Amazon’s Sci-Fi Series ‘Lightyears’ Starring J.K. Simmons Begins Production [Exclusive]

The high-concept sci-fi series from Legendary Television and Amazon, “Lightyears,” is officially in production now. The filming for the series that stars J.K. Simmons in the lead role started in Chicago, today.

“Lightyears” follows Franklin and Irene York, a couple who years ago discovered a chamber buried in their backyard, which inexplicably leads to a strange, deserted planet. They’ve carefully guarded their secret ever since, but when an enigmatic young man enters their lives, the Yorks’ quiet existence is quickly upended…and the mysterious chamber they thought they knew so well turns out to be much more than they could ever have imagined.

J.K. Simmons plays Franklin in the series opposite Sissy Spacek who is playing Irene York. The series also stars Adam Bartley, Chai Hansen (New Legends Of Monkey), Julieta Zylberberg (The Invisible Look), Rocío Hernández (La caída), and Kiah McKirnan (Mare of Easttown).

Hansen will play Jude, a charming and enigmatic young man who unexpectedly enters the Yorks’ lives, and quickly forms a close bond with Irene.

Zylberberg will portray Stella, a single mother living in rural Argentina, trying to raise her teenage daughter, but also burdened by a dark family secret.

Hernández is Toni, Stella’s daughter, a shy teenager who, wanting more from life, starts to resent her protective and secretive mother.

McKirnan is Denise, the Yorks’ granddaughter, a graduate student haunted by the loss of her father who seeks validation in both overachieving and looking after her grandparents’ needs.

Bartley will play Byron, Franklin and Irene’s neighbor, a local busybody convinced the Yorks are up to something nefarious and who is determined to prove he’s right.

Holden Miller is penning the script and “The Son” writer and “Into the Badlands” producer Daniel C. Connolly has also boarded as showrunner. Argentinian director Juan José Campanella who is best known for directing Oscar winner “The Secret In Their Eyes” and multiple episodes of AMC’s “Halt And Catch Fire” has been tapped to direct and executive produce the first two episodes.

Connolly will also serve as an executive producer, with Miller writing and also co-exec producing. Mosaic’s Jimmy Miller and Sam Hansen are also serving as executive producers.