''The Invaders'' (or ''The New Invaders'') is a two-part television
miniseries
In the United States, a miniseries or mini-series is a television show or series that tells a story in a predetermined, limited number of episodes. Many miniseries can also be referred to, and shown, as a television film. " Limited series" is ...
revival based on the 1967-68 original series ''
The Invaders''. Directed by
Paul Shapiro, the miniseries was first aired in 1995. Scott Bakula starred as Nolan Wood, who discovers the alien conspiracy, and
Roy Thinnes
Roy Thinnes (; born April 6, 1938) is an American former television and film actor best known for his portrayal of lonely hero David Vincent in the American Broadcasting Company, ABC 1967–68 television series ''The Invaders''.
He starred in th ...
appears very briefly as David Vincent, now an old man handing the burden over to Wood.
Plot
Former Air Force officer Nolan Wood, an inmate in prison for manslaughter charges, meets David Vincent (from the original TV series) while both are in prison. Vincent tells Nolan a fantastic story about the alien conspiracy to control the world. Wood begins to have visions about aliens and UFOs.
Later, Wood (Bakula), now a recently released convict, is taken over by aliens. He thinks he is able to throw off their control with the help of nurse Garza (Peña). In fact the control and Wood's apparent successful resistance and visions are part of a plot by the aliens to kill a Harvard ecologist.
The aliens, which have infiltrated society, plans to cause an ecological disaster to get rid of humanity.
With knowledge of their plot, Wood must save a presidential candidate on a train that is out of control.
Cast
*
Scott Bakula
Scott Stewart Bakula (; born October 9, 1954) is an American actor. He played Sam Beckett on ''Quantum Leap'' – for which he was nominated for four Primetime Emmy Awards and three Golden Globe Awards (winning one) – and Captain Jonathan Arc ...
: Nolan Wood
*
Elizabeth Peña
Elizabeth Maria Peña (September 23, 1959 – October 14, 2014) was an American actress. Her film credits include '' Down and Out in Beverly Hills'' (1986), '' Batteries Not Included'', '' La Bamba'' (both 1987), ''Jacob's Ladder'' (1990) ...
: Ellen Garza
*
Richard Thomas Richard Thomas or Dick Thomas may refer to:
Arts, entertainment and media
* Dick Thomas (singer) (1915–2003), American singing cowboy and actor
* Richard Thomas (actor) (born 1951), American actor
* Richard Thomas (author) (born 1967), America ...
: Jerry Thayer
*
DeLane Matthews
DeLane Matthews (born August 7, 1961) is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Beth Barry in the CBS television sitcom '' Dave's World'' from 1993 to 1997.
Life and career
DeLane Matthews was raised in northern Florida. She m ...
: Amanda Thayer
*
Terence Knox
Terence Knox (born December 16, 1946) is an American film, stage, and television actor. He made his debut in Robert Zemeckis's ''Used Cars'' (1980), and appeared in numerous television series, including lead roles in ''St. Elsewhere'' (1982–84) ...
: Lt. Coyle
*
Raoul Trujillo
Raoul Max Trujillo (born May 8, 1955) is an American actor, dancer, choreographer and theatre director. A former soloist with the Nikolais Dance Theatre, he is the original choreographer and co-director for the American Indian Dance Theatre. Hi ...
: Carlos Suarez
*
Shannon Kenny
Shannon Kenny (born 26 May 1971) is an Australian actress. She is best known for playing Debbie Halliday in the 1980s Australian soap opera ''Sons and Daughters'', and has also appeared in ''Bodily Harm'' in 1995, ''Dream On'' in 1995, ''Sei ...
: Grace
* Mario Yedidia : Kyle Thayer
*
Richard Belzer
Richard Jay Belzer (August 4, 1944 – February 19, 2023) was an American actor, comedian, and author. He was best known for his role as BPD Detective, NYPD Detective/sergeant and investigator John Munch, whom he portrayed for 23 years in the NBC ...
: Randy Stein
*
Roy Thinnes
Roy Thinnes (; born April 6, 1938) is an American former television and film actor best known for his portrayal of lonely hero David Vincent in the American Broadcasting Company, ABC 1967–68 television series ''The Invaders''.
He starred in th ...
: David Vincent
*
Erik King
Erik King (born April 21, 1963) is an American actor, best known for his portrayal of James Doakes, Sergeant James Doakes on Showtime (TV network), Showtime's television series ''Dexter (TV series), Dexter''. He is also known for his roles as M ...
: Doctor Josh Webber
*
Debra Jo Rupp
Debra Jo Rupp (born February 24, 1951) is an American actress. She is best known for her starring role as Kitty Forman in the Fox sitcom ''That '70s Show'' (1998–2006) and its Netflix sequel series ''That '90s Show'' (2023–2024). Rupp also ...
: Rita
*
Todd Susman
Todd Susman (born January 17, 1947) is an American actor.
Early life
A native of St. Louis, Missouri, Susman graduated from Ladue Horton Watkins High School in 1965.
Career
Susman has appeared in over one hundred different television series and ...
: Capt. Johnson
*
Jon Cypher
Jon Cypher (born January 13, 1932) is an American actor and singer. He is best known as playing Chief of Police Fletcher Daniels in '' Hill Street Blues'' throughout the series' run. He is also known for his work in ''Cinderella'', ''As the World ...
: Senator Alex Feinman
*
Channon Roe
James Channon Roe (born October 27, 1969) is an American former actor. He began his film and television career in the mid-1990s. He first appeared on TV series '' My So-Called Life'' as Logan in 1994. Roe began his acting career in independent f ...
: Rudnik
* Jack Kehler : Monck Patterson
*
Jon Polito
Jon Raymond Polito (December 29, 1950 – September 1, 2016) was an American actor. In a film and television career spanning 35 years, he amassed over 220 credits. His television roles included Detective Steve Crosetti in the first two seasons ...
: Whitley
Production
The premise was used as the basis for a four-hour television miniseries on Fox. The miniseries has been released in some countries on home video, edited into a single movie. The first part aired on November 12, 1995; part 2 aired on November 14, 1995 (both in two-hour time slots).
The miniseries was in essence an extended
television pilot
A television pilot (also known as a pilot or a pilot episode and sometimes marketed as a tele-movie) in United Kingdom and United States television, is a standalone episode of a television series that is used to sell a show to a television netwo ...
, and there were plans for Thinnes to be a recurring character, although Bakula's participation was thought to be limited should it have made it to a series.
[Warren, B (January 1996) The Invaders Strike Back, Starlog #222]
Reception
Creature Feature gave the movie 2.5 out of five stars, finding the beginning to be promising but devolving into standard fare.
Notes
In the original broadcast version, the aliens were never shown. They do appear in subsequent airing on SYFY and on the DVD.
References
External links
*
1990s American television miniseries
American science fiction films
1995 American television series debuts
1995 American television series endings
Films set in Los Angeles
Television series reunion films
Films about alien invasions
Television series by Spelling Television
{{1990s-sf-film-stub