SYFY has a little something to put in your stocking ahead of the holidays this year, as the network makes the pilot episode of Deadly Class available weeks ahead of its previously announced premiere date. The adaptation of Rick Remender and Wesley Craig’s comic book of the same name has some big names attached, both in front of and behind the camera, as MCU player Benedict Wong takes a central role as Master Lin, while MCU directors Joe and Anthony Russo are onboard as executive producers. The result is a faithful adaptation of the comic, one that is enhanced by a killer ‘80s soundtrack in every episode. 

The pilot was screened earlier this year for attendees at New York Comic Con, which hosted the series’ world premiere. So, while the network’s decision to move up the show’s official premiere (the broadcast premiere is still set for January 16), it’s not as though SYFY is letting the cat out of the bag. Still, the decision points to the network’s flexibility in terms of how it promotes and pushes its original content (the recent binge of Nightflyers, is a good example), focusing increasingly on a multi-platform approach that’s more in tune with how audiences (especially SYFY’s target demographic) consume their television content.

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As such, the early premiere is available to anyone with an internet connection, as curious viewers can watch ‘Reagan Youth’ in all its 53-minute, TV-MA glory on both the SYFY website and the official SYFY app. That way, if you didn’t get to attend NYCC this year, or you need something to eat up an hour of your time ahead of (or during) the holidays, you can get your comic book fix at your leisure. 

Deadly Class is a little different than most other comic book to television translations, in that the guy who wrote the comic book is also the co-showrunner, meaning this adaptation is not only faithful, but also Rick Remender approved. Remender is joined by co-showrunner Miles Orion Feldsott, and together they’ve crafted a dark but lively period drama about outcasts that just happens to be set at a secret school for assassins. 

With a cast that includes the aforementioned Wong, as well as To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before breakout, Lana Condor, newcomer Benjamin Wadsworth, and features an appearance by none other than Henry Rollins, Deadly Class was going to be one of 2019’s must see shows. As it turns out, you can see it in 2018. 

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Deadly Class will have a broadcast premiere on Wednesday, January 16, 2019 on SYFY.