William Shatner to Guest Star on 'Haven'

Courtesy Yahoo!

It looks like "Haven" is getting a new resident in 2015. According to a recent press release from Syfy, William Shatner will be joining and greatly impacting the cast for four episodes next year. Check out the release below for all the stellar details, including clues about the mid-season finale.

The Shat hits the fan next year on Haven! William Shatner (Star Trek) is set to guest star in a four-episode arc on the Syfy fan-favorite series in 2015. Shatner will play a pivotal character that has the potential to forever impact the fate of the town of Haven and its troubled residents.

This year, Haven (airing Fridays at 7PM ET/PT), barrels towards its game-changing mid-season finale with the last two episodes of 2014.

In “Chemistry” (airing November 28), divided loyalties put Haven’s heroes at odds with one another, while a terrifying revelation changes everything. Jay Reso – also known as WWE Superstar Christian Cage – appears in the episode, reuniting with his real-life, lifelong friend and former tag-team partner, Adam Copeland (WWE Superstar Edge Rated R), who plays Dwight. In a recurring guest role, Reso will play McHugh, one of Dwight’s oldest and closest friends.

Then, in the mid-season finale “Chosen” (December 5), a shocking revelation threatens to upend the fragile stability of Haven. Mara’s endgame is finally revealed, while Audrey (Emily Rose) and Nathan (Lucas Bryant) pursue a plan to stop her once and for all.

There’s more Haven to come as the series returns to Syfy in 2015 with 13 all-new episodes. Shatner, Reso, Laura Mennell (Alphas) and Kris Lemche (Joan of Arcadia) are among the guest stars to be featured when the series returns next year.

-Larissa Mrykalo

'Haven' Returning to Syfy with Double the Episodes

Courtesy Syfy

Fans of "Haven" rejoice! The supernatural Syfy hit has been greenlit for 26 new episodes. The first 13 episodes of Season Five are scheduled to premiere in the fall and the remaining 13 episodes are scheduled to air in 2015.

The series which debuted on July 9, 2010 and had its season four finale on December 13, 2013, is based on the Stephen King novella, "The Colorado Kid." It "follows former FBI agent Audrey Parker, who becomes a cop in the small town of Haven, Maine, and soon discovers the town’s many secrets – which also hold the key to unlocking the mysteries of her lost past."

According to the press release from Syfy, "Emily Rose, Lucas Bryant and Eric Balfour will reprise their roles of Audrey Parker, Nathan Wournos and Duke Crocker, respectively. Production on 26 all-new episodes is set to begin on location in Halifax, Nova Scotia this spring."

The release announced that the supernatural series tallied "...its best season ever in social mentions and Twitter activity, Haven’s recently wrapped fourth season was up 11% among Adults 18-34 (314,000) and up 3% year-to-year among Adults 18-49 (926,000). Overall, Haven averaged 1.1 million Adults 25-54 and 2.3 million viewers per week and ranked second in Adults 18-49 and Adults 25-54 among original cable series in its Friday 10PM ET/PT time slot. (All data Live +7)."

We'll keep you posted on any more details that trickle in.

-Larissa Mrykalo

Syfy Network Invades San Diego Comic Con

Thanks to the success Syfy had at last year’s San Diego Comic Con with their promotion of the scripted series Defiance, they’ll use this year’s venue to promote their latest show, Helix.

The con runs July 18-21 and Syfy will not only have panels on Being Human, Defiance, Warehouse 13, Haven and Helix, but also will have a special convention Twitter sweepstakes and contests.

'Haven' recap: 'Last Goodbyes'

Courtesy Syfy

BY ERIN LILLEY


We're one week out from the season finale of Haven and Audrey's possible departure, and now one of the group will be revealed to be the Bolt Gun Killer! Even with all that, the troubles never cease in Haven. At least, this week's trouble comes with a cool guest star.

The Trouble

Audrey's heading for the office, when the car in front of her decides it doesn't feel like driving when the light is green. She gets out to check on the driver, and finds him slumped over the steering wheel, out cold. When she calls 911, no one answers. She looks around and notices bodies all over the ground. The town of Haven has instituted nap time.

'Haven' recap: 'Burned'

Duke does planking - the other kind of planking.
Courtesy Syfy

BY ERIN LILLEY

This week, the Trouble, the Guard, and the Bolt Gun all sort of collided. We're quickly approaching the season finale, and Haven is pulling out all the stops!

'Haven' recap: 'Sarah'

Sarah/Audrey and Nathan in the past. Courtesy Syfy

BY ERIN LILLEY

After two weeks of Bolt Gun Killer and Colorado Kid mythos, Haven is back with nothing but Trouble!

Onboard the S.S. Minnow, or whatever the boat's called, Duke Crocker wishes his late father a happy birthday, then spends a little time thumbing through the family's journal o' troubled-people murdering. It seems that Audrey's past life #1, Sarah, killed Duke's grandfather, and Duke's father was hell-bent on returning the favor. His last wish was for Duke to finish the job, but he doesn't seem too interested. He sees an incomplete entry for one Stuart Mosely, and decides to pay old Stu a visit.

