Revival Creators and Star Melanie Scrofano Unpack Jaw-Dropping Series Premiere (EXCLUSIVE)

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For enthusiasts of Tim Seeley’s and Mike Norton’s acclaimed Image Comics series, Revival, there’s much to appreciate in the way series co-creators/showrunners Luke Boyce and Aaron B. Koontz have remained true to the source material while crafting a fresh, new SYFY original television series.

Tonight marks the debut of the “Revival” series, titled “Don’t Tell Dad,” which closely mirrors the initial comic issue. Both manage to establish an engaging high-concept premise brimming with mystery and unexpected turns. The story unfolds in Wausau, Wisconsin, where the comic and television show revolve around a unique event known as “Revival Day.” On this day, individuals who had perished on January 1 miraculously return to life on January 2.

In our inaugural post-analysis for “Revival” on SYFY WIRE, we invited Boyce, Koontz, along with Melanie Scrofano (Dana Cypress), Romy Weltman (Em Cypress), and David James Elliott (Wayne Cypress) to share their early ties to the narrative and highlight some pivotal scenes from the pilot episode.

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TV series creator Luke Boyce on Revival Issue #1: “It’s perfect”

As Boyce and Koontz prepared to script the initial episode of Revival, they were confident they had a solid foundation with the comic. “From the get-go, we decided that Episode 1 should correspond to Issue 1, which is ideal,” Boyce commented. “It’s just so meticulously crafted, so we felt it was essential to follow this pattern.

Compared to the 30-page limit for the first issue of the comic book, a one-hour television drama script offered more room to develop characters and plot. Boyce explained that their task was to maintain the narrative flow from the comic, expand on the characters and setting, and ultimately reach the same climax where Em pleads, “Dana, don’t tell dad!” in the comic issue.

Boyce expressed that the cliffhanger was simply extraordinary. However, it poses a challenge since there are two main characters, Dana and Em. Both are crucial, but their roles need to be slightly diminished for now because the audience doesn’t know much about Em yet, as we’re primarily focusing on getting acquainted with Dana in Episode 1, following our dedicated approach to mirroring the comic.

Melanie Scrofano and Romy Weltman on Revival‘s Cypress sisters: Dana and Em

Previously starring as the cherished protagonist of SYFY’s Wynonna Earp for four seasons, Scrofano is set to reappear on the network following her role as Captain Marie Batel in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2022-23). She shared that she became aware of Revival when former co-executive producer of Earp and current co-executive producer of Revival, Noel Carbone, reached out to her.

She’s the type who casually mentions her ongoing project, like, “Hey, no big deal, I’m working on a show. The team’s fantastic, you should check it out.” As Scrofano elaborated, but what grabbed Scrofano’s attention was that she was the kind of writer who immediately drew Scrofano into the project, which is how she ended up portraying Dana Cypress.

Scrofano initially found the character to be quite disorganized, exclaiming, “Look at her desk! It’s in a terrible state!

She confessed that she disliked this trait of hers since it resonated deeply with her own experiences. ‘Try harder, darling,’ she thought to herself, but at the same time, she appreciated it because it made for an excellent character development. As a single mom, she’s already exceeding expectations just by being a superhero. Any additional feats leave me in awe.

Scrofano was equally captivated by Dana’s fervor and yearning to transcend her humble beginnings. She aspired for greater prospects but found them elusive. Thus, I hold immense respect for the courage it would take to tear oneself away from familiar surroundings, as she endeavored to do, particularly when the tumult of “Revival Day” unfolded in the initial episode.

In the comics, Dana’s younger sister Emily Cypress is portrayed perfectly by Weltman. This character in the show, much like Emily, shares a striking resemblance to her from the comics and, intriguingly, Weltman also maintains an air of mystery in the first episode.

In a truthful manner, upon receiving the script, I immediately resonated with Em. She seemed to embody aspects of myself and those dear to me that I deeply recognize.

