The first teaser trailer for new sci-fi drama Nightflyers, which is currently being filmed at Troy Studios in Limerick and which stars Irish actors Eoin Macken and Brian F. O'Byrne, has been released.
The ten-part Netflix series is set in the near future and is based on a 1980 short story by Game of Thrones author R.R. Martin.
It centres on a group of scientists who journey on the most advanced ship in the galaxy, The Nightflyer, on a mission to the edge of the solar system where they hope to make contact with a race of aliens who may be able to save a planet earth beset by a multitude of problems.
As the crew nears their destination, they discover that the ship's artificial intelligence and reclusive captain Karl D’Branin (Macken) may be steering them into deadly and unspeakable horrors deep in the dark reaches of space.
Speaking to RTÉ Entertainment at the launch of the show in Dublin in February, former Fair City actor Macken, who plays reclusive astrophysicist D’Branin, said, "Nightflyers is a dark science fiction show in the vein of 2001: A Space Odyssey and Event Horizon about a group of scientists who go deep into space to try and meet these aliens which they believe exist beyond the stars. It’s extremely dark. It’s a very moody science fiction show."
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Speaking about his character, he said: "D’Branin is the reluctant leader of this band of scientists. He’s the guy who discovered these aliens and he’s the only one who knows exactly how to get to them so he’s had to leave his wife behind on earth and lead these scientists out to meet the aliens."
A crew of 500 is working on the 16-week shoot at the 35,000 square foot Troy Studios and the production is expected to bring up to €70m to the local economy. The Irish Film Board has given €850,000 in support to the show.
The big budget Syfy show is being produced by NBC Universal and Universal Cable Productions, along with Wild Atlantic Pictures, and is set to air on Netflix later this year.
Nightflyers also stars Gretchen Mol (Boardwalk Empire), David Ajala (Fast & Furious 6), Sam Strike (EastEnders), Maya Eshet (Teen Wolf), Angus Sampson (Fargo) as Rowan, Jodie Turner-Smith (The Last Ship) as Melantha Jhirl.
