Take Two is an entertaining private investigator procedural with a unique balance of comedy and drama. Sam Swift (Rachel Bilson), the former star of a hit cop series is fresh-out-of-rehab following a bender of epic proportions. Desperate to restart her career, she talks her way into shadowing rough-and-tumble private investigator Eddie Valetik (Eddie Cibrian) as research for a potential comeback role. Though lone wolf Eddie resents the babysitting gig, high-spirited Sam proves herself to be surprisingly valuable, drawing on her acting skills and 200 episodes of playing a detective.

 

In addition to Bilson and Cibrian, the series stars Aliyah O’Brien (Bates Motel), Xavier de Guzman (Designated Survivor) and Alice Lee (Switched at Birth).

 

Director John Terlesky (The Brave, Castle) andcreators Miller and Marlowe have written and will direct the pilot episode setting the tone for the series.

 

Executive producer David Amann, also from Castle, joins forces again with Miller and Marlowe heading an incredibly talented group of writers.

 

Terri Edda Miller and Andrew W. Marlowe commented, "We have brought together an incredibly talented team of cast, writers, directors and crew who we are excited to be working with to create Take Two, along with the support of our partners at Tandem, VOX, France 2 and ABC.”

 

Rola Bauer, Managing Director at STUDIOCANAL TV, added, “Together with Terri and Andrew, we have assembled a strong room of writers, producers, an amazing cast and wonderful designers. Our network partners on both sides of the pond have supported the creative vision for this series and have been a dream team to work with.”

 

Tim Halkin, Managing Director at TANDEM Productions, said, “We couldn’t be prouder of the amazingly talented group of people we have assembled in front of and behind the camera for this fun, new returning series. Couple this with our wonderful network partners and our studio partner, ABCS, we have the makings for a top-quality primetime series with broad appeal.”

 

David Marko, ABC Executive said, “We’re very happy to be working again with Andrew and Terri, and they have written wonderful roles for Rachel and Eddie. It’s been a great experience working with our European partners.” 

 

Hauke Bartel, Head of Fiction at VOX (an RTL Group company), said,

“We’re really excited to have started production on this entertaining, character-based crime procedural and are pleased to be on board with these outstanding creators and showrunners Terri Edda Miller and Andrew Marlowe as well as with our experienced partners at Tandem, ABC and France 2. We have assembled an amazing cast – led by Rachel Bilson and Eddie Cibrian as the engine of the show which will take the viewer on a light-hearted and thrilling journey.”

 

Nathalie Biancolli, Senior VP Acquisitions and Coproductions at France 2 adds, “We are more than happy to be partners on this show with ABC, Vox and Tandem. With the creators and the show-runners, Terri Edda Miller and Andrew Marlowe, we have assembled a fantastic cast. We are really excited to start shooting.”

 

 

For further information, please contact:

 

THE LIPPIN GROUP

Debbie Lawrence

+44 203 008 5406

dlawrence@lippingroup.com

 

VOX
Janine Jannes
+49 (221) 45674410
janine.jannes@mediengruppe-rtl.de

 

Take Two Entertainment

Azuka Stekovics

+49 (174) 18 532 14

azuka@gmx.de

 

STUDIOCANAL TV’s Managing Director Rola Bauer partnered Academy Award-winning producer, writer and director Callie Khouri (Nashville, Thelma & Louise) and Academy Award-winning music producer T Bone Burnett (True Detective, Crazy Heart) with TANDEM’s Managing Director Tim Halkin.

 

Bauer said, “Miami inspired me greatly for Deep City. This new generation has put down roots amid a continually exploding cross section of cultures – American, European, Asian, Russian and of course Latin American. The city politically and socially embodies what is happening in the world around us. Our talented partners were also inspired: from the prolific T Bone, Callie’s strong female voice and Juan Carlos’ vision of Miami, together with STUDIOCANAL’s full studio backing and UMG’s support, we are sure to make Deep City an addictive series that will have huge appeal on the global stage.”

 

The series is created by writer/producer Juan Carlos Coto (From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series, Nikita, 24), who also serves as Executive Producer alongside Callie Khouri, T Bone Burnett, Tim Halkin and Rola Bauer. Deep City will be distributed internationally by STUDIOCANAL.

 

“When people think of Miami, they’re often thinking Miami Beach,” said Coto.  “That’s all good, but we want to explore the other narratives this city has to offer. The way Midtown’s exploded in the last decade – music, art, food, everything – it’s a whole new way for Miami to tell its story all over again.  This is a city that is constantly reinventing itself.”

 

Deep City is a saga about a cross-section of Miami performers, musicians and criminals, and the collision of lives at a crossroads, a city where people come to find themselves, reinvent themselves - or escape. It’s about the dreams we make for ourselves and the dreams we share – they come in all shapes, sizes and colors, but in Deep City these dreams have one thing in common: they’re big.

 

“Put simply, this is a show about the new American dream,” said Coto, who is a University of Miami graduate and former Miami Herald staffer. “And it’s a dream project for me. I’ve been writing and producing TV for more than twenty years, and every chance I get, I look to create a show in Miami.”

 

Callie Khouri comments: “The most important issues today are around race and immigration, globalism vs. tribalism. If you had to locate the intersection of those four points on a map, you would be in Miami. Then add music, dance and the city where people come to remake their lives into their version of the American dream, that's our show.”

 

“I love digging into the rich history of Miami music, with its mix of Rhythm and Blues, Afro-Caribbean and South American vibes,” said T Bone Burnett. “I love the sound of the place and the colors of the place. It is a world intersection. A profound border town.”

 

Tim Halkin, Managing Director/Partner at TANDEM Productions, adds, “We are thrilled to partner on this series with the immensely talented Callie and T Bone, who are fusing their very special gifts with Juan Carlos’ expert storytelling, under the auspices of TANDEM’s significant experience in big international co-productions.”

 

ABOUT TANDEM PRODUCTIONS

 

Since opening its doors in 1999, TANDEM has established itself as a leading provider of quality drama television productions that have garnered nominations and awards such as Golden Globes^® and Emmys^®.

 

The beginning of 2012 marked a new chapter in TANDEM’s history with STUDIOCANAL taking a majority stake in the company. This enabled TANDEM to strengthen its one-hour series strategy, leading to TANDEM’s production of the one-hour procedural crime series, Crossing Lines and one-hour drama series, Spotless, a CANAL+ Création Originale.

 

TANDEM develops, finances and produces primetime programs for the worldwide market, exclusively distributed by STUDIOCANAL. Emmy^® & Gemini Award-winning and Golden Globe^®-nominated, The Pillars of the Earth and World Without End, adapted from the novels of internationally bestselling author Ken Follett, are just two examples of TANDEM’s award-winning and critically acclaimed productions. Current key development projects at the company include Brazza, a series that TANDEM is joining forces with Idris Elba’s production company, Green Door Pictures and with Havas Media’s Save Ferris Entertainment, as well as Take Two, a two-hander procedural P.I. series created by Andrew Marlowe and Terri Edda Miller.

 

TANDEM Productions based in Munich, Germany, was founded by Rola Bauer and Tim Halkin, both company Partners. Jonas Bauer became a partner in the company in 2007. 

 

ABOUT STUDIOCANAL

 

STUDIOCANAL is Europe’s leader in production, rights acquisition, distribution and international sales of feature films and TV series.

 

Operating directly in all three major European markets, France, the United Kingdom and Germany, as well as in Australia and New Zealand, STUDIOCANAL has fully-financed recent box office hits such as Paddington, Shaun the Sheep and Non-Stop. Upcoming films backed by STUDIOCANAL include The Commuter featuring Liam Neeson, and Nick Park's stop-motion movie Early Man, with Aardman Studios.

 

STUDIOCANAL is actively developing and distributing high-end TV series through its growing network of award-winning subsidiary production companies including TANDEM Productions in Germany (Crossing Lines, Spotless) and the UK's RED Production Company (The Five, Happy Valley).

 

STUDIOCANAL offers a full studio service including co-production strategy, business affairs, finance and worldwide sales to support its production companies across the global market.

 

STUDIOCANAL is also partnered with SAM Productions (Below The Surface, Rides Upon The Storm), a Danish company founded by Søren Sveistrup (The Killing), Adam Price (Borgen), and Meta Louise Foldager Sørensen (A Royal Affair). The UK based GUILTY PARTY PICTURES, an associate partner of STUDIOCANAL, is run by the producer Spencer Millman, (Harry Hill's TV Burp), and the actors and writers Simon Bird (The Inbetweeners) and Jonny Sweet (Chickens). FINAL TWIST is an independent production company launched by the international bestselling author Harlan Coben in partnership with RED's Nicola Shindler.

 

Most recently, STUDIOCANAL announced investments in Benedict Cumberbatch's UK production company, SUNNYMARCH TV, the Madrid-based BAMBÚ PRODUCCIONES (Grand Hotel, Velvet), and the UK's URBAN MYTH FILMS (Crazyhead), founded by Johnny Capps and Julian Murphy (Merlin) and Howard Overman (Misfits).

 

Additionally, STUDIOCANAL owns one of the most important film libraries in the world, boasting thousands of international titles. 

 

STUDIOCANAL's parent company, CANAL+ Group, is fully-owned by Vivendi, a global media and content production and distribution group.

 

For further information, please contact:

 

Isabelle Fedyk

+49 (89) 96 22 83 24

isabelle.fedyk@studiocanaltv.com

 

 

BRAZZA is set in the capital city of the Congo, where one family’s bloody feud threatens the country’s uneasy truce. Guns and lives are cheap but some people are prepared to fight for what is right. Straddling Congo, Kinshasa and Paris, this gritty, fast-paced drama explores the vivid culture and dark underworld of Brazzaville, where people know ‘Peace Brings Life’, but not everybody is prepared to make the right choice between good and evil.

