Live-Action Series from Nerdist, ORBITAL REDUX

Posted By Ashley Williams

Nerdist and Alpha, Legendary Digital Networks' interactive streaming platform, reveal their upcoming original sci-fi series, Orbital Redux. Orbital Redux airs as eight weekly episodes performed and live streamed in real-time with actor Yuri Lowenthal (Marvel's Spider-man, Young Justice, Ben 10, Naruto) as the story's spaceship pilot protagonist. The show even invites Alpha members to help shape the storyline as the series progresses.

Orbital Redux explores the world of Zachery "Max" Levodolinksy ( Lowenthal), a former astronaut navigating life after NASA runs out of funding, removing all the thrilling, heroic jobs . Now, following ten years of thankless orbital transpo, Max must train a new pilot (Yasmine Al-Bustami), only to discover she's meant to be his replacement. When the latest redux goes wrong, they have no choice but to work together if they want to survive. In addition to this main narrative, the live broadcast of Orbital Redux hands the control of some storyline elements to the viewers, voting on everything from actors' decisions to presenting new challenges for them to solve in real time.

"When it comes to entertainment," says writer/director Steven Calcote of Butcher Bird Studios, "you don't get to unleash a FIRST very often. We're not just thrusting viewers into the middle of a cinematic spaceship adventure series, we're streaming it LIVE. That means LIVE performances, LIVE special effects, LIVE cinematography, LIVE sci-fi. It's a high-wire act that our audience won't experience anywhere else." Producer Lillian Diaz-Przybyl added, "This is a project that ties together the latest, most dynamic live digital experiences: multiple cameras on an immersive spaceship set, a live musical score, and audience participation and interactivity. But in order to achieve that, we also harken back to time-tested traditions of early television and the ancient art of live theatrical performance.  The very core of Orbital Redux is in how we are reaching for an exciting new future while being solidly grounded in the reality and teachings of the past."

With the show's live action elements requiring a skilled and accomplished actor, Orbital Redux recruited Yuri Lowenthal for the extraordinary task of portraying Max.

Lead actor Yuri Lowenthal says, "When Steven pitched me the show, I said 'yes' before he even made it ten seconds in. How often does an actor get a chance to do a play, on a spaceship, that the entire world can be watching live? I've been doing this a long time, and this is the first time I've ever had a chance to do something quite like this. Actually, I've never heard of anything quite like this. Don't get me wrong, I'm bloody terrified, but I always try to say 'yes' to the projects that scare me."

Johnny Wickham, VP of Development, Legendary Digital Networks says, "We are always looking for new challenges and ways to change up the narrative, and this project combines these elements, aligning with Alpha's mission to immerse members in our content and give them an experience they can't get anywhere else." Jason Corey, VP of Production, Legendary Digital Networks adds, "This series was appealing from the very beginning because anything can happen when you hand over control of part of the storyline to members. From what we've seen in previous projects, we are fascinated by their imagination and know Orbital Redux will be exceptional."

Orbital Redux is set to premiere exclusively on Alpha on September 27, 2018.