Mark-Paul Gosselaar is on his way back to Fox with a brand new show, and it already looks like it couldn't be more different than his previous (and sadly, short-lived) project at the network. He'll star in The Passage, based on a novel trilogy of the same name, and it promises to be a wild ride. A trailer for the new series gives a glimpse of what's to come. Take a look!
The trailer was intense enough in the first portion when it only seemed like the story would center on Mark-Paul Gosselaar's character as he tried to protect an innocent young girl from nefarious figures. Well, the "nefarious figures" part seems to be entirely accurate, but the second chunk of the trailer proves that the characters have more to fear than just regular bad guys. Vampires will be in the mix, and that innocent young girl appears to have powers of her own.
The Passage stars Mark-Paul Gosselaar as a federal agent given the responsibility of bringing a young girl to a secret medical facility, called Project Noah, as a test subject. The girl, Amy Bellafonte, clearly doesn't have much of a say in the matter at first, as she refers to herself as "being kidnapped." She also clearly doesn't have anybody she can count on, although she's smart to enough to realize that something is off when FBI Agent Brad Wolgast comes to pick her up.
Amy is used to being picked up by social workers, and always women. Wolgast is neither. Nevertheless, instead of delivering her to Project Noah to become a lab rat, Wolgast becomes determined to protect Amy, and that apparently entails going on the run with her. The scientists will likely stop at nothing to get their hands on her, as she seems to possess certain abilities. Why that qualifies her to be the test subject for a dangerous virus with the potential to cure all disease remains to be seen.
While the idea of Project Noah wanting to find a way to cure all disease sounds noble, the virus also has the potential to wipe out the entire human race, and the testing project undoubtedly would not be kind to Amy. The trailer doesn't explain her abilities, but the original description of the series stated that Amy has the psychic ability to communicate with "virals," which is the Passage name for vampires.
The Passage will premiere on Fox on Monday, January 14 at 9 p.m. ET. Given its premiere slot in midseason, The Passage has a pretty solid chance of winning an audience. Although networks have taken to adding shows with new episodes to their midseason slates more in recent years, there is still often a shortage of new TV options in the period. Perhaps The Passage will be a bigger hit for Mark-Paul Gosselaar than the dearly-departed Pitch.
We'll have to wait and see. If you can't stand waiting until January to get a taste of the Passage story, you can check out the book trilogy by Justin Cronin. Although the show will undoubtedly take liberties with the source material, as all adaptations must, reading the books could be a fun way to pass the time. Alternately, you can find some viewing options on our fall TV premiere guide.
