SUPERNATURAL ADVENTURE DRAMA “HOUDINI & DOYLE,” STARRING MICHAEL WESTON AND STEPHEN MANGAN, TO DEBUT IN 2016 ON FOX
International Co-Production,
From Big Talk (U.K.) and Shaftesbury (Canada),
to Premiere on U.K.’s ITV Encore in Spring 2016, followed by Canada’s Global
Series Hails From Executive Producers David Titcher, David Hoselton
and “House” Creator and Executive Producer David Shore;
Stephen Hopkins Joins as Series Director
Michael Weston (“House,” “Six Feet Under”) and Stephen Mangan (“Episodes”) have been cast in the lead roles of HOUDINI & DOYLE, a mystery adventure drama series scheduled to debut in Spring 2016 on ITV Encore and in 2016 on FOX. Inspired by true events, HOUDINI & DOYLE will draw heavily on the rich history of the period. Two great men of the 20th Century – Harry Houdini (Weston), master magician, escape artist and paranormal debunker; and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Mangan), prolific writer, creator of “Sherlock Holmes” and paranormal aficionado – grudgingly join forces with New Scotland Yard to investigate unsolved and inexplicable crimes with a supernatural slant.
Also joining the cast is breakout Canadian actress Rebecca Liddiard (“Man Seeking Woman”) as “Constable Adelaide Stratton,” whose character is the first female constable ever to work for the London Metropolitan Police Force.
The 10-episode drama was commissioned straight to series for ITV Encore in the U.K., and by Global in Canada, and licensed in the U.S. on FOX. Acclaimed director Stephen Hopkins (“24,” “Californication”) will direct the series.
“I’ve long been intrigued by both Houdini and Doyle; men who were ahead of their time, each fascinating in their own right. But the idea that these two, seemingly so different, could have been friends is almost too perfect,” said executive producer David Shore. “In Michael and Stephen, we have found two incredible actors that embody the intelligence, humor and mystique of these men who, even when viewed through the lens of history, are larger than life.”
American television and film actor Michael Weston is best known for his roles on “House” and “Six Feet Under.” He has also appeared on “Elementary,” “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” “The Office” and “Burn Notice,” among others. His feature film credits include “Garden State,” “Wish I Was Here,” “The Dukes of Hazzard” and “Coyote Ugly.”
Stephen Mangan is an English actor, best known for his starring television roles in “Episodes,” “Green Wing” and “I'm Alan Partridge.” He is an acclaimed stage actor, having been nominated for a Tony Award for his portrayal of “Norman” in Broadway’s “The Norman Conquests.” He also starred as “Bertie Wooster” in “Jeeves and Wooster in Perfect Nonsense,” which won the 2014 Olivier Award for Best New Comedy. Mangan made his feature film debut in the hit movie “Billy Elliot,” and appeared most recently on the big screen in director Ron Howard’s “Rush.”
HOUDINI & DOYLE is a U.K./Canada Treaty co-production from Big Talk Productions (U.K.) and Shaftesbury (Canada), in association with Shore Z Productions. The series is executive-produced by David Shore, creator and executive producer of the network’s long-running and award-winning medical drama, “House”; and written and created by his longtime collaborator, David Hoselton, and leading Canadian screenwriter David Titcher (“The Librarians”). Kenton Allen, Matthew Justice and Luke Alkin for Big Talk Productions; and Christina Jennings, Maggie Murphy and Scott Garvie for Shaftesbury also serve as executive producers. The series is distributed by Sony Pictures Television.
International Co-Production,
From Big Talk (U.K.) and Shaftesbury (Canada),
to Premiere on U.K.’s ITV Encore in Spring 2016, followed by Canada’s Global
Series Hails From Executive Producers David Titcher, David Hoselton
and “House” Creator and Executive Producer David Shore;
Stephen Hopkins Joins as Series Director
Michael Weston (“House,” “Six Feet Under”) and Stephen Mangan (“Episodes”) have been cast in the lead roles of HOUDINI & DOYLE, a mystery adventure drama series scheduled to debut in Spring 2016 on ITV Encore and in 2016 on FOX. Inspired by true events, HOUDINI & DOYLE will draw heavily on the rich history of the period. Two great men of the 20th Century – Harry Houdini (Weston), master magician, escape artist and paranormal debunker; and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Mangan), prolific writer, creator of “Sherlock Holmes” and paranormal aficionado – grudgingly join forces with New Scotland Yard to investigate unsolved and inexplicable crimes with a supernatural slant.
Also joining the cast is breakout Canadian actress Rebecca Liddiard (“Man Seeking Woman”) as “Constable Adelaide Stratton,” whose character is the first female constable ever to work for the London Metropolitan Police Force.
The 10-episode drama was commissioned straight to series for ITV Encore in the U.K., and by Global in Canada, and licensed in the U.S. on FOX. Acclaimed director Stephen Hopkins (“24,” “Californication”) will direct the series.
“I’ve long been intrigued by both Houdini and Doyle; men who were ahead of their time, each fascinating in their own right. But the idea that these two, seemingly so different, could have been friends is almost too perfect,” said executive producer David Shore. “In Michael and Stephen, we have found two incredible actors that embody the intelligence, humor and mystique of these men who, even when viewed through the lens of history, are larger than life.”
American television and film actor Michael Weston is best known for his roles on “House” and “Six Feet Under.” He has also appeared on “Elementary,” “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” “The Office” and “Burn Notice,” among others. His feature film credits include “Garden State,” “Wish I Was Here,” “The Dukes of Hazzard” and “Coyote Ugly.”
