TV Jots

Sci-Fi Thriller Flick Premieres

Tonight at 8pm ET, Fox will debut the long-anticipated two-hour movie Virtuality. A science-fiction thriller that incorporates both outer space and virtual reality, the project was written and executive produced by familiar Battlestar Galactica creative inspirations Ronald D. Moore and Michael Taylor and directed by Peter Berg of Friday Night Lights acclaim.

The plot goes like this: A crew of twelve astronauts are onboard Earth’s first starship called the Phaeton when they must collectively decide whether or not to pursue a historic ten-year journey that could mean the difference between the survival and the destruction of life on Earth. Once they begin the journey to a distant solar system located millions of miles away, however, they won’t be able to turn back around.

Adding to the weight of that decision is the bug in the virtual reality system available to the astronauts during their service. The technology allows the crew members to de-stress and remain sane by assuming imaginary avatar identities that participate in whatever situations are desired.

The virus that invades the virtual reality system eventually spawns puzzlement first and then mutual suspicion among the crew members. Yet, when things get violent, the ship’s commander takes action and shuts down the system.

Unfortunately, the damage has been done. So, as the crew continue with business as usual, they’re saddled with questions about the possibility of a hidden saboteur on the ship determined to derail their mission, and whether or not the adversary is a fellow crew member or a foreign entity.

And if all that drama isn’t enough, the spaceship has surveillance cameras throughout to film events for a reality show on Earth.

Starring are Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (New Amsterdam) as Commander Frank Pike, Kerry Bishé (Royal Pains) as Billie Kashmiri, Joy Bryant (ER) as Alice Thibadeau, Jose Pablo Cantillo (Standoff) as Manny Rodriguez, Ritchie Coster (The Dark Knight) as Dr. Jimmy Johnson, James D’Arcy (The Inspector Lynley Mysteries) as Dr. Roger Fallon, Clea DuVall (Heroes) as Sue Parsons, Gene Farber (Law & Order) as Val Orlovsky, Sienna Guillory (Criminal Minds) as Rika Goddard, Erik Jensen (CSI: Crime Scene Investigation) as Dr. Jules Braun, Nelson Lee (Blade: The Series) as Kenji Yamamoto, Omar Metwally (Munich) as Dr. Adin Meyer, and Jimmi Simpson (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia) as Green-Eyed Man.

Sneak a peek at Virtuality in the behind-the-scenes preview clip with cast members below. I think I’ll give the actual movie a look-see tonight, too, but I’m not holding my breath it will double as a backdoor pilot for a future series. The Friday-night, summertime premiere speaks volumes about Fox’s intentions.