 

In a co-production deal orchestrated by STUDIOCANAL Executive Rola Bauer, BRAZZA will be produced by TANDEM Productions, in coproduction with SAVE FERRIS Entertainment and in association with Green Door Pictures. The one-hour drama series will be distributed internationally by STUDIOCANAL.

 

Leading writer Paul Viragh is attached to the project. Viragh is an actor, writer and director. His first feature film Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll starred Andy Serkis, Naomi Harris, and Olivia Williams and received seven award nominations, including two BAFTAs. Other work includes crime thriller Ashes starring Ray Winstone and Jim Sturgess, and The Face of an Angel directed by Michael Winterbottom.

 

Rola Bauer comments, “BRAZZA will be a visceral series exploring one family’s feud across Africa and Europe. Idris’ lens into this narrative is quite inspirational and as Africa awakens, marching boldly into the first world, we could not have asked for better partners in Idris and his team, as well as our cousins at SAVE FERRIS/Havas Productions. Paul Viragh’s talent to create compelling characters with strong emotional journeys will ground this story in the here and now.”

 

Idris Elba adds, “I am so proud to be working on this African set drama and to introduce a global audience to a world and culture that resonates so vibrantly with me. We at Green Door are thoroughly enjoying our journey with STUDIOCANAL, TANDEM and SAVE FERRIS and are very excited for the future.”

 

Together with executive producers Rola Bauer, Tim Halkin, Jean-Charles Felli and Christophe Tomas, Idris Elba (Beasts of No Nation, Luther and the upcoming Dark Tower) will executive produce along with his development team at Green Door.

 

ABOUT TANDEM PRODUCTIONS

 

Since opening its doors in 1999, TANDEM has established itself as a leading provider of quality drama television productions that have garnered nominations and awards such as Golden Globes^® and Emmys^®.

 

The end of 2011 marked a new chapter in TANDEM’s history with STUDIOCANAL taking a majority stake in the company. This enabled TANDEM to strengthen its one-hour series strategy, leading to TANDEM’s production of the one-hour procedural crime series, Crossing Lines, which wrapped production on its third season and is currently rolling out launches in territories worldwide. TANDEM’s one-hour drama series, Spotless, a CANAL+ Création Originale, premiered on NBCUniversal Cable’s Esquire Network in the U.S last fall.

 

TANDEM develops, finances and produces primetime programs for the worldwide market, exclusively distributed by STUDIOCANAL. Emmy^® & Gemini Award-winning and Golden Globe^®-nominated, The Pillars of the Earth and World Without End, adapted from the novels of internationally bestselling author Ken Follett, are just two examples of TANDEM’s award-winning and critically acclaimed productions. TANDEM has optioned Follett’s Code to Zero, marking their third collaboration with the author.

 

TANDEM Productions based in Munich, Germany, was founded by CEO Rola Bauer and COO Tim Halkin, both company Partners. Jonas Bauer became a partner in the company in 2007. 

 

ABOUT SAVE FERRIS ENTERTAINMENT

 

Paris based SAVE FERRIS is a leading player in the new generation of creative fiction across Film, TV, and Digital content. 

 

Kaira Shopping, its cult web series for CANAL+, totalled 20 million views. Soon followed up by Dans La Bouche for Le Supplement, and CanalPlay’s first digital series: FRAT. SAVE FERRIS’s three new English-language digital series co-produced with Vivendi: BRUTAL, SURF THERAPY, and DEEP, will be available on the Studio+ mobile app, launched in over 20 countries in november 2016.

 

SAVE FERRIS had a great debut in film by partnering with key players like Thomas Langmann (2012 Oscar winning producer for THE ARTIST), Gaumont, Orange Studio, TF1 Films and Mars Films. SAVE FERRIS has two feature films to its credit: LES KAIRA (over a million theatre viewers & most profitable French movie for 2012) & LES FRANCIS, in 2014.

 

ABOUT GREEN DOOR PICTURES

 

Idris Elba established Green Door Pictures in 2013 to create programming and projects, which reflect his passion as well as the values close to his heart. Green Door champions diversity of thought and ideas and invests in young and upcoming talent, as well as established artists.  Green Door produces work that is innovative, entertaining, thought-provoking, and appeals to a broad audience. 

 

The slate covers scripted and non-scripted projects across Film and Television, extending also into Online, Theatre and Children’s, and work with broadcasters and other partners both here in the UK and internationally.

 

ABOUT STUDIOCANAL

 

STUDIOCANAL is Europe’s leader in production, rights acquisition, distribution and international sales of feature films and TV series.

 

Operating directly in all three major European markets, France, the United Kingdom and Germany, as well as in Australia and New Zealand, STUDIOCANAL has fully-financed recent box office hits such as Paddington, Shaun the Sheep and Non-Stop. Upcoming films backed by STUDIOCANAL include The Commuter featuring Liam Neeson, and Nick Park's stop-motion movie Early Man, with Aardman Studios.

 

STUDIOCANAL is actively developing and distributing high-end TV series through its growing network of award-winning subsidiary production companies including TANDEM Productions in Germany (Crossing Lines, Spotless) and the UK's RED Production Company (The Five, Happy Valley). STUDIOCANAL offers a full studio service including co-production strategy, business affairs, finance and worldwide sales to support its production companies across the global market.

 

STUDIOCANAL is also partnered with SAM Productions (Below The Surface, Rides Upon The Storm), a Danish company founded by Søren Sveistrup (The Killing), Adam Price (Borgen), and Meta Louise Foldager Sørensen (A Royal Affair). The UK based GUILTY PARTY PICTURES, an associate partner of STUDIOCANAL, is run by the producer Spencer Millman, (Harry Hill's TV Burp), and the actors and writers Simon Bird (The Inbetweeners) and Jonny Sweet (Chickens). FINAL TWIST is an independent production company launched by the international bestselling author Harlan Coben in partnership with RED's Nicola Shindler.

 

Most recently, STUDIOCANAL announced investments in Benedict Cumberbatch's UK production company, SUNNYMARCH TV, the Madrid-based BAMBÚ PRODUCCIONES (Grand Hotel, Velvet), and the UK's URBAN MYTH FILMS (Crazyhead), founded by Johnny Capps and Julian Murphy (Merlin) and Howard Overman (Misfits).

 

Additionally, STUDIOCANAL owns one of the most important film libraries in the world, with more than 5,000 international titles.

 

STUDIOCANAL's parent company, CANAL+ Group, is fully-owned by Vivendi, a global media and content production and distribution group.

 

 

KEN FOLLETT’S CODE TO ZERO will be the third collaboration between Ken Follett and TANDEM, following the successful Emmy^®-winning and Golden Globe^®-nominated, The Pillars of the Earth, starring Eddie Redmayne, Ian McShane and Donald Sutherland; and the Emmy^®-winning, World Without End, starring Cynthia Nixon, Charlotte Riley and Miranda Richardson.

 

“I’m very pleased to have TANDEM Productions adapting another of my books for television after the wonderful job they did with The Pillars of the Earth and World Without End,” said bestselling author, Ken Follett. “Jayson Rothwell’s modernization of CODE TO ZERO makes my story even more relevant for our world as it is today, while at the same time protecting my characters and the essence of the story. I am certain that this series will resonate for audiences around the world and that my readers will love this adaptation.”

 

“We are thrilled to have Jayson onboard. Ken's story has touched him in a very personal way and we see that in his work,” added Tim Halkin, Managing Director TANDEM Productions. “Jayson has truly embraced the creative support from our team, Gina Marcheschi, TANDEM’s EVP of Development, and our Executive Producer, Jim Gillespie, who had the idea to bring Ken Follett’s wonderful book into the present day."

 

Ken Follett is one of the world’s best-loved novelists. He burst into the book world in 1978 with Eye of the Needle, a taut and original thriller with a memorable female character in the central role. The book won the Edgar award and became an outstanding film starring Kate Nelligan and Donald Sutherland.

 

ABOUT KEN FOLLETT’S CODE TO ZERO

A modern day adapation of Ken Follett’s classic novel: Running on two separate, but converging time-lines, KEN FOLLETT’S CODE TO ZERO follows our hero Luke on his race-against-the-clock mission to regain his memory and stop what would be the most devastating global catastrophe to date. We will see how his core group of peers, who now hold enough information and power to alter the course of history as we know it, have transformed since the events of 9/11, evolving from optimistic Harvard graduates into cynical pawns in a deadly espionage conspiracy. All the while, Luke – not knowing who he is, where he's from, who’s after him, or why – will have to navigate this minefield of allies and foes, not knowing who he can trust while trying to piece the puzzle back together. Through new alliances and unexpected betrayals, he’ll come to discover that his survival does not rest on who he used to be, but on who he wants to become. And it’s this decision which will secure the fates of everyone he knew…

 

ABOUT TANDEM PRODUCTIONS

Since opening its doors in 1999, TANDEM has established itself as a leading provider of quality drama television productions that have garnered nominations and awards such as Golden Globes^® and Emmys^®. The end of 2011 marked a new chapter in TANDEM’s history with STUDIOCANAL taking a majority stake in the company. This enabled TANDEM to strengthen its one-hour series strategy, leading to TANDEM’s production of the one-hour procedural crime series, Crossing Lines, which wrapped production on its third season and is currently rolling out launches in territories worldwide. TANDEM’s one-hour drama series, Spotless, a CANAL+ Création Originale, premiered on NBCUniversal Cable’s Esquire Network in the U.S last fall. TANDEM develops, finances and produces primetime programs for the worldwide market, exclusively distributed by STUDIOCANAL. Emmy^® & Gemini Award-winning and Golden Globe^®-nominated, The Pillars of the Earth and World Without End, adapted from the novels of internationally bestselling author Ken Follett, are just two examples of TANDEM’s award-winning and critically acclaimed productions. TANDEM has optioned Follett’s Code to Zero, marking their third collaboration with the author. TANDEM Productions based in Munich, Germany, was founded by CEO Rola Bauer and COO Tim Halkin, both company Partners. Jonas Bauer became a partner in the company in 2007. 

