Supernatural crime drama inspired by the unlikely real-life friendship between Sherlock Holmes author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and illusionist Harry Houdini is headed to the small screen in the U.S., U.K. and Canada. I’ve learned that Sony Pictures TV has sold the 10-episode series to Fox, U.K.’s ITV and Canada’s Shaw Media. Titled Houdini and Doyle, the drama, which will go straight to series, hails from The Librarian franchise creator David Titcher, House creator David Shore and House writer-producer David Hoselton. Canada’s Shaftesbury and UK’s Big Talk co-produce, with Sony TV, where Shore is under an overall deal, distributing worldwide. Fox had no comment.
In Houdini and Doyle, two of the great characters of the twentieth century – Harry Houdini, master magician, escape artist and paranormal debunker – and Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of the greatest detective of all time, and paranormal aficionado – grudgingly join forces to investigate crimes with a supernatural slant. Although they’re both rich, famous, and brilliant, they’re the original odd couple — Houdini believing in nothing, Doyle in everything.
Houdini and Doyle were born fifteen years apart into dramatically different families — Doyle, the educated product of a proper Scottish upbringing, and Houdini, the self-made son of a Hungarian immigrant. The two men, whose physical appearances also were in stark contrast, stroke an unusual and often rocky friendship based to their mutual interest in Spiritualism.
In Houdini and Doyle, two of the great characters of the twentieth century – Harry Houdini, master magician, escape artist and paranormal debunker – and Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of the greatest detective of all time, and paranormal aficionado – grudgingly join forces to investigate crimes with a supernatural slant. Although they’re both rich, famous, and brilliant, they’re the original odd couple — Houdini believing in nothing, Doyle in everything.
Houdini and Doyle were born fifteen years apart into dramatically different families — Doyle, the educated product of a proper Scottish upbringing, and Houdini, the self-made son of a Hungarian immigrant. The two men, whose physical appearances also were in stark contrast, stroke an unusual and often rocky friendship based to their mutual interest in Spiritualism.
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Its a bit weird ITV are involved with this as they just aired another series with Doyle in a detective type role, Arthur and George. Maybe they just really love Doyle.
ReplyDeleteAnother weird one.
ReplyDeleteAm I reading this right? Am I drunk? Is Fox drunk?
ReplyDeleteWhat the heck? This sounds so weird.
ReplyDeleteWhat the... It just weird...
ReplyDeleteIt wouldn't surprise me at all to see this show paired with Sleepy Hollow, likely on Fridays. When I read the concept, the natural schedule companion was Sleepy Hollow.
ReplyDeleteI think it should be a summer series, it's an import anyway.
ReplyDeleteSounds weird... yet interesting. I'll watch. It's a British import seems like so FOX probably won't have much creative control anyway. But if they were to pick up Lucifer that means they'd have Sleepy Hollow, Lucifer which has been retooled to be a procedural, and this. I feel this show in particular would be better suited as a summer series, or late spring. (Hoping SH returns this fall since it's 18 episodes.)
ReplyDeleteIf Constantine gets renewed and The Brothers Grimm makes it to series I'll have so many procedural-ish fantasy shows to watch. Awesome.
Well, it doesn't saw where it will air first. Maybe simulcast in all 3 countries?
ReplyDeleteI still can't figure out how they are going to manage to pull off Lucifer as a procedural. It's a take to try to make it more syndication friendly, but it doesn't really work with the subject matter.
ReplyDeleteI agree. It clearly is intended for summer with the reduced cost and limited episode number. Nor will it be Sleepy Hollow's schedule companion.
ReplyDeleteAll it's intended to be right now is a FOX show. Anything about reduced cost or limited episodes is speculative, besides the initial 10 episode order.
ReplyDeleteXYZ, please continue to ignore my posts as you stated you would do last time you were banned here. My post in its entirety: "I agree. It clearly is intended for summer with the reduced cost and
ReplyDeletelimited episode number. Nor will it be Sleepy Hollow's schedule
companion." was not addressed to you, it was directed in agreement with CGS, nor involve you in any way. Thank you.
