or


[04/07/09 - 11:03 AM]
Casting Set for Riverworld and the Phantom Two Sci Fi Channel Four-Hour Back-Door Movie Pilots from Rhi Entertainment
Tahmoh Penikett and Laura Vandervoort will topline "Riverworld" while Ryan Carnes is set as the title role in "The Phantom."

[via press release from Sci Fi]

CASTING SET FOR RIVERWORLD AND THE PHANTOM TWO SCI FI CHANNEL FOUR-HOUR BACK-DOOR MOVIE PILOTS FROM RHI ENTERTAINMENT

Tahmoh Penikett and Laura Vandervoort Star in Riverworld with Guest Star Alan Cumming

Ryan Carnes Stars as the All-New Phantom

Isabella Rossellini Is Guest Star

NEW YORK, NY � April 7, 2009 � The lead roles in Riverworld and The Phantom -- two of SCI FI Channel and RHI Entertainment's recently announced trio of four-hour movie events --- have been cast and production on both back-door movie pilots began Monday, April 6.

Tahmoh Penikett (Battlestar Galactica/Dollhouse) and Laura Vandervoort (Smallville) star in Riverworld based on the popular award-winning series of novels by Philip Jose Farmer. Penikett stars as Matt Ellman, an American war zone reporter who has witnessed the worst of humanity first-hand yet still grasps on to an optimistic spirit. When a suicide bomber kills both Matt and his fianc�e Jessie, played by Vandervoort, they awaken, separated in a mysterious world where everyone who has ever lived on Earth, seems to have been "reborn" along the banks of a seemingly endless river. Determined to locate Jessie, Matt joins forces with a 13th century female samurai warrior named Tomoe (Jeananne Goossen) and American novelist Sam 'Mark Twain' Clemens (Mark Deklin). Together they sail upriver in search of its source, and to discover where they are and who put them there. Alan Cumming (Tin Man) guest stars as the mysterious 'Caretaker.' Riverworld (Airdate 2010) is produced by Reunion Pictures and is shooting in Vancouver, BC. RHI will distribute internationally.

Ryan Carnes (Desperate Housewives/Dr. Who) has been cast in title role of The Phantom and his alter ego Chris Walker in this re-imagined version of the classic comic book transported to present day. Isabella Rossellini will guest star in a villainous turn as 'Lithia,' the head of an experimental mind control program. Also starring are Cameron Goodman as Chris Walker's love interest, Renny and Sandrine Holt (24/The L Word) as The Phantom's trusted advisor Guran.

A favorite costumed hero for more than six decades, The Phantom relies on his wits, physical strength and skill with weapons over superhuman powers. Production will begin on Monday April 6 in Montreal with Director, Paolo Barzman (The Last Templar) at the helm. The Phantom (Airdate 2010) is produced by Muse Entertainment. RHI will distribute internationally.

Reunion Pictures (www.reunionpictures.ca) is a Canadian-based company that develops and finances high quality television and multi-platform properties. Launched in 2004 with the partners' experience of having collectively produced over a billion dollars worth of award-winning filmed entertainment, Reunion Pictures has received multiple Emmy and Golden Globe nominations, and has won Genies and Gemini's as well as the prestigious George Foster Peabody Award for Excellence in Television, a #1 US network mini-series (10.5), and two #1 cable mini-series (Tin Man and Earthsea, both produced with RHI Entertainment for SCI FI Channel).

Muse Entertainment is a leading film and television producer known for its well-crafted and high-quality productions with strong international appeal. Since its founding in 1998 by Michael Prupas who serves as the company's President and CEO, Muse Entertainment has produced, co-produced or provided production services on more than 100 TV movies and mini-series, television series and feature films. For theatrical release, Muse Entertainment produces its own independent movies and also provides production services for Hollywood and New York studios and independents. For television, Muse Entertainment produces dramatic series, television movies and family programs.

RHI Entertainment (NASDAQ: RHIE) develops, produces and distributes new made-for-television movies, miniseries and other television programming worldwide, and is the leading provider of new long-form television content in the United States. Under the leadership of Robert Halmi, Sr. and Robert Halmi, Jr., RHI has produced and distributed thousands of hours of quality television programming, and RHI's productions have received more than 100 Emmy Awards. In addition to the development, production and distribution of new content, RHI owns rights to more than 1,000 titles, or over 3,500 broadcast hours of long-form television programming, which are licensed to broadcast and cable networks and new media outlets globally. For more consumer information visit www.rhitv.com

SCI FI Channel is a television network that fuels the imagination of viewers with original series and events, blockbuster movies and classic science fiction and fantasy programming, as well as a dynamic Web site (www.scifi.com). Launched in 1992, and currently in 95 million homes, SCI FI Channel is a network of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies. SCI FI will become Syfy on July 7, 2009.