 

*       *       *

 

Media Contact:

 

STUDIOCANAL

Isabelle Fedyk

VP Marketing/Press

Tel +49 (89) 96 22 83 24, mobile +49 173 53 13 537

Isabelle.Fedyk@studiocanaltv.com

 

 

 

“Terri and Andrew both have such wonderful voices and together their combined talents are electric,” says Bauer. “We couldn’t be more delighted to be working with them on such a playfully fun new procedural series like TAKE TWO.”

 

”We are thrilled to be partnering with Rola and the innovative group at TANDEM on this exciting new series,” says Terri and Andrew.

 

In TAKE TWO, an L.A. private investigator, Eddie Valetik, looking to drum up business, hires a fresh-out-of rehab, uninsurable actress and former star of a hit cop show, Emma Swift, to appear in his late-night TV ads. To Eddie’s chagrin, there’s a flood of responses… wanting to hire Emma! Spoiled, difficult, but on the verge of eviction, Emma’s more than happy to take on the role of Eddie’s partner, drawing on her acting skills and the numerous plots she’s experienced in her TV series to help solve their cases. Meanwhile, sparks fly between Eddie and Emma, who he must keep on a short leash and out of trouble.

 

In addition to Castle, Marlowe’s work in television and film include the sci-fi thriller, Hollow Man, starring Kevin Bacon and the hit film, Air Force One, starring Harrison Ford. As Executive Producer of Castle, Miller is well-known among the shows fans for scripting many of the series most beloved episodes. Her credits also include writing and directing the award-winning film festival favorites DysEnchanted, starring Alexis Bledel and Jim Belushi, and My Femme Lady.

 

ABOUT MILMAR PICTURES

 

In 2013, Andrew W. Marlowe and Terri Edda Miller partnered to form MilMar Pictures with the goal of bringing imaginative multi-platform storytelling and high-quality production to audiences worldwide.

 

Marlowe is the creator of the hit, ABC Television series CASTLE, serving as its Executive Producer and Showrunner for its first seven seasons. Now in its eighth year, CASTLE has been honored with numerous awards, including four People’s Choice Awards for TV’s Best Crime Drama.

 

Marlowe's film credits include the action blockbuster AIR FORCE ONE, starring Harrison Ford and directed by Wolfgang Petersen; the Arnold Schwarzenegger millennial thriller END OF DAYS; and the sci-fi thriller HOLLOW MAN, directed by Paul Verhoeven and starring Kevin Bacon and Elisabeth Shue.

 

In her 7 seasons as a writer and Executive Producer on CASTLE, Miller was responsible for many of the series key episodes. She was instrumental in spearheading initiatives in non-traditional outlets as a means of enhancing Castle’s narrative outreach, overseeing the creative development of franchise Initiatives for the show and originating an integrated meta in-world digital presence across multiple social media platforms.

 

Miller, an award-winning writer and director of numerous shorts and documentaries, including Sundance favorite Dysenchanted, has developed many feature and television projects with Dreamworks, Disney and ABC, including 'Whit & Wisdom,' 'Game Rules' and her original screenplay ‘Bedwarmer.'

 

Media Contacts:

 

STUDIOCANAL

Isabelle Fedyk

VP Marketing/Press

+49 (89) 96 22 83-24

Isabelle.Fedyk@studiocanaltv.com

 

Mitch Zamarin

Press & PR Manager 

+49 (89) 96 22 83-14

Mitch.Zamarin@studiocanaltv.com

 

 

CODE TO ZERO marks a long, successful collaboration with Follett. TANDEM has produced two Event Series of the author’s bestselling novels of the same title: the Emmy^®-winning and Golden Globe^®-nominated, The Pillars of the Earth, starring Eddie Redmayne, Ian McShane and Donald Sutherland; and the Emmy^®-winning, World Without End, starring Cynthia Nixon, Charlotte Riley and Miranda Richardson.

 

“We have enjoyed a wonderful collaboration with Ken Follett over the years and are thrilled to be working with him again,” says Bauer.  “CODE TO ZERO lends itself beautifully to a present-day thriller that today’s audiences will find thoroughly relevant.”

 

“I am delighted that Tandem Productions will be making a television series of CODE TO ZERO,” says Ken Follett. “We have had a long and successful relationship and I am looking forward to them bringing my book to a new audience in this exciting way.”

 

In this adaptation of CODE TO ZERO, a man awakens to find himself lying on the ground in a railway station, his mind stripped bare of all recollection. He has no idea how he got there; he does not even know his own name. Slowly, he rediscovers his entire life by detective work, uncovering secrets of a conspiracy, set against the battle for global space supremacy between the U.S. and China.

 

Ken Follett is one of the world’s best-loved novelists. He burst into the book world in 1978 with Eye of the Needle, a taut and original thriller with a memorable female character in the central role. The book won the Edgar award and became an outstanding film starring Kate Nelligan and Donald Sutherland.

 

The Pillars of the Earth (also featuring Sutherland), considered to be Follett’s masterpiece, has broken records worldwide, with over 25 million copies sold, including being the best sold book of all time in Spain and voted the 3^rd best book ever written in Germany.

 

Media Contacts:

 

STUDIOCANAL

Isabelle Fedyk

VP Marketing/Press

+49 (89) 96 22 83-24

Isabelle.Fedyk@studiocanaltv.com

 

Mitch Zamarin

Press & PR Manager 

+49 (89) 96 22 83-14

Mitch.Zamarin@studiocanaltv.com

 

 

The 10-episode dark and irreverent drama from TANDEM Productions (a STUDIOCANAL Company) is executive produced by Emmy^® and Golden Globe^®-nominated Rola Bauer (THE PILLARS OF THE EARTH, CROSSING LINES) and is co-created by BAFTA Award-winner Ed McCardie (SHAMELESS) and Academy^® Award-winner Corinne Marrinan (CSI). The series stars Marc-André Grondin (C.R.A.Z.Y.), Denis Ménochet (INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS), Miranda Raison (24: LIVE ANOTHER DAY) and Brendan Coyle (DOWNTON ABBEY). SPOTLESS is slated to premiere this fall.

 

In addition to Bauer, SPOTLESS executive producers include Jonas Bauer (IMPACT, THE COMPANY) and Suzanne Berger (HELL ON WHEELS, MAJORITY RULES). The Production designer is Emmy^® & BAFTA^® Award-winning and three-time Oscar^® nominated, Eve Stewart (THE KING’S SPEECH, LES MISERABLES). SPOTLESS,is a CANAL+ Création Originale, the prestigious production label of CANAL+, France’s major premium cable channel. TANDEM Productions is represented by the William Morris Endeavour Agency. Chris Rice of WME brokered the deal with Esquire.

 

“Continuing our pursuit to offer the highest quality programming, Esquire Network is excited to embark on its first scripted series and to partner with the talented team at TANDEM Productions,” said Matt Hanna, Head of Original Programming, Esquire Network. “SPOTLESS is a genre bending drama offering a tonality that’s unique to the current television landscape. Perfectly on point for our discerning male audience, it promises to take them on a twisted dark ride.” 

 

“Esquire Network is the perfect home for SPOTLESS, a daring, audacious and distinctive new series that belongs with a broadcaster who wants prime content that will resonate with their audience,” says TANDEM PRODUCTIONS CEO / Partner Rola Bauer. “We’re elated they chose SPOTLESS as their first ever scripted drama series and confident that viewers with be seduced, beguiled and entertained by its sheer boldness and creativity.” 

 

“STUDIOCANAL and Esquire Network share a common vision and outlook on SPOTLESS,” says Rodolphe Buet, STUDIOCANAL’s President International Marketing and Distribution. “Esquire Network understands the very singular nature and sensibility of this high quality series, as well as the tastes of their viewers. This was essential for determining the right home for SPOTLESS in the U.S. market. 

 

A sexy and bold one-hour drama laced with dark humor and set in London, SPOTLESS is the story of a troubled man, Jean Bastiere (Grondin) whose life is turned upside down when his outlaw brother, Martin (Ménochet), crash lands into his world. Played out against the backdrop of Jean’s Crime Scene Cleaning business, the brothers must confront dark sins of the past and very real dangers in the present. Ensnared by mob boss Nelson Clay (Coyle), corruption, drugs and death pose a constant hazard. With Jean’s wife Julie (Raison), the entire family struggles to gain control over their lives and future.

 

STUDIOCANAL handles worldwide distribution.

 

For more information contact: 

Isabelle Fedyk, +49 (89) 96 22 83 24, isabelle.fedyk@studiocanaltv.com

Mitch Zamarin, +49 (89) 96 22 83 14, mitch.zamarin@studiocanaltv.com

 

 

The dark and irreverent one-hour drama series peppered with black humor, stars Marc-André Grondin (C.R.A.Z.Y), Denis Ménochet (Inglourious Basterds), Miranda Raison (24: Live Another Day) and Brendan Coyle (Downton Abbey). Spotless is co-created by Ed McCardie (Shameless) and Corinne Marrinan (CSI: Crime Scene Investigation).

 

Among the many notable publications expressing high praise for SPOTLESS: 

 

"Spotless gives you drops of tenderness, leaves a smile on your face, and a feel good sensation... a complete success... carried by excellent actors"

 - Le Monde

  

"Beware, caustic series...a trip to hell firmly orchestrated with the tripping sound of Timber Timbre... We are delighted with the adventures of these perfect anti-heros..."

