Bell Media's The Movie Network Announces Development of 14 New Drama and Comedy Projects

- Attached talent includes Oscar^® nominees Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski, Scotiabank Giller Prize winner Joseph Boyden, and seasoned writer Stephen Tolkin -
- Production companies working with The Movie Network include Serendipity Point Films, Prospero Pictures, Halfire Entertainment, ICF Films, and Darius Films -

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TORONTO, Aug. 5, 2014 /CNW/ - The Movie Network announced today its current roster of 14 drama and comedy projects in development, featuring acclaimed writers Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski (Madame Tutli-Putli), Joseph Boyden (Through Black Spruce), and Stephen Tolkin (BROTHERS & SISTERS). The diverse group of stories ranges from historical event series (THE TENDERNESS OF WOLVES, UNCOMMON YOUTH), to provocative character drama FERAL, epic fantasy THE SEIGE, and a comedy about hicks, skids, and hockey players living in Letterkenny, Ontario LETTERKENNY.

"We are thrilled to be working with some of the best and brightest writers and producers in the Canadian production community to develop scripted comedies and dramas for The Movie Network," said Corrie Coe, Senior Vice-President, Independent Production, Bell Media. "From engaging contemporary comedies to sweeping historical epics, this development slate is full of exciting prospects for the discerning viewers of The Movie Network."

In total, The Movie Network currently has 14 drama and comedy projects in development, including three previously announced comedies.

The Movie Network's current slate of development projects include:

BEOWULF: BLOOD OF KINGS
Drama
A violent, romanticized, post-modern take on the classic saga.
Attached:

• Omni Film Entertainment:  Brian Hamilton, Michael Chechik (DEFYING GRAVITY)
• Matt Greenberg (1408) - Writer
• Co-developed in partnership with Movie Central

DIVORCE PARTY
Comedy
A half-hour, single-camera comedy about a group of young, divorced women living the very definition of the term "hot mess".
Attached:

• New Metric Media -Patrick O'Sullivan and Mark Montefiore (Cas & Dylan)
• Jessie Gabe (Cas & Dylan) and Linsey Stewart (BEING ERICA) - Writers

FERAL
Drama
A slightly unhinged child protection worker avoids her own life by throwing herself into her work.
Attached:

• ICF Films: Ilana Frank (ROOKIE BLUE, SAVING HOPE)
• Sherry White (ROOKIE BLUE, SAVING HOPE) - Writer
• Semi Chellas (MAD MEN) - Story Editor
• Co-developed in partnership with Movie Central

PRONS
Comedy
A famous porn star returns to his childhood home in Brantford, Ontario to get away from the business.
Attached:

• Halfire Entertainment: Noreen Halpern (WORKING THE ENGELS, HUNG)
• Kevin Smith (Clerks) and Aaron Martin (SAVING HOPE, BEING ERICA) - Writers
• In association with SModcast Pictures
• Co-developed in partnership with Movie Central

GUCCI WARS
Drama
Chronicling the House of Gucci's notorious rise and fall.
Attached:

• Bauman Entertainment: Ted Bauman (THE CLIENT LIST)
• Angus Fraser (ROGUE, TERMINAL CITY) - Writer
• Co-developed in partnership with Movie Central

INCARNATE
Drama
An epic genre drama that follows an unlikely trio as they discover a shocking experiment has awakened an ancient conspiracy.
Attached:

• Copperheart Entertainment: Steven Hoban (Ginger Snaps) and Clark Peterson (Monster) - Executive Producers; Clive Barker (Hellraiser) - Executive Producer and Creative Consultant
• Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens (PRIMEVAL: NEW WORLD) - Writers and Executive Producers
• Co-developed in partnership with Movie Central

IRON BELLY
Drama
An epic adventure set on a 19^th-century prison ship where the brutal journey becomes an intimate study of humanity, both above and below the decks.
Attached:

• Darius Films: Nicholas Tabarrok (The Art of the Steal, Defendor)
• Jeremy Boxen (LOST GIRL) and Jonathan Sobol (The Art of the Steal) - Writers
• Co-developed in partnership with BBCA

LETTERKENNY
Comedy
Based on the YouTube sensation LETTERKENNY PROBLEMS, a series where hicks, skids, and hockey players have the last laugh.
Attached:

• New Metric: Patrick O'Sullivan and Mark Montefiore (Cas & Dylan)
• Jared Keeso (19-2) and Jacob Tierney (The Trotsky) - Writers

METHOD
Comedy
A satirical behind-the-scenes look at the making of a police procedural.
Attached:
ICF Films: Ilana Frank (SAVING HOPE), David Wellington (SAVING HOPE), Sonia Hosko (SAVING HOPE) - Producers

