The pilot episode of The 4400, Viacom Productions' new TV series starring Michael Moriarty, was filmed in Vancouver in March. Moriarty co-stars with Peter Coyote (Sphere) and Joel Gretsch (Taken) in this story about the simultaneous reappearance on Earth of 4,400 UFO abductees. The 4400 is directed by Yves Simoneau (44 Minutes: The North Hollywood Shoot-Out, Nuremberg, Free Money).

We asked Moriarty to discuss his role as abductee Orson Bailey.

"Yes, about Orson Bailey, I can only say the experience was one of the best in 35 years of filming. The producer (Brent Clackson), the director (Yves Simoneau), the screenwriter (Scott Peters) and the entire crew were a delight to work with.

"As for the character I played, it was my first chance at a Jekyll-and-Hyde role. Orson lives a normal, loving life till he's taken off to another space with the rest of the 4400. When he's returned, decades later, there is within him a rage, a wrath which he himself cannot understand because it is so huge. He doesn't want to hurt people, but when they anger him — and they do through some very ugly, almost evil actions — his fury erupts to the point where his nose bleeds, the room shakes, all the glass shatters and, in one case, an entire mansion falls apart when he simply shakes the driveway gates.

"The production people and Yves seem pleased with my performance. My character doesn't die in the film. He ends up in restraints and in a catatonic state. Who knows what's in store for him? I don't think even the writers know at this point. Despite his nightmare, he is to me a very sympathetic man. In my view, he's been injected with God's very justified wrath. Unfortunately, no mortal could possibly endure an anger that profound.

"I had to have a stunt man for the falls I take in the show. They also thought he'd have to do some of the shaking of the gate. Well, they let me at it and I broke the gate. Broke it. They reinforced it. We did a second take and I broke it again. Ahhhhnnnooold? Move over! (laughs)"

The 4400 TV-movie will be broadcast in June on the USA Network, which just green-lighted the production of five new episodes.