FALLING SKIES, the powerful new drama series from DreamWorks Television and executive producer Steven Spielberg, is airing this summer on Super Channel, Canada’s only national English pay television network. Recently acquired, the eagerly anticipated series from Turner Broadcasting System International, stars award-winning Noah Wyle (ER) and will air over 10 weeks beginning July 6 at 10 p.m. ET.
FALLING SKIES opens in the chaotic aftermath of an alien attack that has left most of the world completely incapacitated, forcing ordinary people to do extraordinary things to stay alive. In the six months since the initial invasion, the few remaining survivors have banded together outside major cities to begin the difficult task of fighting back. Each day is a test of survival as citizen soldiers work to protect the people in their care while also engaging in an insurgency campaign against the occupying alien force, whose nature and purpose remains a mystery.
Wyle stars as Tom Mason, a Boston history professor whose family has been torn apart. Moon Bloodgood (Terminator Salvation) plays Anne Glass, a pediatrician who works with the surviving children to help them cope with the traumatic upheaval in their lives. Will Patton (Armageddon) is Weaver, a fierce military leader of the resistance and Tom’s commanding officer. Drew Roy (Secretariat) plays Hal, Tom’s oldest son and a growing fighter in the resistance movement. The series also stars Maxim Knight (Brothers & Sisters), Seychelle Gabriel (Weeds), Mpho Koaho (Rookie Blue), Peter Shinkoda (The L Word), Colin Cunningham (Living in Your Car) and Canadians Connor Jessup (The Saddle Club) and Sarah Sanguin Carter (Shark). Much of the series is shot in Hamilton so viewers may see some familiar scenes in eerie settings.
FALLING SKIES is a tale of endurance, commitment and courage in which everyday people are called upon to become heroes. The series focuses on the resilience of the survivors and their determination to maintain their humanity when all else has been destroyed. It also explores the ties that bind people together in the most difficult of circumstances, as well as the potential for humans to turn on each other when the struggle to survive threatens to give way to desperation. Through it all, there are moments of joy and happiness, including birthdays, births, humour, romance and friendship. The survivors may be outmatched, outnumbered and outgunned, but nothing can beat the human spirit.
“We are thrilled to bring Steven Spielberg’s latest, and what is certain to be the next acclaimed hit series, to Canadians,” said Sandy Perkins, Super Channel, Vice President Programming. “FALLING SKIES is a tale of courage and endurance that will capture our viewers’ attention and harness their imagination.”
FALLING SKIES is executive-produced by Steven Spielberg, along with DreamWorks Television heads Justin Falvey and Darryl Frank, Graham Yost (Justified, The Pacific) and screenwriter Robert Rodat. Rodat, who earned an Oscar® nomination for his screenplay for Saving Private Ryan, wrote the pilot from an idea he co-conceived with Spielberg. Mark Verheiden (Heroes, Battlestar Galactica) and Greg Beeman (Heroes, Smallville) are co-executive producers.
