Two SCI FI Channel Four-Hour Back-Door Movie Pilots from RHI
Entertainment
Tahmoh Penikett and Laura Vandervoort Star in Riverworld with
Guest Star Alan Cumming
Ryan Carnes Stars as The All-New Phantom
Isabella Rossellini is Guest Star
Production Begins April 6
The lead roles in Riverworld and The Phantom
-- two of SCI FI Channel and RHI Entertainment’s recently announced trio
of four-hour movie events --- have been cast and production on both
back-door movie pilots is set to begin Monday, April 6.
Tahmoh Penikett (Battlestar Galactica/Dollhouse)
and Laura Vandervoort (Smallville) star in Riverworld
based on the popular award-winning series of novels by Philip Jose
Farmer. Penikett stars as Matt Ellman, an American war zone reporter who
has witnessed the worst of humanity first-hand yet still grasps on to an
optimistic spirit. When a suicide bomber kills both Matt and his fiancée
Jessie, played by Vandervoort, they awaken, separated in a mysterious
world where everyone who has ever lived on Earth, seems to have been
"reborn" along the banks of a seemingly endless river. Determined to
locate Jessie, Matt joins forces with a 13th century female samurai
warrior named Tomoe (Jeananne Goossen) and American novelist Sam
‘Mark Twain’ Clemens (Mark Deklin). Together they sail upriver in
search of its source, and to discover where they are and who put them
there. Alan Cumming (Tin Man) guest stars as the
mysterious ‘Caretaker.’ Riverworld (Airdate 2010) is produced by
Reunion Pictures and is shooting in Vancouver, BC. RHI will distribute
internationally.
Ryan Carnes (Desperate Housewives/Dr. Who) has been
cast in title role of The Phantom and his alter ego Chris Walker in this
re-imagined version of the classic comic book transported to present
day. Isabella Rossellini will guest star in a villainous turn as
‘Lithia,’ the head of an experimental mind control program. Also
starring are Cameron Goodman as Chris Walker’s love interest,
Renny and Sandrine Holt (24/The L Word) as The Phantom’s
trusted advisor Guran.
A favorite costumed hero for more than six decades, The Phantom relies
on his wits, physical strength and skill with weapons over superhuman
powers.