David James Elliott on his real life connections to Sheriff Wayne Cypress in Revival

In the role of Wayne Cypress, a stern yet caring father figure and lawman in Cypress, David James Elliott lends his television expertise. Known primarily for his 10-season stint on “JAG,” Revival marks a return to familiar territory for the actor. He expressed being captivated by the compelling narrative that drew him in from the start.

I took an instant liking to Wayne, his gruff demeanor masking a deeper side. Remarkably, there were aspects of his life that mirrored my own experiences. For one, I have children, and I can relate to the feelings of frustration my father would express when I was growing up, working for him at times. It’s intriguing to incorporate those memories into my portrayal of the Dana character.

To put it simply, some of Wayne’s most significant challenges stem from his complex relationships with Dana, who can be obstinate, and Em, who tends to keep to herself. In the initial episode, we witness him engaging in heated arguments with Dana (causing distress for her son and grandson, Cooper), and struggling to connect with college-aged Em.

Elliott described one of the early scenes in the pilot as him wandering around Dana’s house while she was packing up. He admitted feeling frustrated and not wanting her to leave because his only family is passing away, and he’s inadvertently pushing her away due to personal issues that require attention. Overwhelmed by work and strange phone calls, Elliott’s inner turmoil starts to manifest in his external life.

Elliott added, “You know, with two children, things can get quite hectic, but I’ve been through similar situations before. In fact, I grew up with two brothers, so my household was always bustling as well.

Elliott mentioned that they were fortunate enough to have some extra time for rehearsals prior to starting the filming of Revival. He explained, “I believe I arrived a week or so early along with the other actors. We spent time in Aaron and Luke’s office discussing our characters. We shared thoughts with each other, talking about the storyline. This helped us get acquainted, develop chemistry, and understand the dynamics. Additionally, it allowed us to grasp the story deeply and become familiar with one another, which was incredibly beneficial. Everyone was very enthusiastic about it and eager to contribute, ensuring that we could make it a success.

Melanie Scrofano, Romy Weltman, and the Revival creators unpack the trauma of Episode 1’s barn fight

At the outset of the narrative, Boyce and Koontz were particularly eager to depict the thrilling showdown among Arlene Stankiewicz (Nicky Guadagni), Dana, and Em in the barn. This confrontation not only serves as a spine-tingling horror sequence but also functions as a pivotal moment, unveiling Em’s significant secret – her own status as a “Reviver.

Inquired about their method for filming that particular scene, Koontz explained, “On low-budget TV productions, you need grand spectacles as well as intimate moments, which we’ll refer to as our ‘Linklater moments,’ where characters simply converse without much action. In this case, the scene was a major production and we structured our schedule around it.

Upon arriving in St John’s, New Brunswick for our filming, one of the initial locations we sought were barns, as we had planned to center our schedule around them. Director Amanda Row truly brought the barn to life with her exceptional shots and skillful storytelling.

Speaking with awe, Scrofano remarked about Romy, “She exhibited such a tough, impressive demeanor, and the scythe she wielded was enormous – it was truly awe-inspiring!” She chuckled at the scene.

Scrofano admitted with a pause of intensity, “Unfortunately, I took them to the site that day, and it turned out to be a mistake. They still have nightmares from it. At one point, I screamed for Em, and my son is still uncomfortable when I do that, preferring if I could avoid such actions.

Weltman chuckled, “Indeed, that speaks volumes about Mel’s extraordinary talent, as her portrayal was so convincing that the kids were genuinely scared. She’s truly remarkable. To be truthful, I found it effortless to feel enraged at the thought of harming Arlene, and I must admit, my thoughts were, ‘Hands off my sister! Hands off Mel! Hands off Dana, but most certainly, keep your hands off Mel!’ In this regard, it was simple for me to exclaim, ‘Back off!’

To wrap things up, let me add that Mel’s children are quite tough and incredibly cool,” Weltman concluded. “In fact, we all went to watch ‘Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice’, and they showed less fear than I did.

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2025-06-13 06:02