Syfy summer
Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No!

Syfy summer: ‘Sharknado 3,’ ‘Defiance,’ more

Three must be Syfy’s lucky number this summer. The network’s lineup includes three returning series, three new shows and the third installment of the “Sharknado” movie franchise.

“Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No!” anchors Syfy’s second annual Sharknado Week from July 18 to July 25. “Sharknado 3” drops at 8 p.m. July 22, in the middle of a week of new original movie premieres:

  • “Sharktopus Vs. Whale Wolf”—Roger Corman’s third installment of the “Sharktopus” franchise, starring Casper Van Dien.
  • “3-Headed Shark Attack,” starring Danny Trejo
  • “Roboshark”
  • “Mega Shark Vs. Kolossus,” starring Illeana Douglas
  • “Zombie Shark,” starring Jason London
  • “Lavalantula”—Steve Guttenberg and fellow “Police Academy” alums Leslie Easterbrook and Michael Winslow battle lava-breathing tarantulas threatening to destroy Los Angeles.

Syfy’s new Friday scripted programming block kicks off June 12 with the two-hour premiere of “Defiance” at 7 p.m. followed by the 9 p.m. debut of “Dark Matter.” “Killjoys” joins the schedule at 8 p.m. June 19.

Syfy summer 2015 premieres

(All times Central, because that’s how I do it.)

Syfy summer
Joshua Nolan (Grant Bowler) and Irisa Nolan (Stephanie Leonidas) in “Defiance.” (Syfy)
DEFIANCE

7 p.m. June 12, Season 3 premiere

“Defiance” is the story of a ravaged planet Earth 35 years in the future. The lives of its citizens have been permanently altered following the sudden arrival of seven alien races. In this unknown and unpredictable landscape, the diverse, newly-formed civilization of humans and aliens must learn to co-exist peacefully. Following the events of last season’s cliffhanger finale, the series’ two-hour Season 3 premiere opens on the eve of an impending military siege—and the surprise arrival of the mysterious and nearly extinct Omec, an alien race of warriors.

Cast additions include Lee Tergesen (“The Americans”) as military leader Gen. Rahm Tak, Nichole Galicia (“Django Unchained”) as Kindzi and Conrad Coates (“The Strain”) as her father, T’evgin. Returning to the cast are Grant Bowler, Julie Benz, Stephanie Leonidas, Tony Curran, Jaime Murray, Graham Greene and Jesse Rath. Kevin Murphy resumes his role as executive producer and showrunner.

DARK MATTER

9 p.m. June 12, series premiere

In the new original series “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.

Created by Joseph Mallozzi and Paul Mullie, executive producers and writers of the “Stargate” franchise, and developed with Prodigy Pictures (“Lost Girl”), the series features Melissa O’Neil (Broadway’s “Les Miserables”), Marc Bendavid (“Bitten”), Anthony Lemke (“White House Down”), Alex Mallari Jr. (“Robocop”) and Jodelle Ferland (“Twilight”), with Roger Cross (“The Strain”) and Zoie Palmer (“Lost Girl”). The 13 one-hour episodes are based on the graphic novel “Dark Matter,” also by Mallozzi and Mullie, published by Dark Horse Comics.

KILLJOYS

8 p.m. June 19, series premiere

“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, multi-planetary class war.

From Temple Street Productions, the producers of “Orphan Black,” and writer-showrunner Michelle Lovretta, creator of “Lost Girl,” the 10-episode Syfy original series stars Hannah John-Kamen (“Black Mirror”), Luke Macfarlane (“Brothers & Sisters”) and Aaron Ashmore (“Warehouse 13”).

Syfy Summer
Archangel Michael (Tom Wisdom) and Alex Lannon (Christopher Egan) in “Dominion.” (Syfy)
DOMINION

9 p.m. July 9, Season 2 premiere

Based on characters from the hit theatrical film “Legion,” “Dominion” is set in a post-apocalyptic future, 25 years after an army of lower angels waged an epic war against mankind. The series follows the reluctant “Chosen One,” Alex (Christopher Egan), who must fight to save humanity from the angels that are hell-bent on destroying them. In the show’s second season, humankind continues its struggle against the army of angels.

Christopher Egan, Tom Wisdom, Roxanne McKee, Alan Dale, Anthony Stewart Head, Luke Allen-Gale and Shavani Ghai return for Season 2. Carl Beukes, who has played Archangel Gabriel since the series’ pilot, becomes a series regular. New cast members and characters for Season 2 include:

  • Nic Bishop (“Covert Affairs”) portrays Gates, a brilliant but troubled military genius who helped build Vega into the stronghold it has become.
  • Simon Merrells (“Spartacus: War of the Damned”) plays Julian, the cunning and powerful leader of New Delphi. Julian is a cryptic man with motives as questionable as his past and will go to any lengths to protect his city.
  • Christina Chong (“24: Live Another Day”) is Zoe, a member of Vega’s Archangel Corps who defected to a rebel faction. Bold, fierce and scrappy, she’s a member of the poorest class that dwells in the city’s dangerous tunnels.
  • Olivia Mace (“Doctors”) stars as Laurel, the steadfast leader of the small Southern town of survivors who have inexplicably managed to insulate themselves from the fallout of The Extermination War. Laurel is deeply devout to her religious faith and is unwavering in her resolve.
  • Luke Tyler (“Chronicle”) plays Pete, an energetic, bright, dynamic and eternally optimistic teenager who grew up in the apocalypse. He has only ever known a battle-torn world, so he has no memories of the peaceful past.
GEEKS WHO DRINK

10:30 p.m. July 16, series premiere

Zachary Levi executive produces and hosts this new, original weekly game show based on the nationwide pub trivia contest of the same name. In each installment, two teams of self-proclaimed “trivia geeks” and celebrity captains 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.

SHARKNADO 3: OH HELL NO!

8 p.m. July 22

The global pop culture sensation returns to cause mass destruction in Washington, D.C., before roaring down the Eastern Seaboard and into Florida. The two-hour original movie stars Ian Ziering, Tara Reid and Cassie Scerbo. Joining them will be David Hasselhoff (Fin’s father, Gil), Bo Derek (April’s mother, May), Ryan Newman (April and Fin’s daughter, Claudia Shepard), and Jack Griffo (Claudia’s friend, Billy).

Additional announced cameos include Mark Cuban (U.S. president), Ann Coulter (U.S. vice president), Michele Bachmann, Kathie Lee and Hoda; Frankie Muniz; Anthony Weiner; Jerry Springer; Washington Redskins Ryan Kerrigan and Tom Compton, *NSYNC singer Chris Kirkpatrick, and Chris Jericho. A production of The Asylum, “Sharknado 3” is directed by Anthony C. Ferrante from an original screenplay by Thunder Levin.

FACE OFF

8 p.m. July 28, Season 9 premiere

In the hit competition series “Face Off,” special effects make-up artists participate in elaborate challenges to create amazing works of living art. The series’ ninth season will include its 100th episode. McKenzie Westmore hosts, with Ve Neill (“The Hunger Games,” “Pirates of the Caribbean”), Glenn Hetrick (“CSI: New York,” “Heroes,” “Legion”) and Neville Page (“Avatar,” “Prometheus”) returning as judges. Hollywood makeup legend Michael Westmore (“Star Trek”) serves as the contestant mentor.