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ABC’s sci-fi drama, The Visitors, has tapped Heroes alum Milo Ventimiglia and Revenge hunk Barry Sloane to topline the pilot from executive producer Steven Spielberg.
The Visitors, based off a short story “Zero Hour” by Ray Bradbuy, is described as an alien drama featuring a race against the clock to defeat an unseen alien enemy out to destroy the world using the Earth’s most precious resource — children.
Ventimiglia (Mob City) will play John Doe/Drew Bennigan, an amnesiac found unconscious on the streets of Washington D.C. Determined to figure out his life, he follows the clues of his tattoos to learn he’s Drew Bennigan, Claire’s (lead role, yet to be cast) missing husband, and is now forced to live a life he doesn’t remember as he fights to regain his memory or cross over to the enemy’s side.
Blarry Sloane will play Wes Lawrence, a former FBI agent now with the special projects division of the Defense Department who investigates military threads that are best solved outside the public’s knowledge. Married with a family, he is tasked with investigating a shocking discovery in the Algerian desert and comes across proof that aliens exist. As a result of this discovery, Wes — who has ties to the president and other powerful figures — will have no choice but to investigate the matter further; taking him deeper into the murky, dirty battlefield of politics in order to force the world to address this threat. He joins forces with Drew’s wife Claire, with whom he once had an affair with.
Sloane and Ventimiglia join the recently cast Derek Webster (Revolution) as troubled FBI agent Jessup Rollins; Catalina Denis (Brick Mansions) as Dr. Maria Martinez; and Kyle Harrison Breitkopf (Parental Guidance) as Claire and Drew’s deaf son Henry.
Dawn Olmstead (who currently heads up NBC’s Scripted Development division) came across the story and approached writer Soo Hugh to assist with development. Both will serve as executive producer on the series. The pair has worked together in the past, most recently on ABC’s The River and CBS’ Under the Dome. Olmstead has two other pilots for next season — Lifetime’s The Lottery and Bravo’s Girlfriend’s Guide to Divorce.
ABC Studios will co-produce the sci-fi drama with Amblin TV and Olmstead’s Grady Girl banner. Justin Falvey, Darryl Frank and Spielberg will also co-executive producer. Mark Romanek will helm the pilot.
Ventimiglia is represented by CAA, Management 360 and attorney Jeff Frankel. Sloane is represented by Innovative, Silver Lining Entertainment and BWH.
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