George R.R. Martin and science fiction fans rejoice—an epic new series is coming to Syfy this fall. Perhaps Martin himself explains it best in this first look teaser: “It’s a haunted house story on a starship.”
The plot follows the crew aboard the spaceship Nightflyer as they hunt for a legendary alien species. In the middle of their journey, the ship’s computer begins to fail, and members of the crew turn up dead.
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The story is based on the 1980 novella of the same name by Martin. The story was a hit upon its release, winning the Locus Award for best novella and the Analog Readers Poll for best novella in 1981. It was also nominated for the Hugo Award for Best Novella that same year. In 1983, it received the Seiun Award in Japan for foreign short fiction.
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The trailer opens with the image of blood smeared on a wall, and a woman speaking into a com: “Do not board this ship. Do not bring the Nightflyer back to Earth.” The trailer’s sharply cut scenes, harrowing background music, and fearless display of blood and flesh hint that the story will be nothing short of gripping. Viewers catch glimpses of terrified characters running from an unknown assailant. It leaves us all wondering: Who, or what, is stalking the crew of the Nightflyer?
The set itself is something to behold. It’s ambitious, and as supervising producer Sean Ryerson explains in the first look trailer, takes up acres. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Nightflyers is the most expensive show the network has ever done. It’s safe to say the creators anticipate a surge of excitement for the show from viewers.
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Syfy introduced Netflix as a co-producer which helped with the cost of creating such an expansive space series. With the creation of Nightflyers, the network is amping up their trove of originals, including Channel Zero, Killjoys, 12 Monkeys, and more.
The show is slotted for 10 episodes due to air this fall.
[via The Verge]
Featured still from "Nightflyers" via Syfy
