Syfy Announces New Mini-Series 'Ascension'

by uInterviewMarch 14, 2014, 12:00 amNews >

Syfy is returning to miniseries programming with Ascension, a six-hour program from Philip Levens.

Levens is no stranger to the science-fiction genre, having worked as a writer and producer on Smallville. The six-hour series will follow a community of men, women and children who were sent by the U.S. government in 1963 to travel to – and populate – a new world. The voyage is supposed to take 100 years, but 50 years into their trip, a young woman is mysteriously murdered. Following the murder, passengers question the true nature of their assignment, as they approach the point in their voyage of no return.

Ascension will be Syfy’s first mini-series since 2009’s Alice, and the network hopes that the six-hour event will lead to a potential spin-off series, similar to Battlestar Galactica. Executives also teased that Ascension will be a return to the more traditional science-fiction stories fans feel have been lacking in recent Syfy original programing.

“Syfy is more committed than ever to bring to life epic event television… We want to be the best science-fiction channel that we possibly can, and in some respects, that means going back to the more traditional sci-fi/fantasy that fans often say they feel we’ve exited. We’re going to occupy that space in a way we haven’t for the past few years,” said Syfy President David Howe.

Executive VP of original content, Bill McGoldrick, is equally excited to add to the network’s original programing, saying, “Phil Levens has crafted a bold and surprising spin on the space opera.”

And Senior Vice President of Syfy Ted A'Zary tweeted his excitement, proclaiming that the Ascension will be "an amazing event."