'Haven' recap: 'Magic Hour, Part 2'

Audrey's got Nathan's Back. Courtesy Syfy

BY ERIN LILLEY


Previously on Haven: Two sisters have been killing rich people and resurrecting them for ransom. Nathan's dead because Tommy's the Bolt Gun Killer, and the sister who can bring people back is nowhere to be found. That pretty much covers it.

The Trouble

Audrey and Duke go looking for Noel the reviver, and discover blood, signifying that she's been shot, too. They know Tommy shot after her, but Tommy says he was only shooting at her because she's the one who shot Nathan. I don't think either of them are buying that story, but they don't have time to quibble. They need to find Noel before the sun sets. Tommy is absolutely no help (obviously), and says they should keep Nathan's death between the three of them for now.

'Haven' recap: 'Magic Hour, Part 1'

Dan mourns over his soon to return wife. Courtesy Syfy

BY ERIN LILLEY

This week on Haven cleared up a few questions - and created even more. Welcome to part one of the most mean-spirited episode of Pushing Daisies ever, where the Pie Maker starts charging for his resurrection services.

The Trouble

A little girl, Lizzie, lies dead on a kitchen table, while her very anxious parents watch for the sun to go down. They argue over whether to keep waiting for nightfall or call an ambulance. It was an accident, Dad says, as he finally snaps from the tension and grabs a phone to dial. Mom turns to stop him, and in the two seconds their gaze is not on their child's body, they hear a crash. When they look back at the table, a vase is broken, and Lizzie is gone. The terrified parents run to an open door, expecting to see ... what? An intruder? Someone running off with their broken daughter? There's a small voice. "Hi, Daddy," it says, and they look to find Lizzie, alive and smiling in a porch swing. I think we have our trouble.

'Haven' recap: 'Real Estate'

Tina Bo Peep has a nightmarish Halloween
Courtesy Syfy

BY ERIN LILLEY

This week on Haven, we have a haunted house with a twist. Happy Halloween!

The Trouble

A pot farmer and Little Bo Peep walk into an abandoned house. No, that's not the beginning of a horrible joke, but the beginning a pretty darn good Halloween episode of Haven. The coeds have been at a Halloween party, and thought it might be fun to go make out in the town haunted house, because that always goes so well. While pot farmer Chad thinks that his random switch flipping is causing the fireplace to spontaneously ignite and the radio to play easy listening, his date has figured out that there is something definitely not right with the house. The couch tried to eat her; that's neither normal nor romantic. Finally, the door to the room slams shut, effectively killing the mood for both of them.

'Haven' recap: 'Double Jeopardy'

Callahan has girl talk with Audrey, courtesy Syfy

BY ERIN LILLEY

Welcome to Haven, where the population keeps decreasing, and there's a possible Franken-Audrey in the works! It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood!

The Trouble

A guy who could not look more suspicious if he tried uses a hidden camera to get some up-skirt shots at a pep rally. As he starts to upload the footage onto his computer, an unseen attacker jumps him from behind, spilling the creeper's blood all over his barely touched Peanut Buster Parfait (which only moments earlier I'd been coveting hard, since my local Dairy Queen closed in the 1990s. Now ... he can keep it, thanks).

'Haven' recap: 'Over My Head'

The Teagues hash out details, courtesy Syfy

BY ERIN LILLEY

This week, we had a quirky trouble, a tension-filled trio of leading characters, and fun touches of show mythology. What a fun trip to Haven!

The Trouble

Frank is afraid of the water. Alice, his instructor, is having a heck of a time coaxing him to the water. Just as she's starting to lose it with Frank, something unseen yanks Alice under the water, and only her blood resurfaces. When Audrey arrives and questions Frank about the death, he explains that his wife made him take the classes to get over his fear of water. No one else in his family was afraid of water - quite the opposite, actually - which rules him out as a troubled person. Frank goes on to explain that Alice wasn't his usual teacher. She was just subbing for Daphne, who hadn't shown up for work that morning. One thing we do know: Whatever killed Alice was big and vicious.

'Haven' recap: 'The Farmer'

Courtesy Syfy

BY ERIN LILLEY

From last week's "Next week on Haven ..." teaser, I was expecting an invisible killer who took out his victims from within; a Freddy Krueger-esque style murderer, if you will. But, as I think we've all come to know and love from this show, you can never "expect" anything.

The Trouble

The episode opens on a wooded jogging trail, and one runner who exercises like I do, by standing in place while everyone else whisks by her. We learn that she's a blushing bride-to-be, anxious to get to the caterer and held up by a fiancee with a tiny bladder. Eventually, she heads off into the woods to find her beloved face-down on the ground, dead as a doornail, with his lungs now outside of his body. I guess she doesn't need to worry about fitting in that dress anymore.

