Flash Close to Roots

When Flash Gordon premieres next month on Sci Fi Channel, executive producer Peter Hume plans on making fans of the franchise happy. While the stories will have to be slightly revamped to bring Flash into the modern age, Hume and the writing team plan on keeping the series as true to the original as possible. Mark Stern, Sci Fi Channel's VP of original programming, said "there is definitely a conscious effort on the part of [executive producer] Peter Hume and the writers to be true to the original material. When you tune into the original show, you see the elements you expect to see based on the source material."...
One thing comic fans will surely recognize is Ming, played by John Ralston. He's as ruthless as ever, and this time around the writing team based some elements of his character on Saddam Hussein. According to Stern, this was done to bring Ming to the 21st century as a believable character. "I think the kind of dictator for the modern age is a little more savvy, and a little more about getting the [public relations], putting the right face on everything while he tortures and murders people."
But there is at least one new addition to the storyline: Baylin, an alien bounty hunter from the planet Mongo, stuck on Earth on a long-term assignment. She's sexy, savvy, and if she can't assimilate your culture she'll kick your ass. Karen Cliche was happy to be cast in a part that doesn't already have an image to live up to; with this new character, she can create any type of person she wants. "With my character, there were no expectations," Cliche said. "It was really fun to start with a blank slate and create Baylin with the help of everyone on the whole team. That is the real fun thing, how this alien on Earth, who is used to living her life alone as a warrior, and now has to be familiar with the family element that she now has with these guys."
Other cast members include Eric Johnson as Flash Gordon, Gina Holden as Dale Arden, and Jody Racicot as Dr. Hans Zarkov. The series is currently filming in Canada.