Syfy acquires Primeval: New World
by Doc on Oct.03, 2012, under Television
I just got confirmation that Syfy has acquired Primeval: New World, the Canadian spin-off of Primeval starring Eureka‘s Niall Matter and led by executive producers Martin Wood (Sanctuary, the Stargate TV franchise) and Gillian Horvath (Sanctuary, Flash Gordon).
Air date is to be determined, but will be after the new year.
Updated: more complete information – see the press release below.
Fans of Syfy shows should see plenty of familiar faces – and more faces will be behind the camera. Besides Wood, Horvath and Matter, Amanda Tapping (Stargate SG-1, Sanctuary) and veteran Stargate franchise director/producer Andy Mikita direct episodes, and some of the guest stars include Colin Ferguson (Eureka), Lexa Doig (Stargate SG-1, Andromeda and the upcoming Continuum) and Louis Ferriera (Stargate Universe).
This adds to a growing list of acquired programming, and is the second Canadian production added this season. Other such programs include Continuum, Lost Girl, and Merlin.
NEW YORK – October 3, 2012 – Syfy has acquired Primeval: New World, the next generation of the hit Primeval, from Entertainment One.
Scheduled to premiere on the Channel in 2013, Primeval: New World joins Syfy’s growing roster of popular original acquisitions including Lost Girl, Merlin and the upcoming Sinbad.
The 13-episode series will star Niall Matter (Eureka) Sara Canning (The Vampire Diaries) and Danny Rahim (Young James Herriot) as a team of animal experts and scientists investigating paranormal events, while battling both prehistoric and futuristic creatures.
Amanda Tapping, who starred in the Syfy series Sanctuary, is on board to direct several episodes.
Said Chris Regina, Senior Vice President, Programming, Syfy: “This fast-paced entertaining and smart series will delight fans of the original program as well as introduce new viewers to this fascinating world.”
“We’re thrilled to be continuing our relationship with Syfy in securing another action drama with the network,” said Jon Ferro, Senior Vice President, Program Sales, eOne. “Primeval: New World has a great cast, solid story-telling and state of the art special effects – all the right elements to make it a success that fits right in with Syfy’s stellar line up.”
Based on the original series from Impossible Pictures, Primeval: New World’s creative team is led by Executive Producers Martin Wood (Sanctuary, Stargate: Atlantis) and Gillian Horvath (Sanctuary, Highlander). The spin-off was created by Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens (Star Trek: Enterprise, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Lost World) and will be written by Gillian Horvath, Peter Hume (Charmed, Flash Gordon), Jon Cooksey (The Collector, The Outer Limits), Sarah Dodd (Flashpoint, Arctic Air), Katherine Collins (Endgame), and Judith and Garfield Reeve-Stevens.
Primeval: New World is produced by Omnifilm Entertainment. Executive producers for Omnifilm are Gabriela Schonbach and Michael Chechik. The series is produced and developed in association with Bell Media, German free-to-air broadcaster ProSieben, and UKTV channel Watch, with the participation of the Canadian Media Fund, The Province of British Columbia Film Incentive BC, The Canadian Film & Video Production Tax Credit Program, and British Columbia Film.
Syfy is a media destination for imagination-based entertainment. With year round acclaimed original series, events, blockbuster movies, classic science fiction and fantasy programming, a dynamic Web site (www.Syfy.com), and a portfolio of adjacent business (Syfy Ventures), Syfy is a passport to limitless possibilities. Originally launched in 1992 as SCI FI Channel, and currently in more than 98 million homes, Syfy is a network of NBCUniversal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies. (Syfy. Imagine greater.)
About Entertainment One
Entertainment One Ltd. (LSE:ETO) is a leading international entertainment company that specializes in the acquisition, production and distribution of film and television content. The company’s comprehensive network extends around the globe including Canada, the US, the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Benelux, France, Germany, Scandinavia, South Africa and South Korea. Through established Entertainment and Distribution divisions, the company provides extensive expertise in film distribution, television and music production, family programming and merchandising and licensing. Its current rights library is exploited across all media formats and includes more than 24,000 film and television titles, 2,700 hours of television programming and 45,000 music tracks.
http://www.entertainmentonegroup.com/