Screenplay by Edward Canfor-Dumas, the author of “Sulpervolcano”

Without warning, a comet crashes into Earth’s atmosphere and hits the sea off the coast of Ireland, causing a devastating tsunami.

Two scientists connected to NASA attempt to determine the comet’s origin and how it managed to evade their attention. What they discover is far more sinister than either could ever have imagined - the flaming rock that landed off Ireland’s coast is merely a tiny fragment of a much larger comet that is now heading directly for the Earth. The nightmare scenario that scientists have long predicted is about to become a terrifying reality.

The frightened world awaits the scientists’ conclusive data. Their worst fears are soon realized – the comet will make impact in America’s Northeast with a force equivalent to 6 million Hiroshima Bombs…

Each of the two scientists has a different theory concerning the best way to deal with the approaching comet. The Englishman, Josh Hayden, believes that NASA and the U.S. military should attempt to deflect the comet with a nuclear blast, but he acknowledges the risk involved. The blast could explode the comet into many pieces, resulting in widespread devastation across the planet.

The American, Neil Gant, believes that they must evacuate all those in harm’s way and allow the comet to hit the earth in one piece at the calculated location. It would be the largest evacuation in history, moving 150 million people from the East to the West of America, and no one knows if it can be done.

Also, the massive impact could throw enough “dust” into the atmosphere to result in a globally catastrophic nuclear winter.
Which is the better alternative?
Finally the decision is made to evacuate a large swath of the population from the Northeast, leaving that entire area deserted.

The world fearfully awaits the impact, uncertain of the outcome… then it happens. Smashing through the atmosphere and erupting into a gigantic ball of fire and gas, the comet crashes into the predicted area. The devastation spreads out from the impact zone, first as heat, then as blast waves, traveling at 160 kmh. Everything in its path disintegrates.

Elsewhere, mankind breathes a sigh of relief. No one knows how much dust and debris the comet has thrown into the atmosphere, but for now the world has survived…

Comet Impact
Catastrophe
Movie, 1 x 90'
Directed by Keith Boak
Starring James Wilby, Christian Solimeno, Kirsty Mitchell, Rowena King
Produced by Darlow Smithson Productions for Channel 5, Discovery Channel, Nine Network, France 2 and ProSieben in association with SevenOne International
All rights reserved © SevenOne International - Credits not contractual - Different territories