April 2, 2015: Dark Matter casting announcements! David Hewlett! Ruby Rose!

Well, finally! ��It’s official!

http://io9.com/first-details-on-david-hewletts-return-to-syfy-in-dark-1695188609

“David Hewlett is returning to Syfy! This summer Hewlett will reunite with Stargate Atlantis writers Joseph Mallozzi and Paul Mullie on their new show Dark Matter.

Hewlett will have a recurring part as Talbor Calchek. In a slight change for Hewlett, Calchek is a sleazy agent for unsavory mercenaries who will appear in a four-episode arc.”

Who is Tabor Calchek? ��Well…

“Slick, silver-tongued, and more than a little seedy. Tabor Calchek is the team���s handler��and the ultimate agent. For the standard 10% commission, he uses his underworld connections as a broker to secure his clients their lucrative assignments. Tabor is sly, manipulative and opportunistic, and can always be counted on to look out for his client’s best interests…right after his own.���

Imagine a cross between Stargate: Atlantis’s Rodney McKay, Entourage’s Ari Gold, and Nic Cage’s Detective Rick Santoro from Snake Eyes, and you’d have a pretty fair approximation of the Tabor character. ��His morals are as suspect as his fashion sense, but he is a hoot! ��When it came time to cast the role, we reached out to David and made him an offer. ��No audition necessary because I knew he would nail it. ��And he did, delivering a performance that had us all struggling to stifle our laughter during his takes. ��Behind the scene pics to come. ��But here’s something to tide you over…

Little known fact: When he’s not acting, David Hewlett works station security on Shaofu 2!

Our second BIG guest star announcement:

“Also guest-starring in the show’s first season will be Ruby Rose (Orange is the New Black) as Wendy, described as a “dangerously beautiful android with a full range of pleasure features.”

Well, sure. ��That’s one way to describe her, but I prefer…

“Wendy��is an entertainment model android designed and built for FUN.��The crew discovers her, disassembled in a remote section of the ship and decide to bring her online. Using every bit of her entertainment programming to her advantage, she immediately charms everyone on board – with the exception the ship���s practical work model android who finds Wendy illogical and plain bad company. Resentment brews as the two droids vie for the crew���s attention and affection.”

Ruby landed on our show thanks to the inspired, out-of-the-box casting mind of��Dark Matter��Executive Producer Jay Firestone – and she was an utter delight to work with. ��Smart, sweet, and exceptionally dedicated to her craft, she delivers a one-of-a-kind performance as the multi-faceted Wendy, at turns sunny, sharp, and totally kick-ass. ��Oh, and 1000 bonus points to her for being such a compassionate dog rescuer.

Ruby celebrated her birthday��Dark Matter��style, with Executive Producer Jay Firestone and the gang playing laser tag.

AND…that’s another wrap! ��Episode #108 is in the books and director T.W. Peacocke heads to editing.

Monday, we roll right back into episode #109 with four days of director Ron Murphy’s episode still to shoot.

And then,��Dark Matter��stunt coordinator John Stead assumes the directing reins on episode #110.

While that goes to camera, it’s another Stargate reunion of sorts as director Martin Wood comes into town to prep episode #111.

And we finish��Dark Matter’s��first season in fine style, with another��Stargate��alum as director Andy Mikita drops by to shoot episodes #112 and #113.

I can’t believe we have less than two months to go. ��I’ve got to start making plans for my return trip home to Vancouver!

Tagged: Dark Matter, Dark Matter t.v., David Hewlett, Ruby Rose, SGA, Stargate, Stargate: Atlantis