Dylan Hunt
Encyclopedia
Dylan Hunt is the name of two fictional character
s created for television by Gene Roddenberry
.
Both characters are men who unwittingly move forward in time by hundreds of years, finding themselves trapped in a post-apocalyptic "Dark Age". Each either begins or joins a crusade by a small force of explorer/adventurers to restore civilization.
. Hunt was a NASA
scientist who became trapped in suspended animation
in 1979, only to awaken 154 years later. CBS, the network that aired Genesis II, rejected Roddenberry's proposed series in favor of the short-lived Planet of the Apes
, which also involved time travel and a post-apocalyptic society.
.
Following this trio of productions, the Dylan Hunt concept itself went into suspended animation, to be awakened by Roddenberry's widow, Majel Barrett Roddenberry
, this time with great success, a quarter of a century later.
of the starship
, Andromeda Ascendant
. In this series he is played by Kevin Sorbo
.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
s created for television by Gene Roddenberry
Gene Roddenberry
Eugene Wesley "Gene" Roddenberry was an American television screenwriter, producer and futurist, best known for creating the American science fiction series Star Trek. Born in El Paso, Texas, Roddenberry grew up in Los Angeles, California where his father worked as a police officer...
.
Both characters are men who unwittingly move forward in time by hundreds of years, finding themselves trapped in a post-apocalyptic "Dark Age". Each either begins or joins a crusade by a small force of explorer/adventurers to restore civilization.
Genesis II and its sequels
The first Gene Roddenberry projects to feature Dylan Hunt appeared in the 1970s.Genesis II
In the 1973 made-for-TV film Genesis II, which introduced the character and was intended as a pilot for a potential series, Hunt was played by Alex CordAlex Cord
Alex Cord is an American actor who is perhaps best known for portraying the role of Archangel on the television series Airwolf.-Biography:...
. Hunt was a NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
scientist who became trapped in suspended animation
Suspended animation
Suspended animation is the slowing of life processes by external means without termination. Breathing, heartbeat, and other involuntary functions may still occur, but they can only be detected by artificial means. Extreme cold can be used to precipitate the slowing of an individual's functions; use...
in 1979, only to awaken 154 years later. CBS, the network that aired Genesis II, rejected Roddenberry's proposed series in favor of the short-lived Planet of the Apes
Planet of the Apes (TV series)
Planet of the Apes was a short-lived American science fiction television series that aired on Friday evenings at 8:00 PM Eastern/7:00 PM Central on CBS in 1974. The series starred Roddy McDowall, Ron Harper, and James Naughton, Mark Lenard and Booth Colman...
, which also involved time travel and a post-apocalyptic society.
Planet Earth
Because CBS did not pick up "Genesis II", Roddenbery pitched the same idea to ABC. In the 1974 ABC aired Planet Earth, a reworked sequel and second pilot as a TV movie. This time, the Hunt character was played by John SaxonJohn Saxon (actor)
John Saxon is an American actor who has worked on over 200 projects during the span of sixty years. Saxon is most known for his work in horror films such as A Nightmare on Elm Street and Black Christmas, both of which feature Saxon as a policeman in search of the killer...
.
Strange New World
In 1975, Saxon starred in a third project entitled Strange New World, again aired on ABC. While this production was loosely based on Roddenberry's Dylan Hunt premise, Roddenberry himself chose not to participate. Saxon's character was named Captain Anthony Vico, but the movie shared the same "time travel to a Dark Age" premise of Genesis II and Planet Earth.Following this trio of productions, the Dylan Hunt concept itself went into suspended animation, to be awakened by Roddenberry's widow, Majel Barrett Roddenberry
Majel Barrett
Majel Barrett-Roddenberry was an American actress and producer. She is perhaps best known for her role as Nurse Christine Chapel in the original Star Trek series, Lwaxana Troi on Star Trek: The Next Generation, and for being the voice of most onboard computer interfaces throughout the series...
, this time with great success, a quarter of a century later.
Andromeda
The most completely developed incarnation of Hunt is also the most recent. In the television series Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda, he is the captainCaptain (nautical)
A sea captain is a licensed mariner in ultimate command of the vessel. The captain is responsible for its safe and efficient operation, including cargo operations, navigation, crew management and ensuring that the vessel complies with local and international laws, as well as company and flag...
of the starship
Starship
A starship or interstellar spacecraft is a theoretical spacecraft designed for traveling between the stars, as opposed to a vehicle designed for orbital spaceflight or interplanetary travel....
, Andromeda Ascendant
Andromeda Ascendant
The Andromeda Ascendant is a fictional starship in the television series Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda.In the series, the ship is said to have begun her life in the Newport News Orbital Shipyards above Earth, where her keel was laid in CY 9768...
. In this series he is played by Kevin Sorbo
Kevin Sorbo
Kevin David Sorbo is an American actor best known for the roles of Hercules in Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, Captain Dylan Hunt in Andromeda and Kull in Kull the Conqueror.-Early life:...
.