White Dwarf

White Dwarf is a 1995 American science fiction thriller television film directed by Peter Markle and starring Paul Winfield, Neal McDonough, CCH Pounder, Beverley Mitchell, David St. James, Ele Keats, and James Morrison. It was written by Bruce Wagner, who also executive produced with Robert Halmi Sr. and Francis Ford Coppola for RHI Entertainment, Elemental Films, and American Zoetrope. Originally intended as a television pilot, the film first aired on the Fox Network on May 23, 1995. While expected to be well received, the film instead garnered generally negative reception. Negative reception notwithstanding, it received an ASC Award nomination for Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography. Plot In the year 3040, New York medical student Driscoll Rampart (Neal McDonough) is completing his internship on Rusta, a rural planet which due to it being tidally locked to its primary, is divided into contrasting halves of day and night with the halves separated by a wall. The two sides are involved in a civil war: The day side containing a Victorian-styled colony is at odds with the night containing a medieval kingdom. The differences between the two cultures leaves Rampart in a state of wonder. Rampart arrives from Earth for a six-month stint at the Light Side clinic run by Dr. Akada (Paul Winfield). Rampart's ambition is to eventually set up a private practice in Manhattan on Park Avenue. Cast Paul Winfield as Dr. Akada Neal McDonough as Dr. Driscoll Rampart Ele Keats as Ariel CCH Pounder as Nurse Shabana David St. James as King Joist's Royal Guard James Morrison as Peter Katy Boyer as Lady X, Immortal Prisoner Kevin Brophy as Orderly Marsha Dietlein as Emma Michael McGrady as Lieutenant Strake Robert O. Cornthwaite as King Joist of The Dark Side Roy Brocksmith as Guv'ner Twist Thomas F. Duffy as Parasite Man Giuseppe Andrews as Never The Shifter Beverley Mitchell as XuXu, Older Twin Time Winters as The David Chip Heller as Osh, Warden of The Keep John Dennis Johnston as Morgus, Osh's Assistant Gary Watkins as Marshall Bardaker Maggie Baird as Scarred Cultist Ralph Drischell as Dr. Gulpha, King Joist's Advisor Kirk Ward as Samuel Tara Graham as XaXa, Younger Twin Maya McLaughlin as Armanda, Rampart's Late Wife Tycho Thal as Twist's Servant Production Paul Winfield willingly accepted a pay cut to be part of this film. Said Winfield, "I thought it was a (feature film). I'm a real sci-fi nut.