 - Le Parisien / Aujourd’hui en France

  

"Addictive series, very well produced… You don’t get bored a single second... Colorful supporting roles, over the top and tasty... Nelson Clay’s [portrayed by Brendan Coyle] henchmen are particularly well executed."

 - Telerama.fr

  

"Perfect mix of gripping thriller and English black humor... Denis Ménochet is impressive as an untamable but lovable thug...Spotless takes the daring challenge to mix different genres..."

 - Allocine.fr

  

"A French-British coproduction of a rare quality, a perfect blend of family drama and black comedy... Subscribers of CANAL+ can delight themselves... the channel has been simmering Spotless... very, very successfully."

 - Le Figaro

  

"Darker than Breaking Bad... Spotless pushes limits even further... stimulating and will sometimes leave the viewer blown away."

 - RTL

  

"Spotless rises with its provocative tone between comedy and thriller... actors beyond any reproach..."

 - 20 minutes

  

"Spotless’ tone is like no other series, irreverent and serious... The acting quality of the completely invested Marc-André Grondin and Denis Ménochet enlighten the scenes..."

 - Sudouest.fr

  

"An impeccable series... beautifully carried by the 2 principal actors... The series weaves with virtuosity between monstrosity and humanity... to be enjoyed without moderation as soon as it debuts."

 - Telecable Sat Hebdo

  

"Marc-André Grondin and Denis Ménochet are excellent."

 - Telestar.fr

 

 

"We had the exciting challenge of finding an idea for a series so audacious and distinctive that it could be a CANAL+ Création Originale,” says Rola Bauer, executive producer and partner, TANDEM Productions. "The kudos from the press is a testament to the brilliant talent we have both in front of and behind the camera."

 

Marc-André Grondin is the recipient of a César Award for his critically acclaimed, break-out performance in the film, The First Day of The Rest of Your Life.   

 

Denis Ménochet is widely recognized for his ground-breaking role in Quentin Tarantino’s international hit film, Inglourious Basterds.

 

Miranda Raison is best known for her role in the long-running hit BBC drama series Spooks.

 

Brendan Coyle has been embraced by audiences worldwide for his work on the international hit series, Downton Abbey.

 

Together with TANDEM’s Emmy^® and Golden Globe^®-nominated executive producers, Jonas Bauer and Rola Bauer (The Pillars of the Earth, Crossing Lines), BAFTA Award-winner Ed McCardie (Shameless) is head writer and co-creator and executive producer; Academy^® Award-winner Corinne Marrinan (CSI: Crime Scene Investigation) is co-creator, writer and co-executive producer of this is a dark, funny, sexy and dangerous 10-hour drama series, shot on location in London.

 

ABOUT THE SERIES

SPOTLESS is a one-hour drama series set in London. It tells the story of a troubled man whose tidy life is turned upside down when his outlaw brother crash lands into his world, and gets both of them fatally involved in organized crime. Jean (Marc-André Grondin) and Martin Bastiere (Denis Ménochet) confront dark sins of the past, and very real dangers in the present – so that they can survive and be free to build a future.

 

The brothers are different – Jean is a conservative and successful French immigrant to London; Martin is a visceral and libidinous wanderer. In truth, they are two sides of the same coin, their lives marked forever by a violent killing in La Vendée 25 years ago.

 

Played out against a backdrop of Jean’s niche Crime Scene Cleaning business, with gangsters, corruption, drugs and death a constant hazard, Jean, Martin and their dysfunctional family struggle to gain control over life, business and their shared destiny.

 

SPOTLESS is original. It is dark, funny, sexy and dangerous. SPOTLESS is the stuff of life and death.

 

Media Contacts:

 

STUDIOCANAL

Isabelle Fedyk

VP Marketing/Press

+49 (89) 96 22 83-24

Isabelle.Fedyk@studiocanaltv.com

 

Mitch Zamarin

Press & PR Manager 

+49 (89) 96 22 83-14

Mitch.Zamarin@studiocanaltv.com

 

 

New series leads, Visnjic, known for his leading role on ER, and Mitchell, the Emmy^® nominated star of the hit series, Lost, join the ensemble cast that includes Golden Globe^® Award-winner Donald Sutherland (The Hunger Games, The Pillars of the Earth) and Tom Wlaschiha (Game of Thrones, Brideshead Revisited). Also returning for season three is Lara Rossi (Life of Crime, Murder: Joint Enterprise). Additional new series regulars for season three: Stuart Martin (Game of Thrones, Babylon), and Naomi Battrick (Waterloo Road, Some Girls). Co-executive producer is Wendy Battles (Unforgettable, The Glades). Producing for Film United in Prague is Rick McCallum, producer of the global blockbuster Star Wars prequels: The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith.

 

CROSSING LINES season three is produced by TANDEM Productions in association with Sony Pictures Television Networks (AXN) and SAT.1 (Germany).  

 

Goran Visnjic first came to international attention upon successfully stepping in for George Clooney, headlining the cast on the hit series, ER.  Most recently, he starred in the TV series, Extant, as well as the critically acclaimed film sensation, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

 

Elizabeth Mitchell’s starring role on the series, Lost, which became a cult favorite, established her appeal with audiences worldwide. Her breakthrough performance was playing opposite Angelina Jolie in the HBO telefilm, Gia. Once Upon a Time and Revolution are among the recent TV series in which she appeared. 

 

“We’re moving into a new era with CROSSING LINES and are elated to have Goran and Elizabeth whose talents will bring a freshness to the new season’s storylines,” says Bauer. “Frank is a such a respected and sought after creative executive – what an honor to welcome someone of his caliber to reinvigorate CROSSING LINES Season Three. This was made possible by the support and belief from our partners, Sony AXN and SAT.1, as well as our shareholders, STUDIOCANAL.”

 

“I am thrilled to be joining the incredible creative team TANDEM has assembled at CROSSING LINES,” says Spotnitz. “There are countless interesting and important stories to be told about crime in Europe, and we have a spectacular cast to take us through them. It’s a really unique opportunity to create some pretty terrific television.”

 

CROSSING LINES returns for an explosive season three, beginning six months after the heart-stopping conclusion of Season Two, in which the cross-border unit’s leader, Louis Daniel, was killed.  After one of his top prosecutors vanishes, Dorn (Sutherland) must reactivate the ICC team. Marco Corazza (Visnjic), Carine Strand (Mitchell), Luke Wilkinson (Martin) and Ellie Delfont-Bogard (Battrick) are new ICC team members joining Sebastian Berger (Wlaschiha) and Arabela Seeger (Rossi). The third season of the series promises to be its most ambitious, with a new emphasis on relevant and contemporary cross-border crime, gut-wrenching character drama, and a reunited team of underdogs struggling to re-establish their battered identity.

 

CROSSING LINES taps into the charter of the International Criminal Court (ICC), to mandate a special crime unit, creating an organization functioning as a European FBI, to investigate serialized crimes that cross over European borders and to hunt down criminals to bring them to justice. The series was originally created by Edward Allen Bernero.

 

Media Contacts:

 

STUDIOCANAL

Isabelle Fedyk

VP Marketing/Press

+49 (89) 96 22 83-24

Isabelle.Fedyk@studiocanaltv.com

 

Mitch Zamarin

Press & PR Manager 

+49 (89) 96 22 83-14

Mitch.Zamarin@studiocanaltv.com

 

 
Full of mystery, suspense and romance, SEX, LIES AND HANDWRITING is a witty new take on the crime series that follows the exploits of "Leslie Bold," an accomplished artist and handwriting expert – with her own newspaper column on the subject – who is unexpectedly drawn into the world of crime-solving because of her extraordinary skills. Inspired by Michelle Dresbold's book of the same title, the drama will be written by co-executive producer Annie Brunner (Against The Wall, Saving Grace). Nancy Miller (Against The Wall, Saving Grace) is onboard as executive producer and showrunner.  In addition to Tandem and Lionsgate principals, Jeff Sagansky (The Private Lives of Pippa Lee), Sunta Izzipuco (The Ron Clark Story) and Chris Barrett are executive producers on the show.

"SEX, LIES AND HANDWRITING with its irresistible lead character, is the perfect series to start this collaboration with Lionsgate. Both companies stand for quality television productions, so we are excited to combine strengths once again. This co-venture will make for an extraordinary creative environment for key talent to work in. We're very pleased to be back in business again with Lionsgate," says Rola Bauer, President/Partner Tandem Communications. 

 

 

 

 
Series is produced in co-production with TF1 Production/TF1 Network and commissioned by Sony Pictures Television Networks.
 
The network will air 10 episodes beginning in summer 2013. Set in exotic locations, Crossing Lines taps into the charter of the International Criminal Court to investigate serialized cross-border crimes and to hunt down global criminals. The series stars William Fichtner, Donald Sutherland, Marc Lavoine, Gabriella Pession, Tom Wlaschiha, Moon Dailly and Richard Flood.
 
“Crossing Lines” was created and developed by Edward Allen Bernero and Tandem president Rola Bauer. Both serve as executive producers.
 
“We’re making scripted projects a priority for our summer lineup, and this is a great fit,” said Robert Greenblatt, Chairman of NBC Entertainment. “The special unit of Crossing Lines brings global criminals to justice with the help of the International Criminal Court. We have every reason to believe that our viewers will enjoy these compelling and well-told stories.”
 
“Fans of procedural crime shows will feel very much at home withCrossing Lines and adopt its team of characters as their new family,” said Bernero, who previously was an executive producer on NBC’s long-running drama “Third Watch.” “I couldn't be more pleased to come home to NBC, which recognized the show's potential.”
 
