Casting Details Announced as Production Begins on New Space Original Drama Series KILLJOYS

- Hannah John-Kamen, Aaron Ashmore, and Luke Macfarlane to star in 10-episode drama series set to premiere in 2015 -

- From Temple Street Productions, producers of ORPHAN BLACK, and Michelle Lovretta, writer of LOST GIRL, KILLJOYS begins production in Toronto, August 5 -

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TORONTO, July 22, 2014 /CNW/ - Space, Syfy, and Temple Street Productions announced today that British actor, Hannah John-Kamen, known for her starring role in West End musical Viva Forever, Canadian genre-favourite Aaron Ashmore SMALLVILLE; and London, Ontario's own Luke Macfarlane, best known for his role as Scotty Wandell on BROTHERS & SISTERS, have been cast as the leads in the upcoming original adventure drama series KILLJOYS. Commissioned by Space and produced by Temple Street Productions for Space and Syfy, the 10-episode, one-hour series begins production in Toronto on August 5.  Created and written by showrunner Michelle Lovretta (LOST GIRL), and directed by genre guru Chris Grismer (VAMPIRE DIARIES, PRETTY LITTLE LIARS), KILLJOYS follows a trio of interplanetary bounty hunters (John-Kamen, Ashmore, and Macfarlane) - or "Killjoys" - as they chase deadly warrants throughout the Quad, a distant planetary system on the brink of a bloody, class war. With additional casting still to be announced, KILLJOYS is set to premiere in 2015 on Space.

"Hannah, Aaron, and Luke are the perfect combination to lead this exciting new drama series" said Corrie Coe, Senior Vice-President, Independent Production, Bell Media. "With only two weeks remaining until the start of production, we look forward to seeing the universe this trio will bring to life with our stellar partners, Temple Street Productions and Syfy."

"We're absolutely thrilled to have Hannah, Aaron and Luke sign on to play our stalwart team of bounty hunters," commented Ivan Schneeberg and David Fortier, Executive Producers and Co-Presidents of Temple Street Productions. "We're looking forward to getting production underway with this killer ensemble and our partners Space and Syfy."

** Media Note ** Download photography of KILLJOYS cast at BellMediaPR.ca/Space

In KILLJOYS, Hannah John-Kamen stars as the gorgeous, complicated, and deadly Dutch. A top-level Killjoy, she's a much loved and charming presence in her community, with a unique gift for earning people's trust and respect regardless of their class. Under her banter and protective flirtations, there is pain, maturity, and a deep solemnity resulting from a dark secret past.

Aaron Ashmore takes on the role of John Jaqobis, a Level 3 Killjoy who, despite his profession, is a peacemaker who hates conflict. Cheerful and kind-hearted, John prefers not to fight, but his sarcastic wit has put him into the fray enough over the years to teach him how to do it well, and dirty. Give this man any machine or situation, and he can fix it, build it, and fly it.

Luke Macfarlane stars as D'avin, a handsome, rugged, sarcastic, and incredibly loyal former soldier. He dreamed of enlisting in the military since boyhood, and his hard-won expertise in tactics, manoeuvres, and hand-to-hand combat make him an instant asset to the Killjoy team.

KILLJOYS was created by Michelle Lovretta who also serves as executive producer and showrunner. Executive producers are David Fortier and Ivan Schneeberg of Temple Street Productions. Director and Consulting Producer is Chris Grismer. Producer is Karen Troubetzkoy. Writer and Consulting Producer is Jeremy Boxen. Writers are Emily Andras, Adam Barken, and Aaron Martin. Universal Cable Productions distributes the series worldwide.

KILLJOYS is produced by Temple Street Productions in association with Bell Media and Syfy. Production Executives for Bell Media are Trish Williams and Rebecca DiPasquale. Corrie Coe is Senior Vice-President, Independent Production, Bell Media. Catherine MacLeod is Senior Vice-President, Specialty Channels and Bell Media Production. Phil King is President, CTV, Sports, and Entertainment Programming.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:
Space on Facebook
Space on Twitter
Space on Instagram
Aaron Ashmore on Twitter
Hannah John-Kamen on Twitter

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 upcoming dramas SENSITIVE SKIN, and KILLJOYS. Bell Media specialty channels are also home to hit factual series HIGHWAY THRU HELL and CANADA'S WORST DRIVER, among others. In 2013, Bell Media ordered 27 original Canadian series and currently has 84 projects in various stages of development.

About Temple Street Productions
Temple Street Productions is a leading producer of television, film and digital media content based in Toronto and Los Angeles. A selection of Temple Street's past and present projects include ORPHAN BLACK (BBC America, Space), BEING ERICA (CBC, SOAPnet), THE NEXT STEP (Family Channel), WINGIN' IT (Family Channel), COOK'D (YTV), OVER THE RAINBOW (CBC), RECIPE TO RICHES (CBC), 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 Space
Space is home to phenomenal programming including imaginative dramas, epic movies, engaging reality series, and the daily entertainment talk show INNERSPACE, the source for all-things genre - all in high definition (HD). Named "Channel of the Year" in 2013 by Playback Magazine, Space is also home to Original Series ORPHAN BLACK and BITTEN. Space content is always available at Space.ca, and on Facebook, @SpaceChannel, and other social media platforms. Space is a division of Bell Media, which is owned by BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada's largest communications company.

About Syfy
Syfy is a media destination for imagination-based entertainment. With year round acclaimed original series, events, blockbuster movies, classic science fiction and fantasy programming, a dynamic Web site (www.Syfy.com), and a portfolio of adjacent business (Syfy Ventures), Syfy is a passport to limitless possibilities. Originally launched in 1992 as SCI FI Channel, and currently in 96 million homes, Syfy is a network of NBCUniversal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies.  NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation. (Syfy. Imagine Greater.)

SOURCE: SPACE

Natalie Cole, Space, 416.384.2140 or [email protected]
Mary Costa, Space, 416.384.7702 or [email protected]