Starhunter
23rd-century bounty hunters aboard a faded luxury-liner called the Tulip.
Starhunter (retitled Starhunter 2300 for its second season) is a Canadian science fiction television series that aired for two seasons. It follows a crew of 23rd-century bounty hunters aboard a refitted luxury-liner, the Tulip, and is notable for its production across multiple countries and its later reworking as Starhunter: ReduX.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Science fiction
- Runtime
- approx. 47 minutes
- Creator
- G. Philip Jackson / Daniel D'or / Nelu Ghiran
- Producer
- G. Philip Jackson / Daniel D'or / George Campana / Alain Bordiac / Demerise Lafleur / Stephan Jonas
- Executive Producer
- Elaine Scott
- Starring
- Michael Paré / Tanya Allen / Claudette Roche
- Country
- Canada
- Network
- The Movie Network
- First Aired
- 2000-11-01
- Last Aired
- 2004-04-03
- Num Seasons
- 2
- Num Episodes
- 44
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The series was produced by The Danforth Studios in association with Alliance Atlantis, with photography in the United Kingdom. Co-producers included Grosvenor Park Productions UK and Le Sabre (affiliate of Canal+), with major unofficial German participation by Das Werk. The first season was nominated by the Directors Guild of Canada for Best Production Design and for a Spaceys Award by Space: The Imagination Station. Special effects for season one were handled by Das Werk; for season two, by Optix Digital Pictures in Toronto. Music for the opening credits was composed by Donald Quan (season one) and Peter Gabriel (season two).
The plot follows Dante Montana (Paré), a bounty hunter searching for his abducted son Travis, aided by his niece Percy and security officer Lucrecia Scott, who secretly works for an organization called The Orchard. In season two, the show was restructured: fifteen years have passed, Percy emerges unaged from hyperspace, and the crew includes Travis Montana, Marcus Fagen, and Callista Larkadia. The series was cancelled after season two despite pre-orders for a third season, ending on a cliffhanger with the Tulip trapped in hyperspace.
Reader's Guide
Starhunter is significant for its multinational production and for the unusual restructuring between seasons, which replaced most of the original cast and retconned the storyline. The series was cancelled after season two despite pre-orders from US, European, Canadian, and Pacific Rim broadcasters for a third season. In 2014, Starfield Indie acquired rights to produce a third season of 22 episodes, with a 'best guess' production start of February 2015, aiming to bring back most season one and two regulars including Michael Paré. In 2018, Starhunter: ReduX premiered on El Rey Network, an updated version with new special effects, 4K transfer, and newly shot footage that restored elements closer to the creators' original vision, including Michael Paré in second-season footage. A further updated version was released on Amazon Prime around July 25, 2021, with physical media release three months later. The series has had scattered availability on Joost and Netflix, and home releases on DVD from Echo Bridge Home Entertainment.
Did You Know?
- The ship's nickname 'Tulip' comes from faded paint on the hull that left only some letters of 'Trans-Utopia Cruiseship HHS' readable.
- The second season's theme song 'Darker Star' is an instrumental version of Peter Gabriel's song 'Darkness' from his 2002 album Up.
- In the season two finale, the Tulip is trapped in hyperspace and the show cuts to black as the crew's countdown reaches zero.
- Starhunter: ReduX used CGI and green-screen to insert Michael Paré into second-season episodes where he did not originally appear.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Starhunter?
Starhunter is a Canadian science-fiction television series that followed a crew of 23rd-century bounty hunters. It ran for two seasons, with the second season rebadged as Starhunter 2300.
What is the premise and setting of Starhunter?
The story centers on a group of bounty hunters who operate out of the Tulip, a once-luxurious liner that has been refitted for their line of work. They travel the stars tracking down targets in the 23rd century.
Who are the main cast members of Starhunter?
Season one starred Michael Paré, Tanya Allen, Claudette Roche, Murray Melvin, and Stephen Marcus. Season two brought in Clive Robertson, Dawn Stern, and Paul Fox, with Tanya Allen and Stephen Marcus returning.
When did Starhunter air and how long did it run?
The first season broadcast in Canada from November 2000 to March 2001, while the second season (as Starhunter 2300) aired from August 2003 to April 2004. That leaves a roughly three-year gap between the two runs.
What makes Starhunter notable or unique?
The series was produced across multiple countries, which stood out for a Canadian show of its era. It was also later reworked into a project known as Starhunter: ReduX.
More in Television Series Set in the 23rd Century 1-19
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