Introduction

Beacon 23 is an American science fiction psychological thriller series created by Zak Penn, based on the short story series of the same name by Hugh Howey.

A man living in the 23rd Century works at a remote “lighthouse” in space that serves as a beacon to help passing ships.

Outline

Beacon 23 follows Aster and Halan (a soldier who appears to have deserted), two people whose fates become entangled after they find themselves trapped together at the end of the known universe. Aster mysteriously finds her way to a lonely beacon keeper, on his lighthouse in the darkest recesses of space. A tense battle of wills unfolds as Halan begins to question whether Aster is friend or foe as her ability to disguise her agenda and motives could make her a formidable opponent.

Cast

• Lena Headey as Aster Calyx
• Stephan James as Halan Kai Nelson
• Natasha Mumba as Harmony
• Wade Bogert-O’Brien as Bart
• Stephen Root as Solomon
• Barbara Hershey as Sophie
• Eric Lange as Milan/Aleph
• Marc Menchaca as Keir
• Jess Salgueiro as Saldana
• Daniel Malik as Finch
• Marnie McPhail as Kanadey
• Carolina Bartczak as Dr. Ree Avalon
• Cyrus Faird as Tech Wrecker
• Tara Rosling as Randall
• Sandrine Holt as Coley
• A.J. Simmons as Farut, Parsim’s father
• Sydney Meyer as Grisha, Parsim’s mother
• Matilda Legault as Parsim
• Ellen Wong as Iris

Production

Development

Initial development of the series was announced in 2018. In March 2021, Lena Headey was named as the series lead. In September 2021, Stephan James was named as the co-star of the series. Prior to the show’s initial broadcast, it was announced that the series would be picked up for a second season. Along with the announcement of the renewal for a second season, it was also reported that season one and two would film back-to-back and that Glen Mazzara and Joy Blake would take over as co-showrunners after season one because of scheduling issues for Zak Penn.

Filming

Principal photography was initially scheduled to begin in Toronto in 2021. After a series of delays, filming finally began on 19 April 2022. The pilot episode was directed by Daniel Percival. Production on the first season finished in November 2022, but the series stayed in production concurrent with the filming of the second season. On 02 July 2023, the author of the adaptation’s source material, Hugh Howey, confirmed that two seasons of the television series had been filmed and that it was in post-production.

Trivia

• The lighthouse picture they often look at when by the beacon is a real picture.
  • It is a picture of the La Jument lighthouse, west from Bretagne, France.
  • It was taken in 1989 by photographer Jean Guichart and the man on the picture is former lighthouse keeper Theodore Malgorne.
  • He had come outside because he had heard the helicopter hovering nearby, but was well aware he should not venture far from the lighthouse entrance, and went swiftly inside as soon as he realised the wave was coming in.

Beacon 23 Series

• Series 01 (2023):
  • Episode 01: Corbenic.
  • Episode 02: Wreckers.
  • Episode 03: Why Can’t We Go On as Three?.
  • Episode 04: God in the Machine.
  • Episode 05: Rocky.
  • Episode 06: Beacon Twenty Three.
  • Episode 07: End Transmission.
  • Episode 08: Adamantine.

• Series 02 (2024):
  • Episode 01: Godspeed.
  • Episode 02: Purgatory.
  • Episode 03: Iris.
  • Episode 04: Berth.
  • Episode 05: Song of Sorrow.
  • Episode 06: Luan Casca.
  • Episode 07: Free.
  • Episode 08: Disintegration.

Production & Filming Details

• Director(s):
  • Daniel Percival … (3 episodes, 2023)
  • Lewin Webb … (3 episodes, 2024)
  • Erskine Forde … (2 episodes, 2023-2024)
  • Oz Scott … (2 episodes, 2023)
  • Greg Beeman … (1 episode, 2023)
  • Tessa Blake … (1 episode, 2023)
• Producer(s):
  • Emily Tempest … co-producer (16 episodes, 2023-2024)
  • Lewin Webb … supervising producer (13 episodes, 2023-2024)
  • Joy Blake … executive producer / executive producer (9 episodes, 2023-2024)
  • Emanuele ‘Manny’ Danelon … producer / producer (9 episodes, 2023-2024)
  • Glen Mazzara … executive producer / executive producer (9 episodes, 2023-2024)
  • Zak Penn … executive producer (8 episodes, 2023)
  • David Fortier … executive producer (8 episodes, 2023)
  • Lena Headey … executive producer (8 episodes, 2023)
  • Stephan James … executive producer (8 episodes, 2023)
  • James Middleton … executive producer (8 episodes, 2023)
  • Nick Nantell … executive producer (8 episodes, 2023)
  • Katie O’Connell … executive producer (8 episodes, 2023)
  • Ivan Schneeberg … executive producer (8 episodes, 2023)
  • Kristie Sills … co-producer (8 episodes, 2023)
  • Tina Thor … executive producer (8 episodes, 2023)
  • Ira Steven Behr … executive producer (7 episodes, 2023)
  • Elisa Ellis … executive producer (7 episodes, 2023)
  • Dagny Looper … supervising producer (7 episodes, 2023)
  • Allison Moore … co-executive producer (7 episodes, 2023)
  • Liz Varner … executive producer (7 episodes, 2023)
  • Daniel Percival … executive producer (3 episodes, 2023)
  • Kosta Orfanidis … co-producer (2 episodes, 2023)
  • Sarah Nolen … supervising producer (1 episode, 2023)
  • Katherine Pope … executive producer (2020) (unknown episodes)
• Writer(s):
  • Hugh Howey … (based on the book by) (8 episodes, 2023)
  • Zak Penn … (created by) (8 episodes, 2023)
  • Zak Penn … (written for television by) (4 episodes, 2023)
  • Richard Kahan … (story editor) (7 episodes, 2023)
  • Richard Kahan … (television story by) (1 episode, 2023)
  • Richard Kahan … (written for television by) (1 episode, 2023)
  • Allison Moore … (written for television by) (3 episodes, 2023)
  • Ira Steven Behr … (teleplay by) (1 episode, 2023)
  • Ira Steven Behr … (television story by) (1 episode, 2023)
  • Ira Steven Behr … (written for television by) (1 episode, 2023)
  • Dagny Looper … (written for television by) (1 episode, 2023)
  • Christina Martin … (executive story editor) (1 episode, 2023)
  • Michael Ouzas … (staff writer) (1 episode, 2023)
  • Matthew Wygodny … (written for television by) (1 episode, 2023)
  • Nate O’Mahoney … (written by) (1 episode)
• Music:
  • William Marriott … (8 episodes, 2023)
• Cinematography:
  • Steve Lawes … (6 episodes, 2023-2024)
  • Cynthia Pusheck … (6 episodes, 2023-2024)
  • Cybel Martin … (3 episodes, 2024)
  • Kevin Jewison … (1 episode, 2023)
• Editor(s):
  • Erin Deck … (7 episodes, 2023)
  • Jonathan Chibnall … (2 episodes, 2023)
  • Hibah Schweitzer … (2 episodes, 2023)
  • Christopher A. Smith … (1 episode, 2024)
• Production:
  • Boat Rocker Studios
  • Peephole Productions
  • Platform One Media
  • Spectrum Originals
  • Studio 8 Television
• Distributor(s):
  • MGM+
• Release Date:
  • Series 01: 12 November 2023 to 17 December 2023.
  • Series 02: 07 April 2024 to 26 May 2024.
• Running Time: 60 minutes.
• Rating: TV-MA.
• Country: US.
• Language: English.

Video Link(s)