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It’s going to be a busy summer on Syfy, and not just because of its latest “Sharknado” movie. The network on Thursday announced a summer lineup that also includes three new series and the return of three others.
The slate includes new scripted series “Killjoys,” from the producers of “Orphan Black,” and “Dark Matter,” from the writers of “Stargate Atlantis.” Also on tap are the new unscripted gameshow “Geeks Who Drink,” hosted and exec produced by Zachary Levi; and returning seasons of scripted originals “Defiance” and “Dominion,” as well as competition series “Face Off.”
Syfy kicks off its summer on Friday, June 12, with the two-hour, third-season premiere of “Defiance,” followed by the series premiere of “Dark Matter.” In “Dark Matter,” the crew of a derelict spaceship awakens with no memories of who they are or how they got there. Facing threats at every turn, they have to work together to survive a voyage fueled by vengeance, betrayal and hidden secrets.
It was created by Joseph Mallozzi and Paul Mullie, executive producers and writers of the “Stargate” franchise, and developed with Prodigy Pictures. The series features Melissa O’Neil, Marc Bendavid, Anthony Lemke, Alex Mallari Jr. and Jodelle Ferland, with Roger Cross and Zoie Palmer. The 13 one-hour episodes are based on the graphic novel “Dark Matter,” also by Mallozzi and Mullie, published by Dark Horse Comics.
One week later, newcomer “Killjoys” takes the 9 p.m. slot between “Defiance” and “Dark Matter.” “Killjoys” follows a fun-loving, hard-living trio of interplanetary bounty hunters sworn to remain impartial as they chase deadly warrants throughout the Quad, a distant system on the brink of a bloody, multiplanetary class war.
From Temple Street Productions, the producers of “Orphan Black,” and writer and showrunner Michelle Lovretta, creator of “Lost Girl,” the original, 10-episode series stars Hannah John-Kamen, Luke Macfarlane and Aaron Ashmore.
On July 9, Syfy returns “Dominion” (pictured) for a second season, at 10 p.m., and a week later it’s joined at 11:30 p.m. by “Geeks Who Drink.” Zachary Levi exec produces and hosts this new, original weekly gameshow based on the nationwide pub trivia contest of the same name. In each installment, two teams of self-proclaimed “trivia geeks” (including a celebrity captain) battle it out in rapid-fire quizzes that cover topics from pop culture to science fiction. After three rounds of raucous game-play and (mostly) friendly competition, the winning team will earn bragging rights, a spot on the Geeks Who Drink leaderboard and a bevy of prizes to geek out over.
The second annual Sharknado Week kicks off July 18 and features seven original movies — including “Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No!” Other pics include “Sharktopus vs. Whale Wolf,” Roger Corman’s third installment in the “Sharktopus” franchise starring Casper Van Dien, and the world premiere of “Lavalantula,” in which Steve Guttenberg and fellow “Police Academy” alums Leslie Easterbrook and Michael Winslow must battle lava-breathing tarantulas threatening to destroy Los Angeles.
And Syfy caps its summer programming with the season premiere of “Face Off” on Tuesday, July 28, at 9. McKenzie Westmore hosts, with Ve Neill, Glenn Hetrick and Neville Page returning as judges. Hollywood makeup legend Michael Westmore serves as the contestant mentor.