Added Rola Bauer, who leads Tandem Communications from the company’s home in Munich: “This is Tandem's entry into the one-hour series arena and, with Ed aboard, and with this cast, we feel NBC is the perfect home for our show in the U.S.”
 
Bernero, a former police officer who made his television debut writing for CBS’ cop drama Brooklyn South, is represented by CAA and counseled by Tom Hoberman, who also reps Tandem with Randolph M. Paul.
 
Bernero Productions has developed several projects over its three-year existence across different broadcast and cable networks.
  
Tandem Communications, which focuses on production and worldwide distribution, was formed in 1999 by Rola Bauer and Tim Halkin. In 2007 Jonas Bauer was named partner. Last year STUDIOCANAL took a major stake in the company to strengthen Tandem’s one-hour series strategy.
 
Germany’s SAT.1 and Italian public broadcaster RAI have also acquired the series.

 

 

Creator, Executive Producer and Head Writer, Edward Allen Bernero and TANDEM COMMUNICATIONS Executive Producer Rola Bauer have developed and are now producing this unique action crime series. 

Shooting on location in France and the Czech Republic, the fictional premise of CROSSING LINES taps into the charter of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to mandate a special crime unit to investigate serialized crimes that cross over European borders and to hunt down criminals to bring them to justice… Europe’s FBI is born. 

CROSSING LINES stars William Fichtner (Prison Break, Black Hawk Down, The Lone Ranger), Marc Lavoine (The Good Thief, Le coeur des hommes, Liberté), Gabriella Pession (Wilfred, Rossella, Capri), Tom Wlaschiha (Game of Thrones, Resistance, Brideshead Revisited), Genevieve O'Reilly (Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, MI-5), Richard Flood (Titanic: Blood&Steel, Three Wise Women) and Emmy® and Golden Globe® Award-winner Donald Sutherland (The Hunger Games, The Pillars of the Earth, Path to War).

Setting the tone for the series will be Director Daniel Percival (Strike Back, State Within, Dirty War), who will be directing the first three episodes, and Oscar® nominated Production Designer, Jacques Rouxel (Cyrano de Bergerac, Ca$h). Director of Photography Laurent Bares (Braquo, Hitman), Costume Designer Chattoune Bourrec (Taxi, Doberman), Key Make Up Artist Gabriela Polakova (The Chronicles of Narnia – Prince Caspian, Mission Impossible – Ghost Protocol) and Key Hair Stylist Linda Eisenhamerova (The Illusionist, La vie en rose) add their expertise to the show's great crew.

Producers Moritz Polter (Labyrinth, The Lost Future), Charles Caroll (Criminal Minds, Third Watch), Howard Griffith (Criminal Minds, True Blood) and TF1 Production will be handling the production of the first season. 

Co-writers with Ed Bernero for the first season are Rachel Anthony (Mistresses, Being Human) and Oliver Hein-Macdonald (The Passion of Darkly Noon). 

Casting Directors for CROSSING LINES are Priscilla John in the UK (Captain America: The First Avenger, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End), Jeanie Bacharach in the U.S. (Alphas, Ally McBeal), Sylvie Brochere in France (World Without End, Braquo), Lilia Hartmann Trapani in Italy (Gangs of New York, Eat Pray Love), Nancy Bishop in the Czech Republic (Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, Wanted) and Cornelia von Braun in Germany (World Without End, The Pillars of the Earth).

“Crossing Lines marks TANDEM’s entry into the 1-hour drama series arena with the brilliantly talented series veteran Ed Bernero. Working together with Ed and our stellar international cast is a privilege and we know that Crossing Lines will be of the quality and event character that Tandem has always strived for,” says Rola Bauer, President/Partner, TANDEM COMMUNICATIONS.  

“The world keeps getting smaller and crime less containable; it’s time that our criminal story-telling goes global, too,” says Ed Bernero. “I am convinced that an action crime drama in this setting will excite audiences around the world. The structure and pacing will feel familiar and help viewers find their orientation, but the European locations will make it feel fresh and very new.”

TF1 Network’s international co-production Fiction strategy is quarterbacked and lead by Sophie Leveaux, Head of International Coproduction and Acquisitions.
 
“Nothing could demonstrate our new strategy better than co-producing Crossing Lines,” says Sophie Leveaux. “It shows the level of quality and international standards that will set the pace for our future activities; working with Ed and TANDEM, we have partners who have proven track records.”

CROSSING LINES is the latest original co-production from TF1 network and SPT Networks and will air on TF1 in France and on Sony Pictures Television Networks' AXN channels across 81 countries in nine languages.

“Crossing Lines represents a key strategic step in our development of targeted scripted series for our regional channels,” says Marie Jacobson, Executive Vice President, Programming and Production, Networks, Sony Pictures Television. “With Tandem at the head and Ed Bernero and team bringing world-class writing to the table, this is exactly the European co-production we were looking for to kick-start a more aggressive commissioning strategy across our portfolio.”

2012 marks a new chapter in TANDEM’s history with STUDIOCANAL taking a majority stake in the company, effectively making TANDEMthe television production and distribution arm of the European studio. Crossing Lines is the first television series that STUDIOCANAL will deficit finance for TANDEM.

The deal between TANDEM and Bernero Productions was quarterbacked by Tom Hoberman of Hansen, Jacobson, Teller & Hoberman. Ed Bernero is represented by Creative Artists Agency.

 

 

 

 

 

 

WORLD WITHOUT END is an adaptation of Ken Follett’s international best-selling novel set amidst natural disaster, plague and war in 14th century England two hundred years after the construction of the great cathedral in The Pillars of the Earth. WORLD WITHOUT END picks up with a new cast of characters, including Caris, a feisty young woman played by Charlotte Riley (The Duchess, Wuthering Heights), who inspires her medieval town of Kingsbridge to confront the most powerful forces of her time, namely the Church and the Crown, as they fight to save their town from ruin and, ultimately, usher in a new era of freedom, innovation and enlightenment.

As the network showcased its TV About Movies approach with The Kennedys, REELZ’ all-absorbing presentation of WORLD WITHOUT END will take viewers behind the scenes of the spectacular mini-series, into the careers of the cast and creators and deep into the vast world of movies that derive from best-selling books, depict the Middle Ages and explore the timeless intrigue of politics and religion.

WORLD WITHOUT END is a monumental mini-series, told in a way that’s as big as the author himself. “With The Kennedys we conditioned our audience to know that our network is home to the biggest mini-series and WORLD WITHOUT END is exactly that,” said Stan E. Hubbard, CEO of REELZCHANNEL. “We’re proud to take our viewers inside Ken Follett’s intriguing and magnificent world through a story that is cinematic in scope with an award-winning cast, crew and creators.” 

 

“Given their impressive marketing and promotion campaign for The Kennedys, REELZ emerged as an exciting and compelling partner to present WORLD WITHOUT END to the U.S. audience. This project is more than a labor of passion; it was conceived and produced as an eight-hour feature film with a team of talent that possesses the craftsmanship to bring that goal home. We look forward now to partnering with Stan Hubbard and REELZ to go for the gold withWORLD WITHOUT END,” said Rola Bauer, President and Partner of TANDEM COMMUNICATIONS (a STUDIOCANAL company).

 

“Scott Free and Tandem have always strived in our collaborations to create cinema for television. World Without End is, in scope and breadth, a particular achievement, and we’re thrilled to have a partner in REELZ who recognizes that this is anything but standard TV fare,” said Ridley Scott of Scott Free.

WORLD WITHOUT END stars Emmy® and Golden Globe®-winner Cynthia Nixon (Sex and the City, The Big C) as the beautiful and deadly schemer “Petranilla”, two-time Oscar-nominee, Golden Globe and BAFTA-winner Miranda Richardson (Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows, The Young Victoria) as the strong and determined “Mother Cecilia”, Olivier and Tony-nominee Ben Chaplin (The Thin Red Line, Me and Orson Welles) as the mysterious “Sir Thomas Langley”, Oscar-nominee and Golden Globe-winner Peter Firth (MI5, The Hunt for Red October) as the ruthless Earl “Roland”, BAFTA-nominee Charlotte Riley (The Duchess, Wuthering Heights) as the wise and compassionate “Caris”, Rupert Evans (Hellboy, Agora) as the duplicitous “Godwyn”, Nora von Waldstaetten (Carlos, The Countess) as “Gwenda”, the street-wise peasant girl, Oliver Jackson-Cohen (What’s Your Number?, The Raven) as the rough and dangerous “Ralph”, accomplished stage thespian Tom Weston-Jones (the new BBC series Copper, MI5) as the creative and ambitious “Merthin”, Gemini Award-winner and Genie Award-nominee Megan Follows (Heartland, Anne of Green Gables) as “Maud”, a lady fallen from grace, and Genie-nominee Sarah Gadon (in the up-comingCosmopolis with Robert Pattinson, A Dangerous Method) as the attractive and intelligent “Philippa”.
 

Filmed on location in Hungary, Austria and Slovakia with Howard Ellis’ Mid Atlantic Films (The Pillars of the Earth), the eight-hour epic thriller is directed by Michael Caton-Jones (Rob Roy, This Boy’s Life, Shooting Dogs - US title: Beyond the Gates). WORLD WITHOUT END Executive Producers include Ridley Scott (Prometheus), Tony Scott (Unstoppable), Rola Bauer (The Pillars of the Earth), David W. Zucker (The Good Wife), Tim Halkin (Kate Mosse’s Labyrinth), Jonas Bauer (Impact), John Weber (The Borgias), with co-producer Arnie Gelbart (The Blue Butterfly).

The global bestseller WORLD WITHOUT END by Ken Follett has been published in 30 markets and was on the New York Times bestseller list for 26 weeks after the hardcover publication, then again on the list for its paperback edition. It hit the #1 position on the following bestseller lists: The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Entertainment Weekly, Publishers Weekly, Sony e-book, France’s Livres Hebdo, The Globe and Mail in the UK and Germany’s Der Spiegel.
  

