SDCC 2025: Revival Creators & Melanie Scrofano Reveal How Lost Inspired the SYFY Horror Series

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Supporters of the Harvey-nominated comic “Revival” by Tim Seeley and Mike Norton got a chance to discover the thoughts of the creators as they witnessed their universe being brought to life in Luke Boyce and Aaron B. Koontz’s original television series adaptation, which airs every Thursday night at 10 p.m. ET on SYFY.

At the “Revival” panel during San Diego Comic-Con 2025, authors Seeley, Norton, Boyce, and Koontz, along with cast members Melanie Scrofano (as Dana Cypress), Romy Weltman (Em Cypress), David James Elliott (Sheriff Wayne Cypress), and Andy McQueen (CDC scientist Ibrahim Ramin) gathered to share their experiences of seeing the comic book adaptation unfold on screen, appreciate Scrofano’s portrayal of Dana, and hint at the upcoming challenges and conflicts in the final three episodes of Season 1.

Creators Seeley & Norton love watching the television version of Wausau

The latest edition of “Revival” comic book was released on stores on April 19, 2017, which means the SYFY’s series adaptation has taken eight years to develop. During a recent panel, Seeley disclosed that Luke Boyce, one of the series co-creators, had been working on adapting it while he and Norton were still producing their Image Comic.

Seeley mentioned that we initially began with Luke before the comic series concluded. However, our intention was simply to survive the comic book. Essentially, our primary focus was on completing the book, and perhaps one day it could become something significant, but realistically, we probably wouldn’t be around by then, he humorously added.

Norton mentioned, “As we were creating it, there was definitely a thought that it could become a TV show. ‘Lost’ served as a significant influence regarding its pacing. However, we wanted to know the conclusion of it,” he humorously commented about the mysterious ending of that sci-fi series.

During that period, Boyce kept bothering both individuals about the identity of Em Cypress’ murderer, long before they themselves had solved the case in their writing.

The moderator inquired whether Seeley or Norton had any essential elements that must be included in the series adaptation, to which Seeley responded by expressing a desire for the Wisconsin accent to be prominently featured, though he chuckled and admitted that others seemed to overlook it.

Koontz realized they needed to travel promptly to New Brunswick, Canada for filming on location, so they chose not to impose the stress of learning a specific accent on their actors.

Boyce explained, “[Tim made a video] showing how my mom speaks on the phone with her Wisconsin accent for everyone to see.

When asked about the experience of seeing the cast portray characters they originally created for a script, Seeley expressed, “I watched the first episode with my family and the character of Wayne bears some resemblance to my father. It was the first time I saw my dad recognize this in David who looks somewhat like him. I felt something like, ‘Oh, no! I shouldn’t have done this!'” he added, reflecting on his father’s emotional realization in real-time. “It’s not exactly how I envisioned it, but their portrayal is superior. It’s like gaining a new perspective on your own world through someone else’s eyes.

Norton concurred, expressing, “Observing these individuals move and speak is quite peculiar. When Tim pens the script, his writing style is incredibly cinematic, making it effortless to understand his perspective. They seem like children to me. However, watching Mel portray Dana is fascinating because each character represents a creation of mine. But as I watch, it’s like, ‘Wow, I wouldn’t have imagined …but adds a layer of humanity that makes the character 100 times more relatable and incredibly cool.’ For instance, David embodies Wayne, but I never considered how intimidating Wayne could potentially be if I encountered him. Yet, he delivers the role with such compassion that I hadn’t considered while sketching, which makes it 100 percent more human.

Melanie Scrofano on why Dana stands out as a special character to play

A well-admired actress, particularly known for her roles on SYFY’s “Wynonna Earp”, Scrofano expressed her fondness for Dana Cypress as she finds her to be remarkably messy and authentic. “She manages many responsibilities but not effortlessly, and I can resonate,” she chuckled. “Moreover, it’s such a unique narrative that no other character I’ve portrayed possesses this distinctive quality within the given setting.

Discussing the latest episode titled “Too Many Secrets”, Scrofano expressed her affection for portraying the tense dynamic between her character and James Elliott’s, representing their on-screen father-daughter relationship.

She remarked, ‘She’s a single mom and her bond with her father is strikingly relatable.’ Last night’s episode was difficult to endure…because I found myself resonating deeply with that complex parent-child relationship, where one must stand firm in their convictions while simultaneously striving for their parents’ approval, as we all yearn for it but not everyone receives it.

She spoke about her co-star, saying, “One unexpected delight about David, which was particularly evident in last night’s episode, is the contrast between his imposing persona – strong, intimidating, and commanding – and the vulnerability he exudes. The depth and sensitivity he brings to his character, Wayne, are truly captivating. Even if one doesn’t necessarily share his views, it’s difficult not to be moved by his dedication. This dynamic between them is fascinating because Dana recognizes his sincerity, although she may not always agree with him.

As a gamer, I chimed in, “Looks like their relationship has some challenging hurdles ahead. They’ve got some major obstacles to clear.

During the discussion, they unveiled a sneak peek of next week’s episode titled “A Rose and a Thorn,” which Koontz hinted as the Jesse Blackdeer flashback episode. He mentioned that this episode is significant for Luke and himself since it has been hinted throughout the entire season. He added, “It includes many flashbacks that will help us understand much of what has occurred so far.

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2025-07-26 00:32