Based on the novel and movie of the same name, Time After Time, from executive producer/writer Kevin Williamson (The Following, The Vampire Diaries, Scream franchise, Dawson’s Creek) is a cat-and-mouse adventure through time. When famed science fiction writer H.G. Wells (Freddie Stroma) is transported to modern day Manhattan in pursuit of Jack the Ripper, who happens to be his best friend John Stevenson (Josh Bowman), he finds a world he never thought possible and a strong and determined young woman, named Jane Walker (Genesis Rodriguez), who captivates him.

While at Comic-Con to chat about the new show, executive producers Kevin Williamson and Marcos Siega, along with co-stars Freddie Stroma and Genesis Rodriguez also spoke to press to preview what viewers can expect. During roundtable interviews, they talked about the show’s inspiration, being the ultimate story of good and evil, casting the roles, the cat-and-mouse game, seeing glimpses of the characters in the novels of H.G. Wells, the epic love story, and how these two men are both similar and very different. We’ve compiled a list of 12 things that you should know about Time After Time.

  • The show is a big, fun action-adventure story that is inspired by the book and movie, of the same name. Executive Producer Kevin Williamson had seen the movie, growing up, and it was one of his favorite films of all time. It’s the movie that made him want to be a storyteller, and he wanted to turn it into a TV series. The haven’t started shooting yet, but six scripts have been written so far, and it’s a 12-episode, serialized show.

  • Time After Time is the ultimate story of good and evil. There is comedy and levity in the story, along with twists and turns and thrills. And there is a chase, of sorts, between H.G. Wells and John Stevenson, but you will also see them interact with each other.
  • The casting of H.G. Wells and Jack the Ripper was a big challenge. They had seen Freddie Stroma in UnREAL and thought he embodied the kind of man they were looking for, for H.G. Wells. He stepped into the role and really owned it. And Josh Bowman is a playful devil who had fun with the character of John Stevenson.
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    Image via ABC
    This story takes place prior to when H.G. Wells wrote his novels. In this show, the adventures of H.G. Wells in pursuit of Jack the Ripper is the premise for all of his great science fiction novels. For example, Season 1 will deal with The Island of Dr. Moreau.
  • To prepare for the role, Freddie Stroma has read The Time Machine, The Island of Dr. Moreau and The Invisible Man, and he’s been reading up on H.G. Wells, himself. He also watched the movie that the show is based on. Executive Producer/Pilot Director Marcos Siega chose not to watch the movie, but did watch the trailer and read the book.

  • At its core, the series is an epic love story between H.G. Wells, Jane Walker and John Stevenson. It’s surrounded by thrills and horror, but there will be some love in there. Seeing a woman who’s powerful, strong and kind is definitely something that’s attractive to H.G. Wells, who’s from a time when women were viewed very different than in the modern day. And John Stevenson finds Jane to be challenging in a way that no woman has ever been for him.
  • With the time travel, Jane sees not only an opportunity to help H.G. Wells save the world, but also to fulfill her identity and empower herself.
  • G. Wells has to figure out how to live in the modern world, with all of its cultural and technological differences. Wells might be old-fashioned, but he’s also a gentleman who’s respectful and kind. He’s a good person with a strong moral code that gets tested throughout the show, as he’s pushed by John Stevenson.
  • John Stevenson believes it’s a dog-eat-dog world and that every man is for himself, while H.G. Wells believes in humanity. The two men are best friends, but with such different ideas of the world.
  • Initially, H.G. Wells has no idea that John Stevenson is Jack the Ripper, but they are from the same social status in Victorian England. Both men are academics who find intellectual stimulation in each other. Their relationship becomes a game of one-upmanship that is a big chess match between the characters.
  • The show also explores identity and change. Jack the Ripper killed women in the alley ways of London in 1893. When he travels to the future, he might use it as an opportunity to reinvent himself and expand upon who he is. He gets to explore the idea of whether he could be good, or whether he’s just a psychopath that’s wired wrong.
  • Throughout the season, the mythology will be expanded, as far as who else knows about the time machine and who else out there may want to get their hands on it, for whatever reason.