The six-episode series was originally scheduled to launch on CBC-TV Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2014
CBC today announced a change to the premiere date for the network’s upcoming sci-fi drama, ASCENSION,from November 25, 2014 to January 2015. Further details about the exact date and time of the premiere episode of ASCENSION will be announced in the coming weeks.
CBC first announced the acquisition of ASCENSION, a Canadian-produced original drama commissioned by American television network Syfy, in July. A co-production of Lionsgate and Sea to Sky Studios in association with Quebec-based Lift Off Productions and Blumhouse Productions, ASCENSION was shot in Montreal during the summer.
In 1963, the U.S. government launched a covert space mission sending hundreds of men, women and children on a century-long voyage aboard the starship Ascension to populate a new world. The series unfolds in present day, nearly 50 years into the journey. As the mission approaches the point of no return, the mysterious murder of a young woman causes the ship’s population to question the true nature of their mission.
Brian Van Holt (Cougar Town, The Bridge) stars as the ship’s heroic captain, William Denninger, opposite Tricia Helfer (Battlestar Galactica, The Firm), who plays the role of Viondra Denninger, the captain’s manipulative and dangerous wife. In addition to Helfer, the cast features a number of Canadian actors including Jacqueline Byers (90 Days, Scared Stiff) and Andrea Roth (Rescue Me, Ringer). Wendy Crewson (Revenge, Saving Hope), Ryan Robbins (Sanctuary, Apollo 18) and John Ralston (Bomb Girls, Life with Derek) appear as guest stars. Other lead cast members starring alongside Van Holt and Helfer include Brandon P. Bell (Hollywood Heights, Mission Impossible III) as First Officer Aaron Gault and Tiffany Lonsdale (G.I. Jane: Retaliation) as Chief Astronomer Emily Vanderhaus.
ASCENSION is an ambitious original drama created and written by Philip Levens (Smallville), who also serves as executive producer and showrunner on the series. Jason Blum (Stranded, The River, film franchises Paranormal Activity and The Purge) is also an executive producer, along with Ivan Fecan, Tim Gamble and Brett Burlock from Sea To Sky Studios. Canadian director Stephen Williams (Lost) directs the first two episodes. The series is co-financed and distributed by Universal Cable Productions and Lionsgate Television.
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About CBC/Radio-Canada
CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster and one of its largest cultural institutions. The Corporation is a leader in reaching Canadians on new platforms and delivers a comprehensive range of radio, television, internet, and satellite-based services. Deeply rooted in the regions, CBC/Radio-Canada is the only domestic broadcaster to offer diverse regional and cultural perspectives in English, French and eight Aboriginal languages.
A space for us all is CBC/Radio-Canada’s new strategy to modernize the public broadcaster and ensure that it continues to fulfill its mandate for Canadians and for future generations. Through to 2020, it will increase its investment in prime time television programming, and continue to create radio programs of the highest quality, while promoting the development of digital and mobile platforms and content.
For more information including series synopses, press releases, hi-res images, video clips and bios, please visit the CBC Media Centre at cbc.ca/mediacentre. Follow CBC’s publicity team on Twitter @CBC_Publicity.
For further information, please contact:
Simon Bassett, publicist, CBC
simon.bassett@cbc.ca416-205-8533 (office) 416-988-1590 (mobile)
