The new sci-fi series Nightflyers, which is filmed at Troy Studios in Limerick, has taken a bow at Comic-Con International in San Diego.
Comic-Con attendees were treated to the first full trailer for the much-anticipated show, which is based on a 1980 short story by Game of Thrones author George RR Martin.
The ten-part Netflix series is set in the near future and 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.
They hope to make contact with a race of aliens who may be able to save Planet Earth.
The series, which is executive produced by Game of Thrones author Martin, stars Irish actors Eoin Macken (The Night Shift) and Brían F O'Byrne (Love/Hate) alongside Gretchen Mol (Boardwalk Empire), David Ajala (Fast & Furious 6), Sam Strike (EastEnders), Maya Eshet (Teen Wolf), Angus Sampson (Fargo) and Jodie Turner-Smith (The Last Ship).
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."
"D'Branin is the reluctant leader of this band of scientists," Macken continued. "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 has worked on Nightflyers at the 35,000-square-foot Troy Studios and the production has been estimated to be worth up to €70m to the local economy. The Irish Film Board has given €850,000 in support to the show.
The big budget series for Syfy in the US is being produced by NBC Universal and Universal Cable Productions, along with Wild Atlantic Pictures. It is set to stream on Netflix in Europe in 2019.