Stephen Mangan is an English actor, best known for his starring television roles in “Episodes,” “Green Wing” and “I'm Alan Partridge.” He is an acclaimed stage actor, having been nominated for a Tony Award for his portrayal of “Norman” in Broadway’s “The Norman Conquests.” He also starred as “Bertie Wooster” in “Jeeves and Wooster in Perfect Nonsense,” which won the 2014 Olivier Award for Best New Comedy. Mangan made his feature film debut in the hit movie “Billy Elliot,” and appeared most recently on the big screen in director Ron Howard’s “Rush.”
HOUDINI & DOYLE is a U.K./Canada Treaty co-production from Big Talk Productions (U.K.) and Shaftesbury (Canada), in association with Shore Z Productions. The series is executive-produced by David Shore, creator and executive producer of the network’s long-running and award-winning medical drama, “House”; and written and created by his longtime collaborator, David Hoselton, and leading Canadian screenwriter David Titcher (“The Librarians”). Kenton Allen, Matthew Justice and Luke Alkin for Big Talk Productions; and Christina Jennings, Maggie Murphy and Scott Garvie for Shaftesbury also serve as executive producers. The series is distributed by Sony Pictures Television.
Source:
Really great casting. The press release makes it seem like it'll end up on FOX in the summer.
ReplyDeleteI don't really know what to make of this. And I think it has low priority filler written all over it, either Fridays or Summer.
ReplyDeleteI love Stephen Mangan, I had always hoped he might play the Doctor one day. Anyway this is interesting seeing ITV team up with a main US network. Co-productions seem to be pretty popular these days.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a fun show, looking forward to it.
ReplyDeleteThat's my take also. And I don't think that's a bad idea.
ReplyDeleteI've advocated a Friday lineup of The Frankenstein Code/Houdini & Doyle. It's harkens back to the sci fi Friday which FOX has tried previously but it's also broad and somewhat procedural enough to appeal to an older skewing audience. It's FOX's best play to get scripted going on Fridays.
I don't think FOX should make a serious play for scripted Fridays when Thursdays are currently a surrender day. It makes more sense to only go after Fridays when they have Thursdays figured out. I personally think The Frankenstein Code has potential. It is too bad that it didn't come out two years ago when Sleepy Hollow was a hit as they seem compatible. But it could surprise and get an audience of its own much like Sleepy Hollow did on its freshman year. FOX is in no position yet to throw a perfectly possible solid show on Fridays out of the gate. I think TFC will end up either on Wednesdays or Thursdays and I can't really argue much against that. With Houdini and Doyle I agree but considering the state of their summer programming, I would actually prefer them trying in the summer than on Fridays, but it is a minor point.
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised FOX hasn't gone back to unscripted on Thursdays. Right now, they are trying scripted holdovers and I don't think that they'll find success going that route. What I think that FOX should be looking at is counter programming to ABC's TGIT, NBC's drama lineup, and CBS' comedies and unscripted shows have a better chance of being the ticket than dramas that will likely share an audience with one of the three other lineups.
ReplyDeleteFOX is going to need some new reality franchise to replace American Idol (and in my opinion, revisiting X-Factor is a disaster as it didn't work the first time, so I'd rule that out), and their next development cycle should be focused on finding that show, seeing if it can expand over 2 hours, and sticking it on Thursday.
I disagree. I think FOX is making the right decision by focusing on attacking Tuesdays, which a far more open day than Thursdays right now, while continuing to try to strengthen Monday and Wednesdays to some degree. A network cannot attack everything at once and recognizing that is a schedule plus in my book that warrants respect. Bones likely makes them money with syndication anyway, or else it wouldn't have been renewed, so they can know that they will be profiting on the night with that already. Sleepy Hollow is a bigger question mark and could potentially put them in the red but I doubt the show is expensive since the cast is small and not very well known anyway; if it works good, if not, no biggie anyway. I think it is better than spreading promotion around and risking spreading themselves too thin.
ReplyDeleteI'd be interested to see if there will be any last minute changes on Tuesdays. I still am not convinced at all that comedies leading into Scream Queens isn't a giant recipe for disaster. If the lead in struggles to get past a 1.0, I'm not sure what would give FOX confidence that Scream Queens could significantly rise from it. In addition, there's the issue of NBC expanding The Voice at 9 PM until mid November to attempt to blunt any progress FOX could make on the night. FOX likely was hedging that this show would go against a likely much weaker Heartbreaker in the female demos that The Voice targets.
ReplyDeleteI personally believe Scream Queens will be big enough for the lead-in and the voice to not prevent that from happening but that is a personal prediction and at this point that is anyone's guess. In any case, I do agree that the comedies and SQ ought to be swapped but I doubt FOX goes for it.
ReplyDeleteRegardless, none of that contradicts my main point that FOX is doing the right decision by focusing on that night instead of Thursday, whether or not that investment pays off.
True, we don't have enough information to know whether Tuesday or Thursday would in the long term be a stronger play, but I think that FOX has the resources to tackle both. I'm not a fan of sacrificing days for others as the risk is too high. If it fails, you walk away with nothing.
ReplyDeleteI'd imagine Sleepy Hollow was at least pricey during the first two seasons, the production quality was fantastic and very rich. I'm really hoping making the cast smaller was to preserve the look of the show for season three, it won't be the same if it looks much cheaper, ya know? Ha.
ReplyDeleteYes, "ITV Encore" is a UK channel basically catering to over-60s age range, so it won't be a big budget flashy affair.
ReplyDeleteWell it's not even a FOX co-production, so they're just licensing it from what I can tell. In other words, yes it is probably viewed as filler. But there's some good pedigree behind the show, so in the off chance it is a hit I'm sure FOX will take all the credit.
ReplyDeleteSo looking forward to this! It has all the things I like!!
ReplyDelete