ABOUT SCOTT FREE PRODUCTIONS

Scott Free Productions was formed in 1995 and is the film and television production vehicle of acclaimed film directors, brothers Ridley Scott and Tony Scott.  Scott Free Television enjoyed a banner 2011 with the third season of the Emmy, Golden Globe-nominated, Peabody-acclaimed drama, THE GOOD WIFE.  An eight-hour adaptation of Ken Follett’s recent international best-seller, WORLD WITHOUT END, featuring Cynthia Nixon, is now in post-production, while a four-hour adaptation of Robin Cook’s medical thriller, COMA, with Geena Davis, James Woods, Richard Dreyfuss and Ellen Burstyn headlining, is targeted for fall broadcast on A&E.

Additionally, Scott Free has produced six impressive seasons of the CBS crime series, NUMB3RS as well as the 8-hour event drama, “THE PILLARS OF THE EARTH”, a Golden Globe nominee and international smash.  PILLARS is one of the latest in a steady stream of Award-winning longform programs including HBO's INTO THE STORM, sequel to the Emmy-winning telefilm, THE GATHERING STORM, A&E's Emmy-nominated mini-series, Michael Crichton's THE ANDROMEDA STRAIN and TNT's epic six-hour spy thriller, THE COMPANY, a Golden Globe nominee, starring Michael Keaton and Alfred Molina, based on the book by Robert Littell.

In the non-fiction arena, KILLING LINCOLN, a two-hour documentary event for National Geographic Channel was recently announced, while the documentary special, GETTYSBURG, produced for the History Channel, took home four Emmys last year.

Scott Free most recently produced Ridley Scott's highly anticipated return to science fiction, PROMETHEUS. Other films include The Grey, Unstoppable, and the indie films Cyrus and Welcome to the Rileys. With offices in Los Angeles and London, Scott Free works closely with RSA, one of the world largest and most successful commercial production houses in the world.

 

ABOUT TAKE 5 PRODUCTIONS

Toronto-based Take 5 Productions was founded in 2009 to finance and produce high-quality international television, and quickly established itself as an industry leader. Led by CEO John Weber, Take 5 is the follow up venture to Dufferin Gate Productions which was successfully sold in 2007. Over the past fifteen years, Weber and his team have produced, serviced or financed over 100 film and television projects. Within the first twelve months of operation for Take 5, the company completed and delivered the final season of the award winning series The Tudors.

Building on the success of The Tudors, Take 5 successfully co-produced and delivered the first season of The Borgias for Showtime Networks and CTV, followed by the delivery of the first season of Camelot for Starz Entertainment, G-K Films and CBC in Canada. Take 5 is an industry leader in deficit financing with established relationships with major broadcasters and distributors within Canada and throughout the international community. With a proven track record in Canada and abroad, Take 5 continues to develop opportunities to finance, produce and distribute high-end content on all emerging platforms.
 

ABOUT GALAFILM

For 20 years, Galafilm has been at the forefront of independent film and television production in Canada. Founded and helmed by Arnie Gelbart, the company is synonymous with high-quality production values and built its reputation by producing cutting edge documentaries along with award-winning children’s programming, features and successful television dramas, including Tripping The Wire starring Clark Johnson, Hunt for Justice: The Louise Arbour Story featuring Wendy Crewson, John Corbett, and William Hurt,Race to Mars, starring Michael Riley, Lothaire Bluteau, and Pascal Bussières, and Mordecai Richler’s classic novel St. Urbain’s Horseman. Galafilm’s latest success is the multi-generational comedy18 to Life. Galafilm is a board member of the CMPA (Canadian Media Producers Association) as well as the APFTQ (Association des producteurs de film et de television du Québec). 

 

 

ABOUT REELZCHANNEL

REELZCHANNEL—TV About Movies® is the only cable and satellite network devoted to delivering entertaining and informative programming that is all about movies, including the celebrities, fashion, music and stories behind the stories. The network is also home to ambitious television events, mini-series and series featuring big stories and big stars as seen with the Emmy®-winning mini-series “The Kennedys”. With shows featuring movie and entertainment experts, including Leonard Maltin, Richard Roeper and Sam Rubin, viewers get trusted insight into movies wherever they’re playing, whether in theaters or at home.

 

REELZCHANNEL reaches more than 63 million homes on DIRECTV channel 238, Dish Network channel 299, Verizon FiOS TV channel 233, AT&T U-verse channels 799/1799HD and cable systems nationwide. Find REELZCHANNEL in your area by entering your zip code at www.reelz.com/watch. Owned by Hubbard Media Group, REELZCHANNEL is headquartered in Albuquerque, NM with national ad sales based out of New York City with offices in Boston, Chicago and Los Angeles and an entertainment bureau in Los Angeles.

 

 

This partnership marks another step in the growth of STUDIOCANAL. In 2011, STUDIOCANAL reinforced its production investments with a slate financing deal to co-finance their international films, and enlarged its distribution with an output deal with Lovefilm in the UK and Germany.

With the partnership and stake in Tandem, STUDIOCANAL diversifies its activities in the market of international TV series and strengthens its position as a European leader in content, building on its strategy of International, high quality programming.

TANDEM COMMUNICATIONS, the European mini studio in international TV productions will continue to develop and produce primetime event programming for the worldwide market, and distribute its own productions worldwide as well as third party productions.

 

TANDEM's strength lies in English language productions with prime time suitability and high production value with international themes that transcend boundaries.

 

Rola Bauer, Tim Halkin and Jonas Bauer will remain shareholders and will continue to lead and further develop Tandem Communications.

In 2012, the major events for Tandem will be the eight-hour event series "World Without End", based on Ken Follett's worldwide bestselling novel, and the four-hour miniseries "Labyrinth", based on the bestselling novel by Kate Mosse.
 

“STUDIOCANAL stands for excellent quality", says Rola Bauer, TANDEM President and Partner.  "Its brand value and strategic expertise will open new levels for growth potential in the years to come. STUDIOCANAL has the foresight to support our entrepreneurial spirit and together we will multiply our respective strengths.”

Olivier Courson, Chairman and CEO of STUDIOCANAL said: “With our multi territory distribution network, the development of our international production, amplified by our slate financing deal, STUDIOCANAL is really now a major studio in Europe.  As all studios have done, the next logical move is to diversify into TV Minis and Series. We searched for the best partner in Europe and found Tandem as the ideal one. Their television strategy is in sync with our objective.  We were meant to work together. I am really glad to develop this new activity with such talented and gifted producers as Rola, Tim and Jonas.”

 

About STUDIOCANAL:
STUDIOCANAL is a subsidiary of CANAL+ Group. It is one of Europe’s leading companies in the market for co-production, acquisition, distribution and sale of international feature films on all types of media.

STUDIOCANAL is the only studio operating simultaneously in three main territories across Europe: France, the United Kingdom and Germany. The company distributes a total of more than 50 films a year throughout Europe.
 

Moreover, STUDIOCANAL owns one of the most important libraries in the world, with more than 5,000 French, British, Italian, German and American titles.

STUDIOCANAL latest fully financed film, TINKER, TAILOR, SOLDIER, SPY, based on John le Carré’sbestseller, directed by Tomas Alfredson, and produced by Working Title, was released in the UK on Sept. 16th, 2011, where it was number one in the box-office for 3 weeks in a row and grossed over £14 million. It was released on December 9th, 2011, in the USA, and will come out on February 2nd, 2012, in Germany and on February 8th in France.

 

STUDIOCANAL will also entirely finance and handle international rights of Joel and Ethan Coen’s next film, INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS, produced by the Coens and Scott Rudin, and starring Justin Timberlake, Oscar Isaac,Carey Mulligan and John Goodman. 

 

 

About TANDEM COMMUNICATIONS:
TANDEM COMMUNICATIONS is located in Munich, Germany and was started in 1999 by Rola Bauer and Tim Halkin. In 2007 Jonas Bauer became a partner in the company. From the beginning, their strategy was to build a vertically integrated media company whose core business is primetime production and worldwide distribution.

TANDEM develops, produces, markets and distributes high-quality, Event programming: From the ground-breaking Emmy® and Gemini Award-winning and Golden Globe® nominated series, The Pillars of the Earth with its record-breaking ratings and excellent critical acclaim, to the Emmy® Award winner Dune to the Golden Globe® nominated The Company, to the Emmy® nominated Dragons’ World, to name a few.

 

Further high-profile titles that have garnered excellent ratings and praise from the critics include Impact,Ring of the Nibelungs, the Nora Roberts franchise, Lost City Raiders, the Patricia Cornwell franchise, The Lost Future and Treasure Guards. TANDEM has been privileged to have partnered with acclaimed producers on several of these projects. 

 

In December 2011, production wrapped on the eight-hour Event series World Without End, based on Ken Follett’s bestseller, as well as Labyrinth, a four-hour Event miniseries based on the bestselling novel by Kate Mosse. 

 

 

Also signing on to play the show's ruthless antagonist, Guy D'Evereux, is Tony Curran ("The Pillars of the Earth", "X-Men: First Class", "The Adventures of Tintin").

“Joining our already assembled brilliant cast, are the spectacular Tom Felton and Tony Curran." says Tim Halkin, Managing Director of Tandem Communications and Executive Producer. "I'm particularly pleased to have found an extraordinarily talented young actor who is the same age as that of the historical figure of Viscount Trencavel. Trencavel was an amazing young man, wise beyond his years and I'm sure that Tom Felton will do his memory and his legacy justice.”

“Tony Curran and Tom Felton are some of the finest actors in the UK today," says Liza Marshall, Head of Scott Free London and Executive Producer. "They have broken out and made names for themselves internationally and we are proud to count them amongst our wonderful cast.”

