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Airdate: Project Blue Book

Drama inspired by the U.S. Air Force's investigation of UFOs comes to SBS in late March.

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New US series Project Blue Book will premiere on SBS in a month’s time.

Inspired by the U.S. Air Force’s investigation of UFOs, and set against the backdrop of the Cold War and rising Atomic Era, it stars Aidan Gillen (Game of Thrones, The Wire) as Dr. J. Allen Hynek, a brilliant yet under-appreciated college professor who is recruited by the U.S. Air Force to spearhead a clandestine operation called Project Blue Book.

Partnered with Captain Michael Quinn (Michael Malarkey), he is summoned to investigate UFO sightings around the country and use science to discover what really happened. However, when some encounters cannot be explained away and cases remain open, Hynek begins to suspect that he has been duped by the government into a larger conspiracy to cover up the truth.

SBS Director of Television and Online Content, Marshall Heald, said: “Project Blue Book is one of the year’s most eagerly-awaited premiere series. A compelling drama exploring UFOs and unexplained phenomena, this series is inspired by true events and will delight and captivate viewers. We’re thrilled to bring the first season of this US hit drama to Australians exclusively in March.”

This premiered in the US in January to strong reviews and has been renewed for a second season.

Produced by Academy Award and Golden Globe winning director Robert Zemeckis (Forest Gump, Back to the Future), Project Blue Book is the origin story of everything we know about UFOs and aliens in pop culture. Over the course of their stranger-than-fiction investigations, Hynek and Quinn will coin the terms ‘UFO’ and ‘Close Encounters’, uncover smoking gun cover-up memos from Blue Book Chief General Nathan Twining, and witness President Truman approve a shoot down order after a mass UFO sighting in Washington D.C in 1952. By 1970, Hynek will transform from ardent sceptic into avid believer, convinced that we are not alone.

The 10-episode drama series is based on the real life Project Blue Book, a now-declassified series of studies on UFOs conducted by the United States Air Force. Project Blue Book scientifically analysed UFO-related data, and the team was tasked with determining if UFOs were a threat to national security. From 1952 – 1969, Project Blue Book investigated thousands of UFO sightings across the United States.

Aidan Gillen and Michael Malarkey are supported by a stellar international cast comprising Neal McDonough (Captain America, Minority Report), Michael Harney (Orange is the New Black, Widows), Robert John Burke (Gossip Girl, Law & Order: SVU), Ksenia Solo (Orphan Black, Black Swan) and Laura Mennell (Loudermilk).

SBS will air the double-episode premiere at 8.30pm Thursday 28 March, followed by two weeks of double episodes.

From Thursday 18 April, the remaining episodes will air weekly at 9.30pm.

3 Responses

  1. Can’t wait for this. Just put it in the diary to remind me to watch. I remember there was another Project Blue Book series from the 80’s that I used to love. I think from memory Chris Carter attributed it to helping spark the idea for The X-Files.

    1. Many influences for the ‘X Files’ and clearly referenced in it- ‘The Night Stalker’, ‘The Invaders’, ‘The Twilight Zone’, ‘Outer Limits’ etc etc.

      1. I loved those shows, especially The Invaders & The Night Stalker. In the late 70s I also watched Project UFO with Caskey Swaim, this show was about Project Bliebook. Looking fwd to this new show.

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