Warning: Spoilers Ahead

Ever since I was introduced to Ascension this past summer at San Diego Comic-Con, I’ve been counting the days til the premiere date. As you can probably imagine, I am thrilled that the wait is almost over with the pilot set to air this Monday night, December 15th.

For those of you who are not familiar with Ascension (or for those who may have heard of it but who are dying to learn more), let me introduce you to what I anticipate being one of the best new series of the year. The premise is a ship that is sent in 1963 on a century-long mission to seed a new space colony on the planet Proxima with a group of men, women and children to insure the survival of the human race. But, when a woman is mysteriously murdered on the ship, everyone begins to seriously question the true nature of their mission.

The stars of the series are Brian Van Holt (Cougar Town, The Bridge) as the ship’s captain William Denninger, Tricia Helfer (Battlestar Galactica) as the captain’s very manipulative wife Viondra Denninger, Al Sapienza(The Sopranos, Person of Interest) and Andrea Roth (Rescue Me) as the ship’s head doctor Juliet Bryce. Van Holt and Helfer are joined by Brandon P. Bell as First Officer Aaron Gault, Tiffany Lonsdale as Chief Astronomer Emily Vanderhaus, Jacqueline Byers as her daughter Nora Bryce, P.J. Boudousque as Nora’s love interest James Toback and Ryan Robbins as Safety Officer (and Emily’s husband) Duke Vanderhaus.

We were fortunate enough to participate in a conference call earlier this week with Executive Producer and Showrunner, Philip Levens(Smallville), and cast member, Brandon P. Bell(“Aaron Gault”), to get all the deets on what to expect in the epic first episode, how the idea for the show was conceptualized, and some hints on a shocking twist that you can look for when the pilot airs on Monday.

As you watch the pilot, one of the things you will notice almost immediately is just how massive the ship is. There are numerous levels on the Ascension and an enormous amount of detail given to each and every component. Honestly, it almost makes you feel like you are watching a feature film. While one may think that most of this may be digital or CGI, the opposite turns out to be true with the vast majority of the set being the real thing and only a small fraction being computerized.

Philip Levens: “Well, one of the things that really sets this show apart is that it’s pretty phenomenal what our production designer has built. The primary set is over 4 stories tall, with each working deck having rooms off of it. It’s got a midline elevator in the center, and we shoot up another 15 stories off a digital set. The actual set is actually the largest ever built in Montreal, and you know, they film X-Men there, The 300. They had over a 100,000 square feet of stage space. And, all of this is built with vintage technology. All of that that you see on the bridge is real tech from the period. They scoured the country looking for this stuff and spent over $100,000 on antiquated tech gear for the bridge alone.”

“We also have a beach in there. The idea of a beach came about because everybody’s seen the same sort of garden that you’ve seen on generational ships. The air locks are real, and the only things that are digital are in the far distance.”

As Levens went on to say, literally millions of dollars were spent on the set alone, with the final version being so amazing and phenomenal that people would stop in Montreal just to see it. And, it’s definitely not something that was quickly built either.

Philip Levens: “The project was going over a year before, and we worked on it for most of 2013. We started building in early 2014, and we had people working sometimes 7 days a week for months on end, plus overtime. It was all so crazy. I remember walking out there in one of the early stages and thinking, ‘Oh my God! What have I done? You can’t put the genie back in the bottle. This is gigantic!’ [Laughs]”

Even though Brian Van Holt’s Captain Dellinger is the lead on the show, because there is a murder and First Officer Aaron Gault is made the chief investigator, Brandon Bell’s character was quickly put front-and-center, at least in the pilot. So, we asked Brandon about his character and how he was cast for the role.

Brandon Bell: “From the beginning, I fell in love with the entire concept, but I also had a lot of questions too. I remember really wanting [the role], and then, they asked me back after I walked out. I was asked to read another scene, and I was hoping that was a good sign. The rest is history, and I really had a lot of fun.”

