ITV Studios Global Entertainment (ITVS GE) has announced that it is to distribute a range of ambitious, quality new scripted series: Texas Rising, Aquarius, The Good Witch and Schitt’s Creek. The news follows the launch of epic TV drama series The Great Fire at MIPTV on April 7.
The Great Fire
Highly-anticipated U.S. drama Texas Rising boasts an all-star cast including Bill Paxton, Brendan Fraser and Ray Liotta, while two-time Golden Globe award-winner David Duchovny stars in tense, new drama series Aquarius. Successful U.S. movie franchise, The Good Witch, set to become a major scripted TV series, joins the slate; and original comedy commission Schitt’s Creek will also join the expanding roster of international scripted programming.
Maria Kyriacou, MD, ITV Studios Global Entertainment, said: “As we launch the epic drama The Great Fire, I am delighted to have secured these further important titles for international distribution. Quality, scripted programming is a key genre for us and to have secured these fantastic titles, which boast multi-award winning on and off-screen talent, is a significant move. They consolidate a great raft of scripted programming and I look forward to launching them to the market in the coming year.”
Kevin Lygo, MD, ITV Studios, said: “The combination of accomplished Hollywood A-listers and first rate, award-winning off-screen talent makes a compelling slate of new, scripted programming for distribution by ITV Studios Global Entertainment. These are fantastic programmes with huge international appeal.”
Texas Rising, co-produced by A+E Studios and ITV Studios America, and produced by Thinkfactory Media, details the Texas Revolution and the rise of the legendary Texas Rangers. Thinkfactory Media’s Leslie Greif, the multi-award winning MD responsible for acclaimed dramaHatfields & McCoys, will be the Executive Producer. Two-time Oscar nominee Roland Joffe will direct.
In 1836, if west of the Mississippi was considered the Wild West, then Texas was hell on earth. Crushed from the outside by Mexican armadas and attacked from within by ferocious Comanche tribes – no one was safe. But this was a time of bravery, a time to die for what you believed in and a time to stand tall against the cruel rule of the Mexican General Santa Anna. From General Sam Houston to rag tag Rangers to the legendary “Yellow Rose of Texas”, this is a story of the human spirit rising in the face of insurmountable odds and claiming a piece of history for all eternity.
The gripping new drama series, Aquarius, set in the late 1960’s, sees David Duchovny star as a Los Angeles police sergeant with a complicated personal life who starts tracking a small-time criminal and budding cult leader seeking out vulnerable women to join his “cause”. The name of that man is Charles Manson. The twists and turns of a complicated undercover operation lead Duchovny’s character and his young partner to the brink of Manson’s crimes that culminate in the infamous Tate-LaBianca murders.
Aquarius is produced by ITV Studios America in association with Marty Adelstein Productions. Writer John McNamara (In Plain Sight, Profit) will executive produce with Duchovny, Marty Adelstein (Prison Break, Last Man Standing), Becky Clements (Just Shoot Me, Last Man Standing) and Melanie Greene.
Catherine Bell’s beloved The Good Witch character, Cassie Nightingale, kept audiences spellbound in one of Hallmark’s most successful movie franchises of all time. The TV movie franchise has had consistently high ratings, and season one of the brand new TV series, a Whizbang production, will begin filming early 2015.
The Good Witch
Cassie is a raven-haired enchantress with a hint of magic who moves into the town of Middleton’s haunted Grey House. She opens the Bell, Book and Candle, a wondrous shop full of unique items. For some, Cassie is a breath of fresh air and a love potion that spreads throughout the town. But before she can truly become part of Middleton, she will need to win over some of the more sceptical neighbours who don’t approve of her unique methods.
Schitt’s Creek is the story of a filthy rich video store magnate gone bust and forced to relocate his family to a crummy little town he once bought as a joke when money was no object. Starring the Emmy award-winning Eugene Levy and Catherine O’Hara, the series is produced by Not A Real Company Productions Inc. and commissioned by CBC. It is created by Eugene Levy and Dan Levy who serve as Executive Producers alongside Fred Levy, Andrew Barnsley and Ben Feigin of Anonymous Content. It begins production this spring.
The Great Fire, inspired by the historical events of 1666, with the decadent backdrop of King Charles II’s court, focuses on the circumstances which led to the catastrophic fire, Thomas Farriner’s family life at the bakery in Pudding Lane and the playboy King’s extravagant lifestyle. The drama, which is based upon existing historical knowledge with fictional stories cleverly interwoven, is written by novelist Tom Bradby, ITVNews’ Political Editor.
