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.





  [july 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)





[07/22/26 - 11:31 AM]
Never Fear, "Clash of the Thundermans" Premiere Date and Key Art Are Here!
The new feature-length film from Paramount Television Studios will premiere Thursday, September 3 on Paramount+ and debut on Nickelodeon at 7 p.m. (ET/PT) that same day.

[07/22/26 - 11:30 AM]
ESPN Delivers Most-Watched NBA Summer League Championship Game Since 2017
The Golden State Warriors' victory over the Memphis Grizzlies averaged 676,000 viewers on ESPN, according to Nielsen Big Data + Panel.

[07/22/26 - 11:01 AM]
Video: "Special Ops True" - Official Trailer - Paramount+
The world remembers these missions. The people who lived them remember every second.

[07/22/26 - 11:01 AM]
Video: Exclusive First Look at All-New We TV and All Reality Unscripted Series "Age Inappropriate" Highlighting the Real Lives of Five Age-Gap Couples
The series premieres Friday, August 7 at 9:00 PM ET/PT on We TV, streaming same-day exclusively on All Reality.

[07/22/26 - 10:01 AM]
What's New on HBO Max This August
Highlights include the premiere of "Lanterns"; the return of "Conan O'Brien Must Go"; and the streaming debuts of "The Strangers: Chapter 2," "Normal," and "Mother Mary."

[07/22/26 - 10:01 AM]
Benicio Del Toro to Star in New Comedy Series "Protective Custody"
Also starring and executive produced by Ben Stiller, and hailing from Emmy Award-winner Mike Judge, Emmy Award-winner Steve Hely and Dave King, comes a new Apple TV series about a disgraced financier navigating life after arrest.

[07/22/26 - 09:49 AM]
Great American Media Announces Fourth Installment of Hit Franchise, "Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: The Model Maker," Starring Candace Cameron Bure, Aaron Ashmore, and Robin Dunne, Inspired by Characters Created by Bestselling Author, Candace Havens
"Ainsley McGregor Mysteries: The Model Maker" will stream and be broadcast across Great American Pure Flix, Great American Family, and GFAM+ in early 2027.

[07/22/26 - 09:46 AM]
Paramount+ Greenlights New Series "Laird" with Kenneth Branagh Set to Star and Executive Produce
Set in the modern Scottish Highlands, "Laird" is an epic family saga in which a proud Scot defies a shadowy American billionaire hellbent on buying up the glens.

[07/22/26 - 09:31 AM]
Video: "Let's Marry Harry" - Official Trailer - Netflix
With help from Alex Cooper ("Call Her Daddy") and his best friends, can Harry Jowsey ("Perfect Match") find true love and settle down in marriage?

[07/22/26 - 09:01 AM]
HBO Original Comedy Special "Whitmer Thomas: Terminal Crew of Dudes" Debuts August 14
In his second HBO stand-up special, comedian, musician, and actor Whitmer Thomas digs into his small-town Alabama upbringing... and his ongoing quest to be cool.

[07/22/26 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "The Chosen in the Wild with Bear Grylls" - Official Trailer - Prime Video
The new series, hosted by Bear Grylls, premieres August 9, 2026, on Prime Video with all six episodes available at launch.

[07/22/26 - 09:00 AM]
The Definitive Documentary on Global Icon Julie Andrews Is Coming to Disney+ in 2027
This definitive portrait offers an intimate and revealing look at Andrews' extraordinary journey, from her early days in British vaudeville to her meteoric rise as a global superstar.

[07/22/26 - 08:34 AM]
Apple TV Lands Rights to Rebecca Yarros' Forthcoming Novel
Apple Studios will develop "Peculiar Stars," and Yarros will serve as executive producer through her banner Full Measures Productions.

[07/22/26 - 07:04 AM]
Investigation Discovery to Re-Examine Aileen Wuornos in New Docuseries "Unmasking a Monster: Aileen Wuornos"
The three-part docuseries will premiere on Wednesday, September 30 from 8-11PM ET/PT on ID and will be available to stream on HBO Max.

[07/22/26 - 06:01 AM]
Prime Video Announces Exclusive Access Documentary Film Following Lily Allen
The retrospective documentary will chart Lily's extraordinary journey, from the "Queen of MySpace" who changed the rules of the music industry, to the cultural force she is today.