You addressed my post so I responded. And now you've gone on another tirade, so I'll just request that the moderators look at this and take the appropriate action again on your account so that you can cool down.
ReplyDeleteMy post was a reply to CGS. But no matter, as you seem to be unable to participate within accordance with this site, I do encourage bringing this post to the moderator's attention as certainly I have as well. I hope you have a better day than trying to pick fights on a message board.
ReplyDeletePlease Jacos, do as the moderators say and just leave. Your posts will be removed anyway as before and no one wants to read another tirade from you.
ReplyDeleteAgain, I will copy what XYZ has written, since he or she likes to edit their posts, "Please Jacos, do as the moderators say and just leave. Your posts will
ReplyDeletebe removed anyway as before and no one wants to read another tirade from
you." for moderator attention. Again, I never addressed this individual and they are still trying to instigate a fight. I will continue to ignore him or her.
" I will continue to ignore him or her."
ReplyDeleteThank you. Please do not continue responding with me in accordance to your own words. And please stop going on tirades, as you are well known to do.
LMAO this speaks "
ReplyDeleteAbraham Lincoln vs. Zombies
" in so many lvls. I cant even
UK posters....ITV dramas are usually longer than 43 minutes? Would this series be made for American TV and a 43 minute episode or will FOX cut the episodes for American TV?
ReplyDeleteThis could be interesting if they do something similar to Luther or Hinterland and each crime/case takes 2 episodes to solve instead of one single episode.
Not even an Empire lead in could get me to watch this... I'll pass... Here's hoping Scream Queens is a hit... Loved Keke Palmer Promo last night
ReplyDeleteSounds weird but then when I think of shows like Sleepy Hollow it's not actually that out there of a concept. I mean Sleepy Hollow was a surprise hit. And the Librarians has kind of a similar but more cheesy fun premise as well and it got a second season (which I am looking forward too). So I won't completely pan it based of this synopsis considering that other shows have managed to work the odd angle of the story.
ReplyDeleteITV is a commercial channel, so episodes would be around the 40 minute mark. Broadchurch is an ITV show, to give you an idea of the length of one of it's hour slots.
ReplyDeleteI really want this show to work. It sounds as if it going to be Supernatural but set in Victorian England (and possibly the US & Europe as well). I loved the idea of Sanctuary with Amanda Tapping but it just looked too cheap. And I will just say STEAMPUNK!
ReplyDeleteI only want it if it trumps even fan-fiction in the homo-eroticism department.
ReplyDeleteOtherwise, hell no.
I feel like Frankenstein if picked up will end up being Sleepy Hollows schedule companion. They're both modern day adaptions of supernatural Halloween stories.
ReplyDeleteNice! Fox always has such interesting shows, it sucks how axe happy they are. Hopefully this turns out good.
ReplyDeleteHmm. Sounds like something that will either work fantastically or fail immensely. I personally hope it's the former.
ReplyDeleteBroadchurch season 2 episodes were around 46 mins, even if they edited out the "previously on" segment, Fox would likely cut at least two mins out of each episode.
ReplyDeleteMeh not to be shallow but I'd only want that if they cast beautiful men who looked nothing like the real guys lol. I don't see it happening. Maybe if FOX had full creative control but I doubt they'll have a majority say. Haha
ReplyDeleteI'll lean towards the former. And what's with everyone remarking it's a weird premise when they're always otherwise complaining everything is a copy of each other. Shows with weird premises are what I watch TV for.
ReplyDeleteCould work... also I wouldn't be surprised if it's gonna film in Toronto...
ReplyDeleteIt's a co production so I can see it being reserved for a summer run, kinda like Rookie Blue is for ABC...
ReplyDeleteThe more beautiful they are, the more homo-erotic this show better be.
ReplyDelete