– Canadian director Brad Peyton signs on as Landon Liboiron, Alun Armstrong, Zoe Boyle, and Allan Hawco complete star-studded international cast –
– Commissioned by Discovery Canada as its first foray into scripted series and shooting in 4K, Netflix welcomed as international broadcast partner –
– Production spans two continents, from Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and Ontario in Canada to the U.K.–
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TORONTO, Nov. 16, 2015 /CNW/ - Discovery Canada announced today that Jason Momoa (GAME OF THRONES, Batman Vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice) will lead the international cast for its ambitious new original Canadian scripted series, FRONTIER. Commissioned by Discovery Canada earlier this year and shooting in beautifully vivid 4K UHD, production is now underway in Canada and the U.K. on the thrilling and richly layered premium drama, the first original scripted series in Discovery Canada history. Created by Rob Blackie and Peter Blackie, the six-episode, one-hour drama is produced by leading Canadian independent producers Take the Shot Productions, and Factory Backwards, and will be seen around the world via international broadcast partner Netflix.
Alun Armstrong (NEW TRICKS, Braveheart), Landon Liboiron (HEMLOCK GROVE, DEGRASSI), Zoe Boyle (DOWNTON ABBEY, SONS OF ANARCHY), and Allan Hawco (REPUBLIC OF DOYLE), round out the international cast. The series also introduces Canadian newcomer, Jessica Matten.
Cinematic in scope, FRONTIER will be guided by celebrated filmmaker Brad Peyton (San Andreas, Incarnate, Journey 2: The Mysterious Island), who will direct the first two one-hour episodes of the series. FRONTIER will debut in 2016 exclusively in Canada on Bell Media platforms including Discovery, Discovery GO, and CraveTV, and on Netflix in other markets around the world.
**Media Note** Hi-resolution photography available online at BellMediaPR.ca.
"Never shying away from new, exciting, and often epic projects, Discovery enters the world of scripted series for the first time with an amazing story of worlds colliding," said Ken MacDonald, Vice-President and General Manager, Discovery. "The story of FRONTIER is rich, authentic, and teeming with strong characters portrayed by an A-list cast. We're excited for production to begin, and to partner with Netflix to take this story to international audiences."
"FRONTIER presents an outstanding opportunity for our company and we are thrilled to be in business with Discovery and Netflix on this exciting project," said Alex Patrick, President of Take the Shot.
Production is now underway in St. John's, N.L., Morrisburg, Ont., Louisbourg, N.S., and Cornwall, U.K., and will see the original world of FRONTIER begin to take shape. With seeds rooted in Canadian history, and explored for the first time on television, the action-packed and authentic fiction series follows the chaotic and violent struggle to control wealth and power in the North American fur trade of the late 18th century. Told from multiple perspectives, FRONTIER takes place in a world where business negotiations might be resolved with close-quarter hatchet fights, and where delicate relations between Aboriginal tribes and Europeans can spark bloody conflicts.
FRONTIER was officially greenlit for production by Discovery Canada in April 2015, following a 14-month development process between the network and producers. The series is produced by Take The Shot Productions and Factory Backwards, in association with Discovery, the exclusive Canadian broadcaster. Netflix is the international broadcast partner. Edwina Follows is Executive Producer for Discovery, and Ken MacDonald is Vice-President and General Manager, Discovery. Tracey Pearce is Senior Vice-President, Specialty and Pay, Bell Media. Randy Lennox is President, Entertainment Production and Broadcasting, Bell Media. For Take The Shot Productions, Alex Patrick, John Vatcher, Rob Blackie, and Peter Blackie, Allan Hawco, Perry Chafe and Michael Levine are Executive Producers. For Factory Backwards, Brad Peyton and Jeff Fierson are Executive Producers.
About Factory Backwards
Factory Backwards is the feature film and television production company founded by writer/director Brad Peyton and his producing partner Jeff Fierson. Peyton directed the Warner Bros. hit film San Andreas, which has earned more than $470 million at the worldwide box office and remains 2015's top grossing wholly original live action film. Upcoming features include New Line Cinema's Rampage, based on the 1980s arcade game, starring Dwayne Johnson, and an untitled high-concept action/adventure feature for Sony Pictures Entertainment, both of which Peyton will direct. Peyton and Fierson will produce Rampage, and executive produce the untitled project at Sony. On the television side, the duo's action/adventure series FRONTIER, starring Jason Momoa will debut on Discovery in Canada and on Netflix in other markets in 2016.
About Take The Shot Productions
Established in 2009, St. John's based Take The Shot produces a variety of scripted and unscripted projects for television. Past and current productions include the Gemini-nominated series REPUBLIC OF DOYLE, now airing in over 100 countries; the hit factual series MAJUMDER MANOR; BOY ON BRIDGE featuring Great Big Sea's front man Alan Doyle, and HBO Canada's SHAUN MAJUMDER, EVERY WORD IS ABSOLUTELY TRUE.
About Discovery Canada
With compelling real-life programming that inspires and entertains, Discovery reveals the world in all its wonder, diversity and amazement. As Canada's #1 entertainment specialty channel, Discovery offers a signature mix of adrenaline-charged stories, larger-than-life personalities and vivid imagery for viewers with curious minds. With the best non-fiction programming from Canada and around the world, Discovery captures the excitement of a passion for life – one lived fully and at its most extreme. With exceptional and immersive storytelling, the channel offers in-depth, behind-the-scenes glimpses at the extraordinary people and places that shape our world. Launched in Canada in 1995, Discovery is now available in more than eight million Canadian homes. Discovery Canada is a joint venture between Bell Media, which is owned by BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada's largest communications company, and Discovery Communications Inc. Find more information and interactive online features at Discovery.ca.
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:
Discovery Canada on Facebook: Facebook.com/DiscoveryCanada
Discovery Canada on Twitter: Twitter.com/DiscoveryCanada
Discovery Canada on Instagram: Instagram.com/DiscoveryCanada
SOURCE Discovery
Image with caption: "Discovery Canada announces GAME OF THRONES and Batman Vs. Superman star Jason Momoa to lead international cast for Canadian Original drama FRONTIER; production begins Nov. 8 in Canada and the U.K. (CNW Group/Discovery)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20151116_C4546_PHOTO_EN_545577.jpg
Renee Dupuis, Discovery Networks, 416.384.3154 or [email protected]; Sarah Goddard, Discovery Networks, 416.384.2056 or [email protected]; Cynthia Amsden, Unit Publicist, 416.910.7740 or [email protected]
The world is just awesome! With compelling real-life programming that inspires and entertains, Discovery reveals the world in all its wonder, diversity and amazement. Discovery offers a signature mix of adrenaline-charged stories, larger-than-life personalities and vivid...
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