tammyy2j
07-09-2010, 12:32
Channel 4 announced it has acquired the UK premiere broadcast rights to ground-breaking eight-hour television adaptation of The Pillars Of The Earth. Based on Ken Follett’s bestseller, the event series will makes its UK debut in 2010 on Channel 4 after it airs in the US on Starz.
The ambitious series, produced by TANDEM Communications, MUSE Entertainment and Ridley and Tony Scott’s SCOTT FREE Films is directed by three-time DGA award-winner Sergio Mimica-Gezzan (Heroes).
Set against a backdrop of war, religious strife and power struggles in 12th Century England, an enduring love story is masterfully entwined with political turmoil in Ken Follett’s masterpiece. The all-star cast includes; Ian McShane (Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides), Rufus Sewell (The Illusionist, A Knight’s Tale), Matthew Macfadyen (Robin Hood, Pride and Prejudice), Hayley Atwell (The Duchess, Any Human Heart), Sarah Parish (Merlin), Donald Sutherland (Dirty Sexy Money, The Italian Job), Eddie Redmayne (Glorious 39, The Good Shepherd), Alison Pill (Milk), Sam Claflin (Any Human Heart, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides), Robert Bathurst (Emma, Cold Feet), David Oakes (Trinity) and Douglas Booth (Worried About The Boy). The drama was shot on location in Hungary with Mid Atlantic Films.
Tim Highsted, Programme Acquisition, Channel 4 says; “We are delighted to premiere The Pillars of the Earth on Channel 4. Epic in scale and ambitious in its storytelling, this mini series is sure to spellbind viewers and is the perfect addition to our acquired programmes.”
“We could not imagine a better home for Pillars in the UK,” says Rola Bauer, Executive Producer and Tandem Communications Senior Partner. “We have worked with Channel Four in the past on event miniseries; their taste in programming has always been progressive and innovative. They also have the expertise to create an event around a programme’s launch.”
Author Ken Follett says; “I might be prejudiced, but finding the right network for Pillars in the UK was very important for me. Channel Four’s profile and image is a perfect fit for a story with such broad appeal. I know we are in good hands.”
“It was always our intention to make Pillars fresh and accessible to modern-day audiences – nothing stuffy here,” adds Executive Producer and Chairman of Scott Free Films, Ridley Scott. “Channel Four has always been on the cutting edge, which makes this a wonderful match.”
The ambitious series, produced by TANDEM Communications, MUSE Entertainment and Ridley and Tony Scott’s SCOTT FREE Films is directed by three-time DGA award-winner Sergio Mimica-Gezzan (Heroes).
Set against a backdrop of war, religious strife and power struggles in 12th Century England, an enduring love story is masterfully entwined with political turmoil in Ken Follett’s masterpiece. The all-star cast includes; Ian McShane (Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides), Rufus Sewell (The Illusionist, A Knight’s Tale), Matthew Macfadyen (Robin Hood, Pride and Prejudice), Hayley Atwell (The Duchess, Any Human Heart), Sarah Parish (Merlin), Donald Sutherland (Dirty Sexy Money, The Italian Job), Eddie Redmayne (Glorious 39, The Good Shepherd), Alison Pill (Milk), Sam Claflin (Any Human Heart, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides), Robert Bathurst (Emma, Cold Feet), David Oakes (Trinity) and Douglas Booth (Worried About The Boy). The drama was shot on location in Hungary with Mid Atlantic Films.
Tim Highsted, Programme Acquisition, Channel 4 says; “We are delighted to premiere The Pillars of the Earth on Channel 4. Epic in scale and ambitious in its storytelling, this mini series is sure to spellbind viewers and is the perfect addition to our acquired programmes.”
“We could not imagine a better home for Pillars in the UK,” says Rola Bauer, Executive Producer and Tandem Communications Senior Partner. “We have worked with Channel Four in the past on event miniseries; their taste in programming has always been progressive and innovative. They also have the expertise to create an event around a programme’s launch.”
Author Ken Follett says; “I might be prejudiced, but finding the right network for Pillars in the UK was very important for me. Channel Four’s profile and image is a perfect fit for a story with such broad appeal. I know we are in good hands.”
“It was always our intention to make Pillars fresh and accessible to modern-day audiences – nothing stuffy here,” adds Executive Producer and Chairman of Scott Free Films, Ridley Scott. “Channel Four has always been on the cutting edge, which makes this a wonderful match.”