Mark your calendar and set your Tivo or VCR: "Manticore" starring Robert Beltran and Chase Masterson premieres Saturday night, November 26 at 9:00 p.m. (8:00 Central) on the Sci-Fi Channel.

Update: "Manticore" will air again this Thursday, December 1, at 9:00 p.m. (8:00 Central), then again on Saturday, January 7. Check your local listings.

Beltran plays an American commando leading a mission in Iraq to rescue a reporter played by Masterson. Instead of running up against terrorists, though, the team encounters a "manticore," a mythological creature that's half-lion, half-dragon. "The deadliest weapon of the ancient world" threatens to wipe out all mankind.

Beltran described the movie during the Las Vegas Star Trek convention in August. "It's kind of a nice little metaphor of what's going on in Iraq right now. So I think you might like it," he said, adding that it was shot in Bulgaria (related story).

To see a trailer for the Sci-Fi Pictures original movie, visit this SciFi.com link.