Deadline brings word that Black Sails actor Toby Stephens has signed to lead Netflix‘s upcoming reboot of Lost in Space as astrophysicist/expedition commander John Robinson, previously played by Guy Williams on the original series and William Hurt in the 1998 movie. Meanwhile, young thesp Maxwell Jenkins (Sense8) has been set to play the iconic role of Will Robinson (as in “Danger, Will Robinson!”), as originated by Bill Mumy in the 1965 show and then Jack Johnson in the film.
Taylor Russell (Falling Skies) was previously set to play daughter Judy Robinson.
The new Lost in Space series is being reimagined by the feature writing team of Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless (Dracula Untold, Last Witch Hunter), with Zack Estrin (Prison Break) showrunning. The plan is for the new Lost in Space to take its cues from the original series. As such, it will center around the Robinson family, who are forced to come together in a time of crisis. Stranded light years from their intended destination, they find themselves battling a strange new alien environment and also their own personal demons. Equal parts family drama and sci-fi adventure, the new Lost in Space is officially described as being “a survival story for the ages.”
Created by Irwin Allen, the original Lost in Space premiered on CBS in 1965 and went on to last for three seasons and 85 episodes. The series focused on the intergalactic adventures of The Robinson family, who were originally sent into the stars aboard the Jupiter 2 for colonization, but the vessel was sabotaged by the backstabbing Dr. Zachary Smith, whose efforts to disrupt the trip resulted in the clan being stranded in the cosmos.
Zack Estrin serves as executive producer on the new Lost in Space alongside Sazama and Sharpless as well as Synthesis Entertainment’s Kevin Burns (The Curse of Oak Island, Ancient Aliens) and Jon Jashni (Godzilla, Pacific Rim) and Applebox’s Emmy-nominated director Neil Marshall (Game of Thrones, The Descent) and Marc Helwig. Marshall is also set to direct several episodes of the series.
The 10-episode first season is set to air in 2018.
