There will be time-travelling, but not the kind featured in the original film on this supposed "true event."

Syfy is working on its own version of "The Philadelphia Experiment," bringing in "Heroes" and "Star Trek: Generations" actor Malcolm McDowell to try and draw even more fans to the project.

It will be a Saturday "original movie," a popular feature of Syfy that draws typically 2 million viewers or more. The film titles have ranged from the depths of B-Moviedom (like "Sharktopus") to those similar to other movie fans are familiar with ("Almighty Thor," "Battle of Los Angeles").

Using the original story of a project to cloak a warship during World War II (widely believed to be a hoax) as a starting block, this film moves into the 21st century where the military tries to duplicate the original test. However, the test has deadly results -- especially when it brings the ship from the 1943 experiment, the USS Eldridge, to the present.

Although there isn't much story connection to the original film, there is physical connection. Michael Pare, who starred in the 1984 film, returns to take a role in the Syfy movie. Pare will play the bad guy in this film, Hagan, while McDowell will be the scientist who ran the original experiment, hiding from the government.

It also stars "The X-Files" and "V" alum Nicholas Lea as well as "Sanctuary's" Ryan Robbins. Emilie Ullerup, Robbins' co-star on "Sanctuary," will also appear, as will "Flash Gordon" alum Gina Holden.

Production on the film began this week in Vancouver, and is being set for a 2012 release. It is written by Andy Briggs and directed by Paul Ziller. Briggs wrote the television movies "Ghost Town" and "Dark Relic." The latter film was aired as a Syfy Saturday movie, with the title actually chosen during a viewer contest.

Besides his television movies Ziller has directed episodes of "Stargate: Atlantis," "Painkiller Jane," and "Highlander."