Defying Gravity

Defying Gravity premieres this Sunday night on ABC.

In anticipation of the two-hour pilot, the network has released the following press release:

The Antares crew, a team of eight astronauts, launches into space, embarking on a six-year journey to explore Venus and other planets in the solar system, find their lives and destinies intertwined and carefully directed, not only by Mission Control officials on Earth, but also by an unseen force which is much closer and far more powerful.

In the second hour, some rocky and intriguing developments confront the crew as they learn to adjust to life on board the Antares, as they find that some past choices, combined with an unknown element in the ship's mysterious Storage Pod 4, lead to a complex web of dreams, desires and illusions that result in a life-threatening crisis.

Fresh off a role on season eight of 24, Eyal Podell has landed a role on ABC's summer series, Defying Gravity.

Podell, who starred for three years on The Young and the Restless, will appear on the August 2 premiere as Dr. Evram Mintz.

He spoke to Soap Opera Digest about the unique new drama, which focuses on eight astronauts on a six-year mission across the universe.

"It's from the producers of Grey's Anatomy and Desperate Housewives and is sure to appeal to the soap viewer during prime time," Podell said.

Are you ready for Grey's Anatomy in space?

ABC is hyping its new series, Defying Gravity, as just that, as it features a group of astronauts in compromising positions.

While we've been assured that no zero gravity sex takes place, viewers will need to tune in to the series premiere to make sure. It airs on Sunday night, August 2.

Check out the following promo and decide if this is a show worth checking out or not:

Picture the doctors of Grey's Anatomy.

Replace their scrubs with an astronaut helmet; the operating room with a space station; and - presto! - you've got Defying Gravity!

The series revolves around eight astronauts ,from five countries, that go on a mysterious six-year mission. The 13-episode adventure - which began filming in January in Vancouver - was pitched to ABC as "Grey's Anatomy in space."

And it worked: the network has picked up the show and will likely air it this summer.

"Since we originally pitched [Defying Gravity] to the international marketplace as Grey's Anatomy in space, getting the series on the network that has Grey's and makes the most successful sci-fi show on TV in Lost is a good fit," said David Madden, the executive VP of Canadian network FtvS.

Ron Livingston (pictured) will headline Defying Gravity, along with Laura Harris, Christina Cox, Malik Yoba and Florentine Lahme.