• Peter Wellington (Cottage Country) and Peter Mooney (ROOKIE BLUE) - Writers

OPIUM
Drama
Set in Hong Kong and Victoria B.C., this epic historical drama charts the turbulent journey of the pious McLellan family as it takes control of the international opium trade.
Attached:

• Reunion Pictures: Matthew O'Connor (CONTINUUM)
• Nick Willing (NEVERLAND) - Writer
• Co-developed in partnership with Movie Central

THE SIEGE
Drama
A fantasy/genre series set in New France in the early 1600s, a land of myth, magic, warriors, Jesuit assassins, and monstrous Wendigos.
Attached:

• Prospero Media: Martin Katz (Maps to the Stars) and Karen Wookey (ANDROMEDA) - Producers
• Chris Lavis (Madame Tutli-Putli), Maciak Szczerbowski (Madame Tutli-Putli), and Andrew Wreggitt (JACK) - Writers

THE TENDERNESS OF WOLVES
Drama
A gripping whodunit set against the wild and captivating backdrop of Upper Canada in 1867, based on the award-winning novel of the same name by Stef Penney.
Attached:

• Adlib Films and Origin Pictures: Greg Dummett (THE CRIMSON PETAL AND THE WHITE), and David M. Thompson (Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom) - Producers
• John Brownlow (Sylvia) - Writer
• Co-developed in partnership with Movie Central

THUNDERHOUSE FALLS
Drama
A wayward daughter returns to her family and is haunted by past and present dangers.
Attached:

• Serendipity Point Films: Ari Lantos and Mark Musselman (Barney's Version)
• Joseph Boyden (The Orenda) - Writer

UNCOMMON YOUTH
Drama
Based on the gripping true story of the infamous 1973 kidnapping of John Paul Getty III in Rome. 
Attached:

• Sea to Sky Studios in association with Epix
• Stephen Tolkin - Writer (BROTHERS & SISTERS)

About Bell Media Independent Production
Bell Media has commissioned some of Canada's most-watched and most-acclaimed original programming, working with the best Canadian independent producers in the country. Hit CTV series include ratings success stories SAVING HOPE, THE LISTENER, MOTIVE, and THE AMAZING RACE CANADA, the record-breaking, Canadian-produced complementary version of the hit international series. New to CTV in 2014 are hit international format MASTERCHEF CANADA and multi-cam office comedy SPUN OUT, one of the most-watched new comedies of the season. Among the scripted series on Bell Media pay and specialty channels are the two-time Emmy®-nominated hit DEGRASSI, the internationally acclaimed ORPHAN BLACK, the most-watched original series in Space history BITTEN, Bravo's most-watched new drama 19-2, TRANSPORTER - THE SERIES, and drama SENSITIVE SKIN, and the upcoming KILLJOYS. Bell Media specialty channels are also home to hit factual series HIGHWAY THRU HELL and CANADA'S WORST DRIVER, among others.

About The Movie Network:
The Movie Network is a pay television service available in eastern Canada delivering premiere access to Hollywood hit movies, new and exclusive HBO content, critically acclaimed Showtime series and first-rate Canadian programming to subscribers. The Movie Network service includes five 24-hour multiplex channels - The Movie Network, HBO Canada, MExcess, MFun!, and MFest. All five multiplex channels are simulcast in High Definition and joined by TMN GO, a multi-platform video streaming service; The Movie Network OnDemand, a Subscription Video On Demand (SVOD) service available in select areas across eastern Canada; and TMN OnLine, an Internet-based content streaming service. The Movie Network is a division of Bell Media, which is part of BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada's largest communications company. More information about The Movie Network is available at www.themovienetwork.ca.

About Movie Central:
Movie Central is a commercial-free premium pay TV service available in western Canada. Movie Central premieres the best in Hollywood, international and Canadian films across eight 24-hour movie channels, including dedicated high-definition feeds, a Movie Central On Demand service and exclusive HBO content on HBO Canada. Movie Central is also the first window for Showtime content and home to cutting-edge Canadian series. A major force in the Canadian independent film and television production industry, Movie Central, through Script to Screen, a writer-oriented feature script development program funded by Movie Central and delivered by NSI supports Canadian filmmaking. Visit the Movie Central website at www.moviecentral.ca.

Movie Central is owned by Corus Entertainment Inc., a Canadian-based media and entertainment company. Corus is a market leader in specialty television and radio with additional assets in pay television, television broadcasting, children's book publishing and children's animation. Experience Corus on the web at www.corusent.com.

SOURCE: The Movie Network

Nicolle Balen, The Movie Network, 416.384.4061 or [email protected]