'Dollhouse' star joins Sci Fi's 'Riverworld'

Sci Fi -- soon to be SyFy, we guess -- has landed leads for a slew of TV movies that may evolve into new series projects.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Tahmoh Penikett and Laura Vandervoort will play the leads in "Riverworld," while Ryan Carnes will play the lead in "The Phantom."

Penikett ("Battlestar Galactica") and Vandervoort ("Smallville") will play a couple who die on Earth and wake up in a mysterious world peopled by everyone who ever lived. 

The "Riverworld" cast also includes Jeananne Goossen and Mark Deklin, as well as Alan Cumming, who will guest star.

The trade story gives no indications on the contingencies for "Riverworld" going to series, though obviously a big one would hinge on the renewal of Penikett's FOX drama "Dollhouse."

"The Phantom" comes from the iconic costumed hero comic and will feature Carnes ("Desperate Housewives") as the masked crimefighter. Isabella Rossellini will guest in the telefilm as the evil Lithia, with Cameron Goodman and Sandrine Holt co-starring.

"Riverworld" and "Phantom" have both begun production and will air next year as four-hour telefilms on what will then be SyFy.

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