The 4-hour miniseries adaptation of Kate Mosse's 2006 run-away international bestseller was written by Adrian Hodges ("Primeval", "Charles II", "My Week with Marilyn") and is helmed by writer/director Christopher Smith ("Black Death", "Triangle"). LABYRINTH, which began principal photography on October 10th in Carcasonne in the Aude/Cathar Country in the South of France, also stars John Hurt ("Harry Potter", "ALIEN", “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy”), Sebastian Stan ("Captain America", "The Apparition", "Gossip Girl"), Jessica Brown-Findlay ("Downton Abby", Albatross"), Vanessa Kirby ("The Hour", "Great Expectation 2011"), Dame Janet Suzman ("Nicholas and Alexandra", "A Dry White Season"), Katie McGrath ("Merlin", "The Queen"), Claudia Gerini ("The Passion of the Christ", "Under the Tuscan Sun") Emun Elliot ("Game of Thrones", "Black Death"), Matthew Beard (“An Education”, “One Day”, “Hippie Hippie Shake”) and Danny Keogh ("Invictus", "The Devil's Whore").

 

LABYRINTH is shooting on location in Carcassone, France and in Cape Town, South Africa. Labyrinth is a treaty coproduction between Germany and South Africa and is a Tandem Communications/Film Afrika coproduction in association with Ridley Scott and Tony Scott's Scott Free Films.

 

 

Novelist Kate Mosse’s bestselling adventure thriller, LABYRINTH, will begin principal photography on October 10th in Carcassonne/Aude Cathar country in the south of France.  Thereafter, the production moves to shoot on location in South Africa. The series is being adapted by award-winning writer Adrian Hodges (Primeval, The Last King).
Directing is Christopher Smith (Black Death, Triangle). Smith’s unique voice in both the fields of writing and direction has found him a cult following worldwide. His distinctive style and his ability to create a world for the audience to submerge into will be a great match for Kate Mosse’s LABYRINTH.

The Event miniseries has assembled a top cast headed by two-time Oscar® nominee, three-time BAFTA Award winner and Golden Globe® winner John Hurt (Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows), Sebastian Stan (Captain America: The First Avenger, Gossip Girl), Oscar®, BAFTA and Golden Globe® nominee Janet Suzman (Nicholas and Alexandra, Midsomer Murders), Jessica Brown-Findlay (Downton Abbey, Misfits),Vanessa Kirby (The Hour, Great Expectations [2011]), multi-award winner Claudia Gerini (The Passion of the Christ, Under the Tuscan Sun), Katie McGrath (Merlin, Red Mist) and Emun Elliott (Game of Thrones, Black Death).  

 

“The elements we’ve put together on Labyrinth build on our strategy to create primetime, Event programs with cinematic values that work internationally: a worldwide bestselling book, a top writer for the adaptation, a cinematic director and an outstanding cast,” says Tim Halkin, Executive Producer and Partner/Managing Director, TANDEM COMMUNICATIONS. “Chris Smith blew us away in our first meeting when he did a two-hour, multi-media presentation with his vision of Labyrinth. His clear and cinematic approach is taking an already exciting project to a new level.”

“I’m very excited about the collaboration of two incredibly strong artists on this project: putting Adrian Hodges and Chris Smith’s talents together have become explosively exciting,” say Ridley Scott of Scott Free and Executive Producer. “We’re entering into principal photography with a film that you can already ‘see’ on the page.”

“It’s a real privilege to be bringing Kate Mosse’s wonderful novel to the screen” says Liza Marshall, Head of Scott Free London and Executive Producer. “From the moment I finished the book, I knew it would make a thrilling and emotional television epic. We have such fantastic elements; Adrian Hodges’ brilliant adaptation, an exceptional cast, and the uniquely talented Chris Smith at the helm. I am confident we are going to make something very special that will appeal to audiences around the world.”

“I just love the material, says director Christopher Smith. “Two women, separated by 800 years, protecting the Holy Grail. On the one hand an epic medieval drama, on the other a supernatural thriller. I'm a massive fan of medieval films. It's such an exciting period of history, and the chance to approach it once again, on an even bigger scale is something that really excites me. It's also an enormous privilege to be working with Ridley Scott.”

“The next chapter of LABYRINTH begins,” says Kate Mosse,  “and perhaps the most exhilarating, the most exciting yet. I wanted to wait until the right combination of people came along to take my novel from page to screen and, boy, is this it! I'm honoured to be working with Tandem and Scott Free, who have gathered together such a stellar cast and crew. It's a truly international team of creative, imaginative and talented women and men and I'm confident readers will be delighted by the adaptation. It's also a particular pleasure that filming starts in Carcassonne, in those very streets where the characters first came to life for me more than twenty years ago.”

LABYRINTH Executive Producers include Ridley Scott (Robin Hood, American Gangster), Tony Scott (Unstoppable, The Taking of Pelham 1,2,3), Tim Halkin (Lost City Raiders, The Pillars of the Earth), Liza Marshall  (Red Riding: In the Year of our Lord 1974, The Long Firm), Rola Bauer (The Pillars of the Earth, Ring of the Nibelungs), Kate Crowe (Misfits, Cutting It) and Jonas Bauer (Treasure Guards, Impact). The producers for Film Afrika are David Wicht (Dark Tide, Primeval) and Vlokkie Gordon (Dark Tide, Goodbye Bafana). Creative Producer is Christopher Hall (The Lost World, The Hound of the Baskervilles).  LABYRINTH is produced by Moritz Polter (Treasure Guards, The Lost Future).

The production has assembled an impressive crew of artisans behind the camera: Emmy®, Golden Globe ® and BAFTA-nominated Composer Trevor Jones  (Notting Hill, In the Name of the Father) will compose Labyrinth’s original score, award-winning Director of Photography, Robert Humphreys (The Hunter, Triangle), Production Designer, Tom Hannam (Invictus, Dark Tide), Emmy®-nominated casting director, Priscilla John (Captain America: The First Avenger, Mamma Mia!), Co-Costume Designers, Moira Anne Meyer (Dark Tide, Albert Schweitzer) and Emmy®-winner, Charlotte Holdich (The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, Any Human Heart) and Make-up and Hair Designer, Meg Tanner (Invictus, 10,000 BC). 
 

Based on Kate Mosse’s multi-million copy international bestseller, LABYRINTH will take a global audience on a richly compelling journey through the south of France of the present, and the dark and tortured landscape of the Crusades and Cathar massacres of medieval times. Two spirited and charismatic heroines must somehow work together across the centuries in order to save a four thousand year-old secret from falling into the wrong hands. Kate Mosse is also acting as a consultant on the production.

Kate Mosse’s epic novel has been published in more than thirty-eight languages worldwide; it hit both the New York Times hardcover and paperback Bestseller lists; was the UK’s bestselling fiction title of 2006 and a top ten bestseller in more than twenty-one other major territories. 

Commissioning networks are Germany’s Sat.1 and UK’s Channel Four. Other partnering networks include Spain’s Cuatro, Austria’s ORF and France’s M6. Also on board are NBC Universal Home Entertainment and Koch Media. 

LABYRINTH is scheduled for delivery late Summer 2012. 
  

 

“Our strategy has always been to bring cinematic values to television,” says Rola Bauer, Executive Producer / Managing Director, TANDEM COMMUNICATIONS. “In addition to having Michael Caton-Jones’ strong and experienced directorial vision on all eight hours of this epic thriller, we have assembled an exemplary cast who will make these great characters come alive on screen and attract audiences worldwide.”

WOLRD WITHOUT END stars Emmy® and Golden Globe®-winner Cynthia Nixon (Sex and the City, The Big C) as the beautiful and deadly schemer “Petranilla”, two-time Oscar®-nominee, Golden Globe® and BAFTA-winner Miranda Richardson (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, The Young Victoria) as the strong and determined “Mother Cecilia”, Olivier and Tony-nominee Ben Chaplin (The Thin Red Line, Me and Orson Welles) as the mysterious “Sir Thomas Langley”, Oscar®-nominee and Golden Globe®-winner Peter Firth (MI5, The Hunt for Red October) as the ruthless Earl “Roland”, BAFTA-nominee Charlotte Riley (The Duchess, Wuthering Heights) as the wise and compassionate “Caris”, Rupert Evans (HellBoy, Agora) as the duplicitous “Godwyn”, Nora von Waldstaetten (Carlos, The Duchess) as “Gwenda”, the street-wise peasant girl, Oliver Jackson-Cohen (What’s Your Number, The Raven) as the rough and dangerous “Ralph”, accomplished stage thespian Tom Weston-Jones (Enlightenment, The Country Wife) as the creative and ambitious “Merthin”, Gemini Award-winner and Genie Award-nominee Megan Follows (Heartland, Anne of Green Gables) as “Maud”, a lady fallen from grace, and Genie-nominee Sarah Gadon (in the up-coming Cosmopolis with Robert Pattinson, A Dangerous Method) as the attractive and intelligent “Philippa”.  More casting news to follow.

“Michael Caton-Jones’ approach to this epic, yet populist adventure will prove an addictive journey,” says Ridley Scott of Scott Free. “He will capture audiences worldwide with the rich narrative and his visually compelling style.“

"I am thrilled to be working with Tandem and Scott Free on World Without End," says highly-acclaimed director, Michael Caton-Jones. "They are totally committed to the highest-possible quality on this event series and have encouraged and supported my cinematic vision. I have enormous pride in the cast we're assembling and I have no doubt they'll breathe life into the fascinating characters of this epic story."