Perhaps one of the biggest questions is just what is the plan for Ascension. It’s currently being advertised as a 3-night mini-series, but if all goes well (and we certainly hope it will!), is there an option for it to be given a full-series order?

Philip Levens: “Yes, there is. In fact, we have everything planned out all the way to season 6. I think it just depends on the response, the numbers and the viewership.”

And, yes, as I mentioned earlier, there is a pretty big twist in the first episode, and while no details can be provided for obvious reasons, we can say that most are expecting a big response from the viewers.

Philip Levens: “I’m actually looking for a big ‘Oh my God!’ [Laughs] This is not what you expected. This is something that people put a lot of thought into and that was meant to entertain and that will hopefully really amaze people.”

Brandon Bell: “Yeah, I would say jaw-dropping, and I hope there is a lot of jaw-dropping [Laughs]. You know, it’s one of those endings where you can’t help but have questions and wonder what is going on and want to discuss it with other people. I actually found out [about the ending] pretty early in the process. The script was still going through some small revisions, small tweaks, and so, I found out a couple nights before I flew out to Montreal. I mean, my brain exploded! I remember talking to Brian Van Holt, and the first thing we said to each other was, ‘Did you read the new script?’ And he said, ‘Oh my gosh! What do you think?’ But we were excited and to make such a bold statement at the end of the pilot, there’s got to be a certain level of confidence and trust in this project.”

What Brandon said is actually a vast understatement and trust me when I say that this show will blow you completely away.

But don’t take my word for it and tune in for the Ascension premiere this Monday at 9/8c on Syfy.

MEET THE CAST

Brian Van Holt as Captain William Denninger

A politician as well as a military man, Denninger is a natural leader. Rising through the ship’s ranks, he became Captain of the Ascension because of his heroic actions during a catastrophic fire that nearly destroyed the ship early in the voyage. While strong-willed and confident, he and his wife, Viondra, have a very public yet tortured marriage. Denninger is played by Brian Van Holt, who will also appear opposite Reese Witherspoon in the upcoming feature film Wild. His other film credits include Black Hawk Down, Confidence, S.W.A.T., House of Wax, and Bullet to the Head. On television, he appears in a recurring role as ‘Ray Burton’ on The Bridge, and also as the star of Cougar Town and John From Cincinnati.

 

Tricia Helfer as Viondra Denninger

Beautiful, manipulative, and dangerous, Viondra Dellinger is the Captain’s wife and a not-so-secret power broker aboard Ascension. Through her relationship with her husband often seems tumultuous, each quick to point out the other’s flaws, Viondra understands what Captain Denninger’s role affords her and doesn’t shy away from using her wiles, influence, and other somewhat unorthodox measures to help keep him in a position of power. Viondra is portrayed by Tricia Helfer, a model-turned-actress who has developed her resume beyond the catwalk to include a diverse array of roles. Best known for her Leo Award-winning lead performance as the humanoid Cylon Number Six in the critically acclaimed Syfy series Battlestar Galactica, Helfer has gone on to book leading and guest roles on a wide variety of networks. Most recently, Helfer played the lead in Killer Women.

 

Brandon P. Bell as First Officer Aaron Gault

The confident and capable First Officer aboard the Ascension, Gault was born to maintenance workers on the lower decks. Honest and extremely captable, Gault’s mettle is tested when he’s ordered to investigate the murder of a young girl, a job for which Gault thinks he is totally unprepared. Gault is portrayed by Brandon P. Bell, who was born in Dallas, Texas and is a USC graduate. Brandon’s past credits include guest-starring roles on the hit television series NCIS, Two Broke Girls, and Revenge, a recurring role on Switched At Birth and starring roles in Hollywood Heights and in the feature film Dear White People.

