The premiere of Dark Matter is fast approaching. In this episode, we talk about why we’re excited about Dark Matter as well as some of what we know about the series thus far.

Premise

• “The crew of a derelict spaceship is awakened from stasis with no memories of who they are or how they got on board. Facing threats at every turn, they have to work together to survive a voyage charged with vengeance, betrayal and hidden secrets.”
• Jay Firestone has said what appealed to him about Dark Matter was that the characters were so interesting. The excitement and draw of the series didn’t just rest on having cool special effects.

Production Team

• Conceptualized by Joseph Mallozzi & Paul Mullie, from the Stargate franchise
• Produced by Prodigy Pictures, which also produced Lost Girl

Cast

Marc Bendavid

• “Charming but a bit of a goof, One (aka Pretty Boy) is the crew's moral center, a guy who always tries to do the right thing, despite the odds stacked against him and no matter how unpopular the course of action. Sure, he screws up – but he means well.”
• Recurring roles on Hard Rock Medical, Degrassi: The Next Generation & Bitten
• Compared to Ben Browder’s character John Crichton on Farscape
• “I wanted our audience to sympathize with the rest of the crew, but empathize with ONE.”
• Introducing One

Melissa O'Neil

• “The group's defacto leader, Two (aka Boss Lady) is a master fighter. Determined, tough and more than a little headstrong, she is not the type you want to mess with – or disappoint. She can be cool and inscrutable and yet, at the same time, can demonstrate surprising compassion – the mark of a true leader.”
• First television role
• Theater actress who has been in productions of Les Miserables and Jesus Christ Superstar
• First female winner of Canadian Idol
• Has MMA and mixed martial arts experience, Joseph Mallozzi praises her for her prowess at fight choreography
• Introducing Two

Anthony Lemke

• “Three is a mercenary through-and-through. A Han Solo type, he is always looking out for himself. But he must come to accept the fact that if he's going to survive long enough to reach the outer colonies, he's going to have to learn to get along.”
• Recurring roles on 19-2, The Listener & Lost Girl. He also had a part in the Bomb Girls TV movie, Facing the Enemy.
• Does a lot of ad libbing — though he asks first — and really brings a lot of humor to the role
• Introducing Three

Alex Mallari Jr.

• “Ever-stoic and a master of the blade, Four's (aka Slashy McStabberson) cool, calm demeanor belies a ruthlessness that gives even his fellow crewmembers pause. He's a man of few words but, when he does speak – just like when he fights – it's with precise efficiency. A fierce and relentless opponent, he is also an equally loyal and passionate friend.”
• Has had small roles in a number of series, including Beauty and the Beast and The Strain, but Four seems to be his first big TV role
• Introducing Four

Jodelle Ferland

• “The mascot with a knack for mechanics, Five (aka Kid) also has some mysterious abilities. What first seem like telepathic powers turn out to be jumbled memories, but whose memories are they? She's the kid with all the secrets and a propensity for getting into trouble. Easily bored, quick to mouth off, she is nevertheless a relative innocent amongst less savory company.”
• A young actor with quite a resume. She has appeared in several movies recently including A Cabin in the Woods and Twilight: Eclipse
• At the top of Mallozzi’s list to play Five, she had guest starred in a Stargate episode
• Introducing Five

Roger Cross

• “On the surface, Six (aka Tiny) is a low-key bruiser, an imposing figure amongst a group of intimidating individuals. Despite the company he keeps, he is a man of integrity with little patience for B.S. Cross him at your own risk. Beneath the rough and tumble exterior, however, is a heart of gold – 14k, the softest! A surprisingly simple guy, his quiet confidence belies a fierce intelligence and philosophical nature.”
• Recurring roles on Continuum, Motive, The Strain, Arrow — this guy is everywhere in Canadian TV
• Opened the role to both genders for auditions
• Introducing Six

Zoie Palmer

• “In personality, The Android is more butler-like than your typical robot – concise, staid, yet surprisingly possessed of a subtly wry sense of humor. She is an indispensible member of the crew since she can exercise control over all the ship's systems, an ability of which she isn't shy about reminding everyone. An outsider among the ship's human passengers, she is almost child-like in her earnest desire to fit in. Her character will grow and evolve through her interactions with her human charges as she’ll inevitably gain acceptance as a member of the crew.”
• Lead roles on Lost Girl and The Guard
• Gave three different interpretations of the character in her callback, her original interpretation, one with a British accent, and one with a Jamaican accent
• Introducing Zoie Palmer as The Android

Links of Interest

• High-Quality Promo Photos
• Joseph Mallozzi's blog — Showrunner Joseph Mallozzi has been posting regularly about the production, often including behind-the-scenes pictures in his posts.
• Joseph Mallozzi's Twitter account — He mainly posts links to his blog posts, but he will tweet about other Dark Matter-related things as well.
• Official Dark Matter Twitter account
• Fans of Dark Matter Twitter account
• Dark Matter graphic novel

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• Send a voice message through your computer, iPhone, or iPad
• Call (972) 514-7223 to leave a voicemail
• Email us directly at darkmatter@askgenretv.com
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