'Haven' recap: 'Stay'

Courtesy Syfy

BY ERIN LILLEY
I was positive that Haven was finally getting that zombie infestation that's been going around. Instead, we ended up with a socially-conscious trouble, a lot of exposition and a brand new towns-person to get to know. Let's take a look back at this "very special" episode of Haven.

'Haven' hails to the King - Stephen King

The Haven writers continued to have a lot of fun playing in the Stephen King universe with last Saturday's third season premiere, titled '301.' And why shouldn't they enjoy it since the Syfy show is loosely connected to the author's crime noir book The Colorado Kid (published by our friends at Hard Case Crime)? Well, instead of letting those references slip by all but the biggest King fans, the network has compiled the shout-outs in the video embedded below as they have for previous episodes.

-Aaron Sagers

'Haven' recap: '301'

Read all about Haven happenings in the Herald.
Courtesy Syfy

BY ERIN LILLEY

The hit Syfy series Haven returned Friday night, and picked up exactly where we left off last season. FBI Agent-turned-small town cop Audrey Parker is missing, and her partner (and now, sort-of boyfriend) Nathan, has loveable ne'er-do-well, Duke, at gunpoint aboard Duke's boat.

Big troubles in little 'Haven': Emily Rose, Eric Balfour, Lucas Bryant on season three

From left: Balfour, Rose, Bryant. Courtesy Syfy

BY ERIN LILLEY

After nearly a year since new episodes aired, it's time to return to Haven. But don't let the name of the fictional town from the Syfy supernatural series fool you, there are more troubles than ever in store for season three, which begins tonight, Sept. 21 at 10 p.m.

Based loosely on Stephen King's novella, The Colorado Kid, the series focuses on FBI Agent Audrey Parker (Emily Rose) as she discovers the idyllic small town she's stumbled into is plagued by "troubles," various super-powered afflictions with often deadly, or at the very least, dangerous effects. Adding to the mystery, Audrey finds that this may not be the first time - or even the first lifetime - she's visited Haven. Aiding Audrey's investigation, for the most part, are Nathan Wuornos (Lucas Bryant), the chief of police, and Duke Crocker (Eric Balfour), an ethically-challenged boatrunner.

After debuting July 2010, the show saw a five percent rise in viewership over the second season and became a hit for the network. Both seasons are now available on DVD/Blu-ray, and the third season of the mythology-driven show marks a new chapter of Haven as the summer series moves to the fall schedule. Although that ups the pressure on the show, cast and crew feel a sense of validation and say the move signals confidence from Syfy.

Rose, Bryant and Balfour and executive producer Lloyd Segan joined us for an interview to discuss the show's movie, as well as a third season that they promise will answer long-standing questions (including last season's cliffhanger "Where is Audrey Parker") as well as offering new mysteries to unravel, new faces, romance, haunted houses - and time travel? As if that's not enough, the cast even opens up about ghosts, and throws a challenge down to Kris Williams of Ghost Hunters International.

Creature Features: Wendigo

Marvel Comics' Wendigo, courtesy
Wikimedia

Editor's note: Erin Lilley is a filmmaker and producer with Fighting Owl Films, a production company that has produced the paranormal comedy The Night Shift and is in pre-production for the horror, The Jersey Devil Expeditions. She has joined us to discuss some of her favorite monster movies, and the stories behind them with the Creature Features column.

BY ERIN LILLEY

When you think "creature," your mind probably jumps to the iconic images of the Frankenstein monster, Bigfoot, or maybe even that funky Metaluna Mutant dude from This Island Earth. For me, though, one of the scariest creatures has to be the Wendigo because it can look human, and if it doesn't eat you, it can possess you.

Sure, that sounds similar to a zombie, but where a zombie is a dead person brought back to stumbling, groaning life, a person afflicted by the Wendigo curse retains motor functions, so you might not know anything is even wrong with them until it's too late. If that's not scary enough, the Wendigo can also come at you in the form of an enormous, emaciated giant, desperately searching for the meal that can end its eternal starvation and suffering.

Pop culture is full of references to the Wendigo, although many diverge from the Native American legends. He emerged in Algernon Blackwood's 1910 story, "The Wendigo," and has been name checked in Stephen King's Pet Sematary and appeared on The X-Files, Charmed and Supernatural. He's shown up or been referenced in movies  (Wendigo, Ravenous), and made cameos in Dungeons & Dragons, Final Fantasy and Warcraft games. Within comics, Marvel heroes Wolverine and The Hulk have faced off against The Wendigo (shown here), and he was the focus of a storyline in the Hellboy-universe B.P.R.D. comic series by Dark Horse.

For my purposes, I've pulled two of my favorite television appearances - from Syfy's Haven and the short-lived Fear Itself anthology series - that I think well represent the different facets of the mythology...