When Stargate Universe was canceled in 2011, executive producers of the television franchise Joseph Mallozzi and Paul Mullie began work on a comic book series called Dark Matter for Dark Horse Comics. After the release of the comic, Mallozzi began teasing fans on his blog that he and Mullie were also working on a science fiction scripted drama that they were hoping would be picked up by a network.

Well, it’s a few years later, and they’ve finally received their wish!

Dark Matter was green-lit a couple of months ago by Syfy for a 13-episode season. This came on the heels of the announcement by Syfy president Dave Howe that the network would be competing with the likes of AMC and HBO. “Perceptions of the genre have shifted dramatically. What that speaks to is an opportunity to re-own the genre and be at the forefront of high-end buzzy, provocative storytelling “” and the epiphany of that was Battlestar.”

Here is the synopsis of Dark Matter:

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.

Sound intriguing? Well, then take a look at the announced cast of the series:

Marc Bendavid (Bitten), Melissa O’Neil (Broadway production of Les Miserables), Anthony Lemke (White House Down), Alex Mallari Jr. (Robocop), Jodelle Ferland (Twilight), Roger Cross (The Strain), and Zoie Palmer (Lost Girl).

Having read Dark Matter and seeing the kind of brave and creative storytelling that Mallozzi and Mullie desired to tell with Stargate Universe, this news gives me high hopes for not only their show, but Syfy’s future as well.

Dark Matter is set to premiere the Summer of 2015.

[Source: NBC Universal via Joseph Mallozzi]