Ballroom 20 participants were
transported from San Diego to San Francisco today as Fox screened the
pilot episode of the hotly anticipated new sci-fi mystery Alcatraz at
Comic-Con!
We were on hand to both watch the
episode and hear what the stars and creative minds had to say, so
check out everything you need to know before the premiere this fall!
- The pilot opens on two guards
arriving at the titular Alcatraz prison, only to spookily discover
that guards and inmates alike have all disappeared! Meanwhile in
the present day, Alcatraz prisoner Jack Sylvane awakens in the
prison itself during a guided tour, unsure of what he's doing in
the future.
- Detective Rebecca Madsen (Sarah
Jones) investigates a murder crime scene, only to be muscled out by
Sam Neill's FBI Agent Emerson Hauser.
- When prisoner Jack Sylvane's
fingerprints are found at the crime scene decades after his supposed
death, Madsen continues exploring the case, sensing a link to her
mostly unknown grandfather who worked at Alcatraz. She enlists the
help of Alcatraz expert Diego Soto (Jorge Garcia) to track Jack
Sylvane, who receives mysterious instructions over the phone, and
coldly continues his murder streak, almost unaware of what he's
doing.
- Hauser eventually recruits the duo
to help find Sylvane, bringing them in on the mystery of the 63ers,
the prison roster who vanished in 1963. Eventually they figure out
that Sylvane will track down his still-living brother, who went on
to marry his former wife, who has since died.
- The team catches up to Sylvane and
apprehends him before he can offer any real details of what he
remembers. Hauser, revealed as one of the guards who discovered the
Alcatraz mystery in 1963, brings Jack to a special prison deep in
the woods, an underground perfect replica of Alcatraz. Hauser leads
him to his former cell, saying "Not to worry, Jack. You won't
be lonesome long."
- The producers acknowledge
similarities to LOST such as the deep ongoing mysteries, and the
presence of Jorge Garcia, as well as JJ Abrams involvement, but
believe they've embraced the similarity. Though they did clarify
that Jorge won't be building any golf courses on Alcatraz.
- The show premieres in January, and
will follow the format of dealing with a new prisoner from the
mysterious disappearances each week
Having seen the pilot, you should definitely check out Alcatraz when the series premieres next year!
