Additional Casting For SPACE Original Series ORPHAN BLACK Announced as Production Begins in Toronto

− Gemini Award-winner Maria Doyle Kennedy, Dylan Bruce, and Jordan Gavaris among principal cast, and join previously announced lead Tatiana Maslany −
− From Temple Street Productions, ORPHAN BLACK is set to premiere in 2013 on SPACE and BBC America −

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TORONTO, Oct. 23, 2012 /CNW/ -Bell Media's SPACE, BBC America, and Temple Street Productions announced today that production has begun in Toronto on the highly-anticipated original drama series ORPHAN BLACK, shooting on location and in studio through February 12, 2013. The enthralling new scripted series co-created by Graeme Manson (Cube, FLASHPOINT) and John Fawcett (SPARTACUS, THE SECRET CIRCLE), stars previously announced Tatiana Maslany (Cas & Dylan, Picture Day) in the lead role of Sarah, an outsider and orphan whose life changes dramatically after assuming the identity of a dead stranger who looks just like her. Additional principal casting for the series includes Gemini Award-winner Maria Doyle Kennedy (THE TUDORS, DOWNTON ABBEY), Dylan Bruce (AS THE WORLD TURNS, THE BAY), and Jordan Gavaris (DEGRASSI, UNNATURAL HISTORY). The 10-episode, one-hour series is produced by Temple Street Productions for SPACE and BBC America, and is set to premiere in 2013.

In ORPHAN BLACK, after witnessing a woman's suicide, Sarah assumes her identity hoping that cleaning out the dead woman's bank account will solve all of her problems. Instead, she's thrust headlong into a kaleidoscopic mystery. She makes the dizzying discovery that she and the dead woman are clones - but are they the only ones? With an assassin hot on her trail, Sarah is racing for answers.

Rounding out the ORPHAN BLACK principal cast is: Kevin Hanchard (THE LISTENER, REPUBLIC OF DOYLE), Michael Mando (Territories, LES BLEUS DE RAMVILLE), Elizabeth Saunders (SAVING HOPE), and Ron Lea (SAVING HOPE, Saw IV).

"We are delighted to start production on this exciting new series," said Corrie Coe, Senior Vice-President, Independent Production, Bell Media. "When we confirmed Tatiana as Sarah, we had one major piece of the puzzle, and now everything has fallen into place with the addition of this enthralling and passionate principal cast."

"ORPHAN BLACK is a breakthrough show, creatively and technologically. We're thrilled with the talented cast Temple Street Productions has assembled led by extraordinary young actress Tatiana Maslany. We can't wait to launch this edge-of-your-seat thrill ride series," said Perry Simon, General Manager, Channels, BBC Worldwide America.

"We're very excited to be working with Graeme and John on bringing ORPHAN BLACK to the screen. Its become a passion project that just happens to touch upon the very timely topic of self-identity. When we began working on this series, we were driven by the quality of the writing and the scope of the themes," said David Fortier, Executive Producer and Co-President, Temple Street Productions.

"Now we have a formidable cast, led by the unbelievably talented Tatiana Maslany, as well as three terrific partners in SPACE, BBC AMERICA, and BBC Worldwide, and a fantastic crew, whose commitment and enthusiasm are confirming our long-held belief that we have something special on our hands," said Ivan Schneeberg, Executive Producer and Co-President, Temple Street Productions. "We couldn't be happier or more proud."

ORPHAN BLACK is executive produced by Ivan Schneeberg and David Fortier (Being Erica), Graeme Manson (Cube, FLASHPOINT), and John Fawcett (SPARTACUS, THE SECRET CIRCLE). The series is co-created by Manson and Fawcett, with Manson also serving as writer and Fawcett as director. BBC Worldwide will distribute the series internationally.

ORPHAN BLACK is produced by Temple Street Productions in association with Bell Media and BBC America. Production Executives are Trish Williams and Gosia Kamela. Corrie Coe is Senior Vice-President, Independent Production, Bell Media. Catherine MacLeod is Vice-President, Specialty Channels, Bell Media. Rick Brace is President, Specialty Channels and CTV Production. Phil King is President, CTV Programming and Sports.

About Temple Street Productions
Temple Street Productions is a leading producer of television, film and digital media content based in Toronto, Canada. A selection of Temple Street's past and present projects includes: BEING ERICA (CBC, SOAPnet), WINGIN'IT (Family Channel), OVER THE RAINBOW (CBC), RECIPE TO RICHES (Food Network, Global), COVER ME CANADA (CBC), BILLABLE HOURS (Global, Showcase), CANADA'S NEXT TOP MODEL (CTV), HOW DO YOU SOLVE A PROBLEM LIKE MARIA? (CBC), QUEER AS FOLK (Showtime, Showcase), and DARCY'S WILD LIFE (NBC, Discovery Kids, Family Channel). For more company information www.templestreetproductions.com, twitter @TempleStreet or connect with us on Facebook.

About BBC America
BBC AMERICA delivers U.S. audiences high-quality, innovative and intelligent programming. Established in 1998, it has been the launch pad for talent embraced by American mainstream pop culture, including Ricky Gervais, Gordon Ramsay, Graham Norton, and successful programming formats including ground-breaking non-scripted television like Top Gear and top-rated science-fiction like Doctor Who. Owned by BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of the BBC, BBC AMERICA has attracted both critical acclaim and major awards including an Emmy®, five Golden Globes® and ten Peabody Awards. The channel attracts one of cable's most affluent and educated audiences and is available on digital cable and satellite TV in more than 79 million homes. It broadcasts in both standard and high-definition, with content available On Demand across all major digital platforms. Online, www.bbcamerica.com is the place to go to dig deeper into pop culture with a British twist. Find out more by visiting www.press.bbcamerica.com or follow us on www.twitter.com/bbcamerica.

About Bell Media Independent Production
Bell Media has produced some of Canada's most-watched and most-acclaimed original programming in partnership with Canadian independent producers, including, most recently, ratings success stories FLASHPOINT, SAVING HOPE, and THE LISTENER, Emmy® Award-winning period drama THE BORGIAS, two-time Emmy nominated hit DEGRASSI, the critically acclaimed drama series THE L.A. COMPLEX, and MATCH GAME. Bell Media has also ordered 13 hours of JUST FOR LAUGHS: ALL ACCESS, the television feature THE HORSES OF MCBRIDE, and new original scripted series BITTEN, ORPHAN BLACK, and MOTIVE for 2013.

About SPACE
SPACE is Canada's national science fiction, horror and fantasy channel. SPACE is truly the station for all those who dare to challenge their imagination. SPACE is a division of Bell Media, which is owned by BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada's largest communications company. For more information about SPACE, visit spacecast.com.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:
SPACE on Facebook
SPACE on Twitter
Tatiana Maslany on Twitter
Maria Doyle Kennedy on Twitter
Jordan Gavaris on Twitter
Michael Mando on Twitter

SOURCE: SPACE

Natalie Cole, SPACE, 416. 384.2140 or [email protected]
Christy Sullivan, SPACE, 416.384.3624 or [email protected] 
Cynthia Amsden, Unit Publicist, 416.910.7740 or [email protected]