After its highly anticipated release in the United States in January, critically-acclaimed series Project Blue Book will premiere exclusively in Australia on SBS at 8:30pm AEDT Thursday 28 March, and on SBS On Demand.
Set against the backdrop of the Cold War and rising Atomic Era, Project Blue Book is a thrilling series inspired by the real-life Project Blue Book, the U.S. Air Force's investigation of UFOs.
Aidan Gillen (‘Littlefinger’ Game of Thrones, The Wire) stars as Dr. J. Allen Hynek, a brilliant yet underappreciated college professor who is recruited by the U.S. Air Force to spearhead a clandestine operation called Project Blue Book.
Along with his partner, the debonair Air Force Captain Michael Quinn, played by Michael Malarkey (The Vampire Diaries), 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.
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.
Aidan Gillen in 'Project Blue Book'. Source: SBS
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.”
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 of Project Blue Book at 8.30pm AEDT Thursday 28 March followed by two weeks of double episodes. Episodes will stream simultaneously at SBS On Demand. From Thursday 18 April, the remaining episodes will air weekly at 9.30pm AEST.
