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Painkiller Jane (TV series)

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Painkiller Jane
Created byGil Grant
StarringKristanna Loken
Alaina Huffman
Rob Stewart
Stephen Lobo
Noah Danby
Melanie Papalia
Sean Owen Roberts
Nathaniel Deveaux
ComposersJohn Sereda
Mike Thomas
Country of originCanada
United States
No. of episodes22 (list of episodes)
Production
Running time44 minutes
Original release
NetworkGlobal (Canada)
Sci Fi Channel (USA)
ReleaseApril 13 (2007-04-13) –
September 21, 2007 (2007-09-21)

Painkiller Jane is an American-Canadian science fiction and action television series based on the comic book character of the same name. Airing on the Sci Fi Channel in the US starting April 13, 2007 and Global in Canada, it starred Kristanna Loken as the title character. On August 15, 2007, it was canceled after one season of 22 episodes.[1][2]

Plot

The series stars Loken as Jane Vasco.[3] She begins as a DEA agent, where in the course of her work she encounters Andre McBride (Rob Stewart), who is the leader of a team of agents working for an unspecified government agency. The team is based in a disused subway station named Deckard Street. She is forced to join the team after she probes "too far" into their operations. It is then revealed that the team's mission is to identify and neutralize "neurological aberrants" ("neuros") — human mutants with supernormal mental powers. Dialogue in the pilot states there are dozens of variations, and the reasons neuros use their abilities vary. It is then theorized that the aberrations interfere with the brain's ability to distinguish right from wrong.

During the pilot episode, Vasco discovers that she has superhuman abilities — supernormal regenerative powers bordering on invulnerability. This is realized when she is pushed through a forty story window and falls to her apparent death, only to later revive and recover completely. However, she still feels the pain of her injuries before they heal. The team's doctor, Seth Carpenter, identifies her abilities as not like those of the neuros they track, but "something else".

Cast

  • Kristanna Loken as Jane Vasco – the show's protagonist.
  • Rob Stewart as Andre McBride – the leader of the special team.
  • Stephen Lobo as Dr. Seth Carpenter – a doctor/scientist working with the team.
  • Noah Danby as Connor King – the "muscles" of the team; a field operative with a short fuse.
  • Sean Owen Roberts as Riley Jensen – a computer and communication technology specialist working for the team.
  • Nathaniel Deveaux as Joe Waterman – former subway caretaker working for the team.
  • Alaina Huffman as Maureen Bowers – Jane's best friend and former DEA partner.

Episodes

Main article: List of Painkiller Jane episodes

Production

The TV series received a 22-episode production order after the 2005 Painkiller Jane TV-movie yielded positive results. The film differed significantly from the original comic's storyline; the TV series, in turn, discarded the film's back-story and started afresh. According to story creator Jimmy Palmiotti, the new series was "closer to the original concept we came up with in the comic".[4] Executive producer Gil Grant has said the new series is "partly true" to the original comic, but will still differ to some extent.[5]

The series credits include several people in the role of producer. Most are credited only for a few episodes. This includes Loken (the star), who is credited as co-executive producer for several episodes.[6]

The TV series was filmed at Insight Film Studios in Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada[7] and various locations around the Lower Mainland of British Columbia. The final four episodes were filmed and set in Budapest, Hungary.[8]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Painkiller Jane: Sci-Fi Cancels Kristanna Loken Series". TVSeriesFinale.com. Archived from the original on 2007-09-03. Retrieved 2007-08-15.
  2. ^ Sci Fi sees 'Jane' run out, August 15, 2007, The Hollywood Reporter
  3. ^ In the comic, Jane's last name is "Vasko", but the TV series uses "Vasco".
  4. ^ "SCI FI PICKS UP PAINKILLER JANE AS SERIES". newsarama.com. Retrieved 2006-07-14. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  5. ^ "Executive Producer Grants Talks Painkiller Jane". Comics2Films fan Feed. Retrieved 2007-04-17. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  6. ^ "Full cast and crew for "Painkiller Jane"". IMDB. Retrieved 2007-04-17.
  7. ^ "Insight Film Studio Production Information". Insight Film Website. Retrieved 2007-04-14. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  8. ^ "Kristanna Loken Interview". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved 2007-04-11. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
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