Netflix casts Rachael Taylor and Robbie Amell as leads in dystopian sci-fi film Arq

By Stephanie Topacio Long January 20, 2016

In its ongoing quest for streaming and content domination, Netflix has now cast the leads in its upcoming dystopian sci-fi film Arq. The streamer-turned-studio has tapped Rachael Taylor and Robbie Amell to star, according to THR. The pair are each known for TV series adapted from comic books — Taylor for Netflix’s own Jessica Jones, and Amell for The CW’s The Flash.

The story arc of Arq centers on a post-apocalyptic future in which the oil supply has run dry and wars have broken out around the world. Details about Taylor’s role haven’t yet been revealed, but Amell will play an engineer who has to protect a technology that could potentially solve the energy problem. However, there’s a big problem: Somehow, the technology has stuck him and his friends in a time loop, so they keep reliving the same day. (Does anyone else think that the premise sounds like a dystopian Groundhog Day?)

Both actors have been busy beyond their superhero series. Amell recently filmed a horror comedy called The Babysitter, and has previously starred in The CW’s The Tomorrow People and two Scooby-Doo films, among other projects. Taylor recently shot the drama Gold with Matthew McConaughey. Her credits include roles in the series 666 Park Avenue and several films in her native Australia.

Arq will be directed by Tony Elliott, who also wrote the script. He comes to the film with a background in sci-fi, having worked on the BBC America series Orphan Black as a story editor and writer. The movie will be produced by Lost City’s Mason Novick and John Finemore as well as XYZ Films’ Kyle Franke and Nick Spicer, in association with MXN Entertainment. James Hoppe will serve as executive producer, and Elizabeth Grave and Michelle Knudsen are set to co-produce.

A release date for the film has not yet been announced.

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Stephanie Topacio Long is a writer and editor whose writing interests range from business to books. She also contributes to…

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