R.R. Martin is offering another diversion via the SYFY Network: the 10-episode outer space horror/thriller series, “Nightflyers,” premiering December 2 at 10 p.m. ET.
Series creator/executive producer Jeff Buhler, executive producer Gene Klein and principal cast members David Ajala, Eoin Machen, Gretchen Mol (“Boardwalk Empire”), Angus Sampson and Jodie Turner-Smith were part of a promotional panel at the recent San Diego Comic-Con.
Based on Martin’s novella of the same name, “Nightflyers” was given the big-screen treatment back in 1987 and explores the experiences of a team of scientists who fly to the edge of the solar system in 2093 in search of other forms of life. They soon learn there’s a non-human life form already on board their ship.
In a pre-recorded clip, author George R.R. Martin apologizes for not being able to attend the Con, and briefly explains the series before introducing, the extended trailer.
“When ‘Nightflyers’ picks up, we’re already past the point of being able to survive on Earth. We have to figure out ways to transplant the human race (on other planets),” Jodie Turner-Smith, who portrays Milantha Jhirl.
In an earlier trailer released in March, Martin describes the series as “’Psycho’ on a spaceship.” Based on the extended trailer shown during the panel, there are also elements of “The Shining” and “2001: A Space Odyssey.” Several panel members spoke on the scale of the massive spaceship set, as it is constructed within three aircraft hangars.