Manhattan Beach producers have announced a new science-fiction pilot titled "Manhattan Transfer," which they state is being created entirely through generative artificial intelligence. The project, intended as a pilot for a potential television series, features veteran actor Lee Majors and the late Nichelle Nichols. Production is currently underway at Skyrocket Studios in Manhattan Beach.
Lee Majors, 87, will portray the character Matt Sheehan. Producers have indicated that a younger visual version of Majors will be brought to the screen through the use of generative AI and authorized digital recreation for his role. Majors is a familiar face to generations of television viewers, having famously starred in the title role of "The Six Million Dollar Man" and later as stuntman Colt Seavers in "The Fall Guy." Both series cemented his status as a television star.
The pilot also plans to feature Nichelle Nichols, who passed away on July 30, 2022, at the age of 89 in Silver City, New Mexico. Nichols, renowned globally for her iconic portrayal of Lt. Uhura in "Star Trek," is credited in "Manhattan Transfer" as Nova Taylor, a world-renowned astrophysicist. Her son and executor of her estate, Kyle Johnson, confirmed that his mother had engaged in discussions about the role with series creator Sky Conway prior to her death. Johnson stated that years before her passing, Conway had talked with her about having a significant role in the series. He added that Nichols "loved John Stith’s book and was genuinely excited about being part of the series." The project is based on a novel by John E. Stith.
Sky Conway is credited with creating, producing, co-writing, and directing the pilot. The production is a collaborative effort by Skyrocket Studios in Manhattan Beach and the Manhattan Transfer Film Fund. The story unfolds after Manhattan is detached from Earth, placed under a protective dome, and then transported aboard an alien mothership. Producers explained that this mothership contains thousands of other domed cities, setting a unique backdrop for the science-fiction narrative.
Lee Majors conveyed his enthusiasm for the upcoming series, remarking on the distinctiveness of his character. He noted, "Manhattan Transfer has a great science-fiction premise, but underneath all of that is a very human story," adding that while he has been fortunate enough to play many memorable characters over the years, Matt Sheehan "is something different."
In addition to Majors and the posthumous inclusion of Nichols, the cast list for the pilot also includes Herbert Jefferson Jr., Jason Faunt, and Chalet Brannan.
Producers have reported that the pilot is currently more than one-third complete. They anticipate that production will be finished in approximately three months. Upon completion, the "Manhattan Transfer" pilot is planned to be offered to various television networks, streaming platforms, and distributors for potential pickup as a full series.