Shooting on location in Hungary, Slovakia and Austria with Howard Ellis’ Mid Atlantic Films (The Pillars of the Earth), the eight-hour epic thriller will be directed by Michael Caton-Jones (Rob Roy, This Boy’s Life, Shooting Dogs - US title: Beyond the Gates). Emmy® & WGA-nominated writer John Pielmeier (The Memory Keeper's Daughter, The Pillars of the Earth) has once again adapted Follett's worldwide bestseller for the screen. World Without End Executive Producers include Ridley Scott (Gladiator), Tony Scott (Unstoppable), Rola Bauer (The Pillars of the Earth), David W. Zucker (The Good Wife), Tim Halkin (Lost City Raiders), Jonas Bauer (The Lost Future), John Weber (The Borgias), with co-producer Arnie Gelbart (The Blue Butterfly) and will be produced by John Ryan (The Pillars of the Earth, Hitler: The Rise of Evil).

“After seeing the wonderful results of The Pillars of the Earth, I am very excited that the camera will start rolling in a couple of weeks onWorld Without End,” says world-renowned author Ken Follett. “John Pielmeier’s thrilling adaptation, coupled with the creative integrity that Rola Bauer’s Tandem and Ridley Scott’s Scott Free, bring to the production – then throw in a cast of this amazing caliber on top – what more could a book author wish for!”

Broadcasting and Home Entertainment partners on World Without End are in Germany Sat.1, in the UK Channel Four, in Canada Shaw Media, in Spain Cuatro, in Austria ORF, in Italy Sky Italia, in Hungary TV2, Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions (Home Entertainment: English-speaking territories and France) and Germany’s Universum Home Entertainment – to name a few.

“My colleague Fred Fuchs was involved with Tandem’s The Pillars of the Earth, and therefore we were excited to partner with Tandem onWorld Without End,” says John Weber, President of Take 5 Productions. “We are very proud to be the Canadian coproducing partner on this very prestigious project.”

Many of the highly-acclaimed crew members joining World Without End were also a part of The Pillars of the Earth with several talented new additions. Key Crew members include: Mark Goddard - 1st Assistant Director (Shooting Dogs, Foyle’s War), Marek Dobrowolski – Production Designer (Into the West, The Company), Denis Crossan – Director of Photography (Pink Panther II, I Know What You Did Last Summer), Mario Davignon – Costume Designer (The Pillars of the Earth, Bury my Heart at Wounded Knee), Tracey Wells – Hair (Robin Hood, James Bond: Quantum of Solace),Colleen Quinton – Make Up (The Pillars of the Earth, The Aviator).  The Lead Casting Director for World Without End is Priscilla John (Captain America: The First Avenger, The Pillars of the Earth, Mamma Mia!).

The global bestseller World Without End by Ken Follett has been published in 30 markets and was on the New York Times bestseller list for 26 weeks after the hardcover publication, then again on the list for its paperback edition. It hit the #1 position on the following bestseller lists: The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Entertainment Weekly, Publishers Weekly, Sony e-book, France’s Livres Hebdo, The Globe and Mail in the UK and Germany’s Der Spiegel.

A paid assassin is sent to murder a king. A mysterious knight flees to the countryside, hotly pursued by the Queen’s men. Two teenagers witness an incident in the woods that will change the course of a nation. 

Times are tougher than ever. England is on the brink of devastating war with France that will last over a hundred years, and a terrible plague is spreading that will wipe out a third of Europe’s population before it is done. 

Caris, a visionary young woman, struggles to rise above the suffering and oppression in order to lead her people out of the dark times. With her lover Merthin, she builds a community that stands up to The Crown and The Church. Together, they unearth a dangerous secret and must fight to save their town of Kingsbridge from ruin, ultimately ushering in a new era of freedom, innovation and enlightenment. 

 

Directing is Michael Caton-Jones (This Boy’s Life, Shooting Dogs - US title: Beyond the Gates). Caton-Jones’s directorial talent has been recognized and honored at film festivals around the world, and with awards and nominations including an Oscar nomination and BAFTA award for Rob Roy.

 

 “As we embark on WORLD WITHOUT END, it´s great to announce that our strategy of bringing cinematic values to television will be led by such an experienced and visionary filmmaker like Michael Caton-Jones,” says Rola Bauer, Partner/Managing Director, TANDEM COMMUNICATIONS. “Coupled with his vision, this story has wonderful characters that audiences will love taking a journey with.”

 

"Michael will bring an authoritative and experienced directorial voice to this sweeping epic," says Executive Producer Ridley Scott.

 

“Tandem and Scott Free have impressively created an independent model,” says Michael Caton-Jones. “It’s the atmosphere that they create for artists to work in, coupled with the opportunity to tell a story with such huge sweep and scope that attracted me to this project.”

 

Award-winning writer John Pielmeier (WGA-nominated THE PILLARS OF THE EARTH, Emmy®-nominated The Memory Keeper´s Daughter) will once again adapt Follett’s worldwide bestseller for the screen.

 

WORLD WITHOUT END is a German/Canadian coproduction. Partnering with Tandem are Take 5 Productions, headed by John Weber, in-house Producer Fred Fuchs, and Arnie Gelbart’s company, Galafilm. The series will be shot in Hungary with the production company Mid Atlantic Films, headed up by Howard Ellis and Adam Goodman and posted in Toronto and Montreal in Canada.

 

Network partners who have reupped for WOLRD WITHOUT END include Germany´s ProSiebenSat.1, Spain´s Cuatro, Austria´s ORF, Italy´s SkyItalia and Channel4 in the UK.
New on board as a partner is Canada´s Shaw Media.
Home Entertainment partners include Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, Germany’s Universum Film, Italy’s Dall’Angelo Pictures, Spain’s Aurum Producciones, Dutch Filmworks and Scanbox.

 

In WORLD WITHOUT END, a king’s murder binds four lives together in a complex web of love, betrayal and revenge. Two teenagers witness an incident in the woods that will change the course of a nation. Soon after the death of Edward II, a strange knight takes refuge in Kingsbridge Priory. Chaos and death follow him, disrupting the town´s settled existence as never before. England is on the brink of a devastating war with France that will last over a hundred years while a terrible plague is spreading through Europe that will wipe out a third of the continent´s population before it is over.

 

Caris, a visionary young woman, struggles to rise above the suffering and oppression in order to lead her people. With her lover Merthin, she builds a community in Kingsbridge that stands up to The Church and The Crown. Together, they unearth a dangerous secret and must fight to save their town from ruin, ultimately ushering in a new era of freedom, innovation and enlightenment.

 

The multi-million copy bestseller, World Without End, spent 30 weeks on the New York Times Bestseller List when published in 2007. It is also a bestseller worldwide, especially in the UK, Canada, Australia, Germany, Spain and France. It recently appeared on the New York Times Bestseller List again along with The Pillars of the Earth, making Ken Follett one of very few writers ever to hold two slots on this List at the same time. This rare and unusual achievement confirms the consistent pull of Ken Follett as one of the world’s most popular writers, with nearly a hundred million books in print to date.

 

 

Ridley Scott and Tony Scott’s Scott Free and Tandem Communications will be producing Mosse’s page-turner together. The series is being adapted by award-winning writer, Adrian Hodges (Primeval, Rome, The Last King).

 

Based on Kate Mosse’s multi-million copy international bestseller, LABYRINTH will take a global audience on a richly compelling journey through the South of France of the present, and the dark and tortured landscape of the Crusades and Cathar massacres of medieval times. Two spirited and charismatic heroines must somehow work together across the centuries in order to save a four thousand year-old secret from falling into the wrong hands.

 

LABYRINTH will shoot in the South of France in Autumn 2011, with delivery scheduled for Spring 2012.  Kate Mosse’s epic novel has been published in more than thirty-eight languages worldwide; it hit both the New York Times hardcover and paperback Bestseller lists; was the UK’s bestselling fiction title of 2006 and a top ten bestseller in more than twenty-one other major territories.

 

 “LABYRINTH’s story affords us the opportunity to create exciting drama that will thrill and delight the book’s readers worldwide and the viewers, who’ll be discovering it for the first time,” says Ridley Scott of Scott Free. “We look forward to this new chapter in the long-standing relationship between Tandem and Scott Free, and also to bringing the quality that has become the hallmark of our joint efforts with Tandem to yet another piece of event television.”

 

“It’s the entire package that makes this perfect for event television programming,” says Tim Halkin, Partner/Managing Director, Tandem Communications. “Kate Mosse’s book brings a worldwide awareness and built-in fan-base along with an amazing concept. Adrian Hodges is a hugely accomplished screenwriter, who understands how to pull an audience in from the first scene and we’re thrilled to be working with the head of Scott Free’s UK theatrical and television company, Liza Marshall.”

 

“I’m delighted that Kate has decided to entrust us with her wonderful book, and that the brilliant Adrian Hodges has come on board to adapt it. I look forward to producing with Tandem a television event that is epic, compelling and emotional,” says Liza Marshall, Head of Film and TV, Scott Free.

 

“A new chapter of LABYRINTH is about to begin,” says Kate Mosse, LABYRINTH’s author. “The characters I first dreamed about twenty-one years ago, are now setting out on a new journey.  After eight hundred years of history and five hundred pages of fiction, I am delighted that Scott Free and Tandem Communications are taking LABYRINTH from the page to the screen.”

 

“I'm delighted to be adapting Kate Mosse's terrific novel for the screen," says writer Adrian Hodges, "it has a scale, ambition and scope that's very rare, as millions of readers already know. The combination of brilliantly researched history with a thrilling modern story is exciting and original, and my ambition is to do it full justice for the screen in a way that will satisfy both existing fans of the novel and worldwide television audiences. It's also a pleasure to be working with Scott Free and Tandem, who have already proved they can deliver fantastic television drama with last year's international hit THE PILLARS OF THE EARTH.”