The pilot episode for Star-crossed, a new CW show, is slated for a February 17 air date.
The show follows the struggle between humans and an alien species called the Atrians who crash-landed on Earth.
The series focuses on Roman, an Atrian who was six when they crash-landed, and Emery, a human who was also six when it happened. Emery helped Roman live in the shed behind her house for a while, before he was caught by authorities.
Over a decade the Atrians are interned in a heailvy guarded camp known as the Sector to keep them separate from humans, but for the first time a group of Atrian teens will attend a high school with the goal of testing human-alien integration. The class includes Roman, who is placed in the class with Emery.
“Their childhood bond is quickly rekindled – in a school and a society that distrusts everything about the Atrians, Emery and Roman have found each other again,” the official description says. “However, their relationship is threatened by the small-mindedness of their respective communities and the political agendas of people in power. While the world around them rages with anger and prejudice, their bond becomes increasingly strong and increasingly dangerous. As an epic Romeo and Juliet romance unfolds, a violent encounter between Roman’s father and Emery’s father occurs in the Sector. Can Roman and Emery’s love – and peace between the species – survive?”
Producers and cast members emphasized at a recent panel that the series isn’t just a love story.
Josh Applebaum, one of the executive producers, said that he likes the show because “on the face of it it seems like one thing, but it’s quickly obvious that the show is more than a teen romance,” reported Deadline.
He added that the show contains “sci-fi stuff in a big way,” and that the show explores the differences between humans and aliens in a way that refers to racism.
“No shows are doing that on television,” he added.
