Syfy and Netflix are producing a series based on George R.R. Martin's 1980 novella Nightflyers, a project that is said to be the most expensive drama show Syfy has ever developed. That's something that could put some extra pressure on them, and the effort to make sure they get this show just right has just led to a behind-the-scenes shake-up: with production yet to begin, showrunner Daniel Cerone has left the project over creative differences.
At least this appears to have been an amicable split, because Cerone is continuing to work with Nightflyers' producers at Universal Cable Productions on "other genre fare".
Syfy's 12 Monkeys showrunner Terry Matalas was briefly brought in to consult on Nightflyers, which will now be run by executive producer Jeff Buhler, writer of the pilot episode.
Buhler previously wrote the Clive Barker adaptation THE MIDNIGHT MEAT TRAIN and has several genre projects in the works, including a reboot of THE GRUDGE, the remake of PET SEMATARY, and a remake of JACOB'S LADDER… and that thing was heading into production almost two years ago, so it's strange we haven't heard much about it. JACOB'S LADDER appears to be on a shelf.
Nightflyers follows
eight maverick scientists and a powerful telepath who embark on an expedition to the edge of the solar system aboard The Nightflyer — a ship with a small tight-knit crew and a reclusive captain — in hopes of making contact with alien life. But when terrifying and violent events begin to take place, they start to question each other, and surviving the journey proves harder than anyone thought.
The novella previously served as the basis of a 1987 feature.
The series will star Gretchen Mol 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.