  [september 2026]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
  


· 24 (FOX)
· BATTLESTAR GALACTICA (SCI FI)
· DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES (ABC)
· DOCTOR WHO (DISNEY PLUS)
· DOLLHOUSE (FOX)
· L WORD, THE (SHOWTIME)
· LAST TEMPLAR, THE (NBC)
· PHANTOM, THE (SYFY)
· RIVERWORLD (SYFY)
· SMALLVILLE (CW)
· TIN MAN (SCI FI)





[09/29/26 - 12:01 PM]
Netflix Top 10: Week of September 21 - "Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story" Takes the No. 1 Spot for a Second Week
"Unabomber" premiered in the top spot on the English film list, gathering 16.4 million views.

[09/29/26 - 12:00 PM]
USA Sports Delivers Viewership Records and Milestones in Inaugural Season of WNBA Coverage Ahead of WNBA Finals on USA Network This October
USA Sports averaged 525,000 viewers across its 48 regular-season games - the most national games of any broadcaster - up 25% vs. 2025 WNBA cable average viewership.

[09/29/26 - 11:01 AM]
Put It All on Vanderpump! Bravo Hits the Jackpot When "Vanderpump Rules: Lisa Las Vegas" Premieres Tuesday, Oct. 20 at 9 P.M. ET/PT
Lisa Vanderpump has been reigning over the Las Vegas Strip for years now with three hotspot restaurants serving up chic cocktails, over-the-top glamour and her signature brand of whimsy.

[09/29/26 - 10:36 AM]
AMC Global Media Greenlights "Happy Jack" - New Comedy Series Starring Charlie and Martin Sheen, Playing a Father-and-Son Duo, to Premiere on AMC and AMC+ in 2027
"Happy Jack" is a contemporary family comedy featuring one of America's favorite comedic actors.

[09/29/26 - 10:02 AM]
Date Announcement: Hulu's "The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives: Orange County"
The all-new series premieres with all 10 episodes November 12 on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers in the U.S. and Disney+ internationally.

[09/29/26 - 10:01 AM]
Video: "The New Stanford Prison Experiment" - Official Trailer - Netflix
In this modern reimagining of the infamous study, 30 people enter a real prison for two weeks and shifting power dynamics expose what they're capable of.

[09/29/26 - 09:50 AM]
"Jimmy Kimmel Live" Finishes 2025-2026 Season with Largest Overall Audience in Eight Years and Strongest Adults 18-49 in Four Years
In the final week of the 2025-2026 season, "Jimmy Kimmel Live" ranked No. 1 in both Total Viewers and Adults 18-49.

[09/29/26 - 09:01 AM]
Video: Trailer & Key Art Debut - Hulu's "Phony"
"Phony" premieres on October 20 on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers in the US, and Disney+ internationally.

[09/29/26 - 09:00 AM]
Paramount+ Presents a Historic Week of Combat Sports Headlined by "UFC 332: Silva vs. Wang," The First Full Main Card of a UFC Numbered Event Ever Simulcast on CBS and Paramount+
CBS coverage of UFC 332 will immediately follow college football on Saturday at 7:30 PM, ET/ 4:30 PM, PT.

[09/29/26 - 08:16 AM]
Video: "Campus Drivers" - Official Teaser - Prime Video
The adaptation of C.S. Quill's saga premieres November 6 on Prime Video.

[09/29/26 - 08:07 AM]
Discovery Channel October Programming Highlights
New seasons of "Contraband: Seized at the Border" and "Rocky Mountain Wreckers" will join the previously announced return of "Gold Rush."

[09/29/26 - 08:01 AM]
Investigation Discovery Spotlights the Haight Family Tragedy in New Special "Toxic: What Happened in the Haight House?"
The two-hour special premieres Tuesday, October 27 from 9-11pm ET/PT on ID and will be available to stream on HBO Max, anchoring the network's 5th annual "No Excuse for Abuse" campaign for Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

[09/29/26 - 07:31 AM]
Joins the Cast of AMC Global Media's Critically Acclaimed Drama, "The Audacity"
Hollander will portray Big Tim, the powerful tech billionaire and CEO of Cupertino, whose carefully curated public persona masks his insatiable appetite for control and revenge.

[09/29/26 - 07:16 AM]
"Icebreaker" Sticks the Landing, Adding Six to Round Out Series Regulars
Gabriel Tierney, Auli'i Cravalho, Peter Berry, Chaneil Kular, Devin Craig, and Aidan Shaw join the previously announced leads Daisy Jelley and Connor Simos.

[09/29/26 - 07:05 AM]
Paramount+ Announces Upcoming Slate of British Series from A24
These series include the upcoming comedy, "It Gets Worse," the coming-of-age drama, "Major Players," and the TV adaption of the award-winning, New York Times-bestselling novel, "The Ministry of Time."