Laura Vandervoort Gets BITTEN: Canadian-Born Actress to Star in New Space Original Series

− From No Equal Entertainment, Hoodwink Entertainment, and Entertainment One, BITTEN begins production in Toronto in April -

- The series is based on the novels by acclaimed bestselling Canadian author Kelley Armstrong −

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TORONTO, March 9, 2013 /CNW/ - As revealed to fans today at Toronto ComiCon, Toronto-born actress Laura Vandervoort (SMALLVILLE, Ted) is set to star in the new Space original series BITTEN, produced by No Equal Entertainment, Hoodwink Entertainment, and Entertainment One (eOne). Set in Toronto and Upstate New York, Vandervoort stars as Elena Michaels, the world's only female werewolf. Based on the critically-acclaimed Women of the Otherworld novels by Canadian author Kelley Armstrong, BITTEN is set to begin production in Toronto next month, and additional casting for the 13-episode series will be announced soon.

A foster child, Elena thought she finally found her "happily ever after" with her new love Clayton, but with one small bite, her life was changed forever and she was forced to survive life with the Pack as a werewolf. Years later, Elena has found refuge in Toronto, working as a photographer and dating a new man. But when bodies turn up in the backwoods of Stonehaven, the rural mansion that has served as a werewolf sanctuary for generations, the perfect life Elena has constructed begins to crumble. With the Pack threatened by an unknown predator, they turn to Elena for help. Caught between two worlds and two loves, Elena returns to Stonehaven out of duty, but once back in the fold she realizes that when push comes to shove, like any true alpha female, she'll stop at nothing to defend her family.

"Laura has complexity and strength, and is also very relatable, making her the perfect fit for a character struggling to maintain the life she desires, while fighting against who she really is, and for those she loves," said Corrie Coe, Senior Vice-President, Independent Production, Bell Media. "Well-known to genre fans, Laura's star power is sure to stir up even more excitement for this already buzzed-about series."

"Laura possesses the perfect balance of beauty, strength, and charm," said J.B. Sugar, Executive Producer, No Equal Entertainment. "She has been on our casting radar since we started developing the series and we are ecstatic to have her as our lead character."

An emotionally charged thriller, BITTEN examines the age-old battle between man and beast as human and inhuman forces come to a head in one small town - with Elena at the centre.

About Laura Vandervoort
Vandervoort is a uniquely versatile actress crossing genres from intense dramas to action to comedy. Recognized regularly from her performance as Tanya in the summer's biggest comedy hit, Ted, and already well-known for her roles on the hit CW series SMALLVILLE and the ABC network series V, Vandervoort continues to garner a significant international fan base of men and women of all ages. From being listed in Maxim's 'Top 100 Hottest Women' two years in a row, to recently spearheading a national PETA campaign, Vandervoort enjoys a personal life as diverse as her career.

Vandervoort earned her first key role at the age of 13 on the children's series GOOSEBUMPS, followed by ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE DARK? While attending York University, Vandervoort landed a lead role on the CTV/Teen Nick TV series INSTANT STAR, which ran for four seasons.

Vandervoort's credits have been numerous since then. From her first feature, The Lookout with Jeff Daniels and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, to This Means War with Chris Pine and Tom Hardy, to the many other film and television guest appearances in between.

A second degree Black Belt in Shotokan Karate, Vandervoort spends considerable time maintaining a rigorous fitness regime. She has also written the first in a series of children's books which may see her role evolve to writer/producer.

BITTEN is based on the critically-acclaimed series of novels from Kelley Armstrong, a Globe and Mail and New York Times bestselling author. Originally from Sudbury, ON, Armstrong's first book, Bitten, was released in 2001 by Random House Canada. She has since written 12 additional books in the Women of the Otherworld series, with the final book, Thirteen, released last year. Armstrong still lives in Southwestern Ontario with her husband, kids, and far too many pets.

BITTEN is executive produced by J.B. Sugar (THE COLLECTOR, JPOD) for No Equal Entertainment, and John Barbisan and Patrick Banister (WHISTLER) for Hoodwink Entertainment. Daegan Fryklind and Grant Rosenberg are executive producers and co-show runners. eOne is distributing the series internationally.

BITTEN is produced by No Equal Entertainment, Hoodwink Entertainment, and eOne in association with Space. Rebecca DiPasquale and Tom Hastings are Production Executives, Drama, Bell Media. Trish Williams is Director of Drama, Independent Production, Bell Media. 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.

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About Entertainment One
The company's comprehensive network extends around the globe including Canada, the US, the UK, Ireland, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, Benelux, France, Germany, Scandinavia, South Africa and South Korea.  Through established Entertainment and Distribution divisions, the company provides extensive expertise in film distribution, television and music production, family programming and merchandising and licensing. Its current rights library is exploited across all media formats and includes more than 35,000 film and television titles, 2,700 hours of television programming and 45,000 music tracks. http://www.entertainmentonegroup.com/

About Bell Media Independent Production
Bell Media has commissioned and co-produced some of Canada's most-watched and most-acclaimed original programming, while working with the best Canadian independent producers in the country. Hit CTV series include ratings success stories SAVING HOPE and THE LISTENER, and the recently concluded game changer FLASHPOINT. New for 2013 on CTV are the drama series MOTIVE and PLAYED (working title), relationship comedy SATISFACTION, THE AMAZING RACE CANADA, a Canadian-produced, complementary version of the hit international series, and the half-hour comedy SPUN OUT. Scripted series on Bell Media specialty channels include two-time Emmy^®-nominated hit DEGRASSI, and the upcoming dramas ORPHAN BLACK and BITTEN, and reality series PANIC BUTTON. In total, Bell Media ordered 26 new original Canadian series in 2012, and put 35 scripted projects into development.

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). Also home to upcoming original programs ORPHAN BLACK, PANIC BUTTON, 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.

- Space -

SOURCE: SPACE

Andrea Allen, Space, 416.384.5375 or [email protected]
Christy Sullivan, Space, 416.384.3624 or [email protected]