 

Andrea Roth as Dr. Juliet Bryce

Smart and sexy but a little reserved, Juliet is the head doctor aboard the Ascension. Her relationship with her daughter, Nora, has long been strained, and the murder aboard the ship has made it worse. Nora no longer accepts her mother’s advice, and Juliet sees Nora’s choices as folly, not the sign of a strong, independent mind. Dr. Bryce is played by Andrea Roth, who while beginning her career in modeling, segued into acting, appearing in dozens of TV series and films, including a starring role in the critically acclaimed series, Rescue Me. Roth’s recent credits include the upcoming feature Dark Places with Charlize Theron and Chloe Grace Moretz, and recurring roles on Blue Bloods and Ringer. 

 

Al Sapienza as Councilman Rose

Councilman Rose is the self-involved and self-indulgent politician aboard Ascension with his sights set squarely on the currently filled captain’s chair. Ever the careful schemer, he never makes a move before he is ready to back it up, and he is willing to go to whatever lengths to achieve his desires. Councilman Rose is played by Al Sapienza, a New York native who has brought to life a parade of memorable characters in film and television, from mafia hitman Mikey Palmice on The Sopranos to teachers’ union lobbylist Marty Spinella on House of Cards. Since the late 1980s, Sapienza has also appeared in over 80 films. Sapienza recently appeared as Pete in Walt Disney Pictures’ much-anticipated biographical sports drama Million Dollar Arm opposite Jon Hamm and Alan Arkin.

 

Ryan Robbins as Duke Vanderhaus

Duke Vanderhaus is the leader of the Safety Officers on the Ascension. Though arrogant and self-serving, Vanderhaus runs a tight ship, maintaining order. He is skilled at backroom dealing, and isn’t beyond bending the occasional rule when he stands to benefit. Vanderhaus is portrayed by Ryan Robbins, a multiple award-winning actor, having appeared in over 100 films and series. Ryan has just completed production on World of Warcraft. He played standout recurring roles in the critically acclaimed The Killing, Hell on Wheels, and Syfy’s Battlestar Galactica. Ryan was a series regular on Falling Skies and Syfy’s groundbreaking series Sanctuary. Ryan also played the iconic video game character ‘Raiden’ in the Mortal Kombat: Legacy web series and joined the cast of Continuum as a new series lead.

 

Tiffany Lonsdale as Emily Vanderhaus

Smart, warm, and intuitive, and with an effortless beauty, Emily is the Chief Astronomer on the ship and sister of the murder victim on Ascension. Her rocky marriage with Safety Officer Duke Vanderhaus will be put to the test by this family tragedy. Emily is played by Tiffany Lonsdale, a London native whose credits include supporting roles in GI Joe: Retaliation and Snake and Mongoose with Noah Wyle. Lonsdale can also be seen alongside Stephen Amell in the TV movie Justice for Natalee Holloway. In addition to her screen-acting career, Lonsdale has had a successful run on stage, having appeared opposite Malcolm Barrett in The Boomerang Effect in Los Angeles.

 

Jacqueline Byers as Nora Bryce

Nora is under intense familial pressure to follow her mother by apprenticing at the medical center. But despite her mother’s insistence, Nora finds herself drawn to the Terraforming Department and the promise of building a new world. Her budding attraction to bad-boy James Toback is scary and exciting, and Nora is determined to follow her own path, no matter how much her mother wants to keep them apart. Nora is portrayed by Jacqueline Byers, a Toronto native who studied theatre arts at Queens University in Kingston, Ontario. Trained through The Actor’s Foundry, Byers’s film and television credits include roles in Ants in Your Pants, Blizzard, and The Strain. Her role in Syfy’s Ascension is her first as a series regular.

 

P.J. Boudousqué as James Toback

Rebellious and moody, James’ attitude belies a sensitive, romantic side. Although he scored high on the aptitude tests, James chose the path of least resistence and took a job in maintenance, so he works below decks and is treated like a second-class citizen by the officer class. Toback is played by P.J. Boudousque,  a New Orleans native who has a strong passion for storytelling. In 2013, he landed his first lead role in the independent film Coldwater, which premiered at the 2013 SXSW film festival. P.J.’s other credits include guest-starring appearances on such shows as American Horror Story: Coven, Pretty Little Liars, Bones, and Major Crimes.

 

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