SYFY GREENLIGHTS LEV GROSSMAN’S NEW YORK TIMES BEST-SELLING FANTASY THE MAGICIANS TO SERIES
UNIVERSAL CABLE PRODUCTIONS TO BEGIN FILMING IN JULY
NEW YORK – May 4, 2015 – Continuing its commitment to developing bold, high profile scripted dramas, Syfy today announced it has greenlit The Magicians to series.
Based upon Lev Grossman's best-selling books, The Magicians stars Jason Ralph (A Most Violent Year, Aquarius) as Quentin Coldwater, a brilliant grad student who enrolls in Brakebills College for Magical Pedagogy, a secret upstate New York university specializing in magic. He and his 20-something friends soon discover that the magical fantasy world they read about as children is all too real - and poses grave danger to humanity. Stella Maeve (Chicago P.D.), Hale Appleman (Teeth), Arjun Gupta (Nurse Jackie) and Summer Bishil (Towelhead, Lucky 7) also star in this one hour drama.
Groundswell Productions' Michael London and Janice Williams (Milk) will executive produce. John McNamara (Aquarius) and Sera Gamble (Supernatural), writers of the pilot, will serve as executive producers. Mike Cahill (I Origins) directed the pilot. Universal Cable Productions will serve as the studio.
"The Magicians pilot beautifully delivers a world filled with wonder, fantasy and intrigue," said Dave Howe, President, Syfy. "We can't wait to delve deeper into the lives of Quentin and his college friends, as they struggle with the enormity of their burgeoning POWERS - and unleash them upon the world."
"Ever since 'The Magicians' was published I've wanted to see this story on screen," said Lev Grossman. "The people, the school, the other worlds, the magic. I'm so thrilled that it's finally happening, and I'm beyond thrilled that we found the right people to do it. Get ready; you've never seen anything like this."
"Lev is a visionary world-creator. It's an awesome responsibility to honor the novels' core audience and also to translate that vision to the screen," said Jeff Wachtel, President and Chief Content Officer, NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment. "We are lucky to have Sera Gamble, Michael London, John McNamara and Janice Williams as the team bringing this series to life."
Lev Grossman's "Magicians" trilogy is an international sensation, published and widely praised in more than twenty countries. The epic conclusion to the series, "The Magician's Land," opened at #1 last summer on the New York Times Hardcover Best Seller's list, and was widely acclaimed as one of the best books of the year.
The twelve episode season will begin shooting in Vancouver in July.
The Magicians joins Syfy's impressive roster of high-profile scripted and development projects, including the December 2015 10-part series The Expanse, starring Thomas Jane; Arthur C. Clarke's epic mini-series Childhood's End, also set to premiere this December; Gale Anne Hurd's 13-episode thriller Hunters; David Goyer's Superman prequel, Krypton; and Incorporated, a pilot thriller from Matt Damon and Ben Affleck.
About Universal Cable Productions
Universal Cable Productions (UCP) creates innovative and critically acclaimed original scripted and digital content across media platforms for domestic and international distribution. UCP's content library spans classics such as Emmy-award winning, "Monk," and critic and fan favorites "Psych," "Battlestar Galactica," and "Warehouse 13." In the U.S., UCP's programming can be seen across various networks, including: "Dig," "Playing House," "Royal Pains," "Satisfaction" and "Suits" on USA Network; "Ascension," "Defiance," "Dominion," and "12 Monkeys" on Syfy; "Girlfriends' Guide To Divorce" on Bravo; "Difficult People" on Hulu; "Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome" on Machinima Prime/YouTube, Syfy and DVD/Blu-Ray; and "Side Effects" on Awesomeness TV/YouTube. Universal Cable Productions is a part of NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment, a division of NBCUniversal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies. Follow us @UCPisTV.
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.)
UNIVERSAL CABLE PRODUCTIONS TO BEGIN FILMING IN JULY
NEW YORK – May 4, 2015 – Continuing its commitment to developing bold, high profile scripted dramas, Syfy today announced it has greenlit The Magicians to series.
Based upon Lev Grossman's best-selling books, The Magicians stars Jason Ralph (A Most Violent Year, Aquarius) as Quentin Coldwater, a brilliant grad student who enrolls in Brakebills College for Magical Pedagogy, a secret upstate New York university specializing in magic. He and his 20-something friends soon discover that the magical fantasy world they read about as children is all too real - and poses grave danger to humanity. Stella Maeve (Chicago P.D.), Hale Appleman (Teeth), Arjun Gupta (Nurse Jackie) and Summer Bishil (Towelhead, Lucky 7) also star in this one hour drama.
Groundswell Productions' Michael London and Janice Williams (Milk) will executive produce. John McNamara (Aquarius) and Sera Gamble (Supernatural), writers of the pilot, will serve as executive producers. Mike Cahill (I Origins) directed the pilot. Universal Cable Productions will serve as the studio.
"The Magicians pilot beautifully delivers a world filled with wonder, fantasy and intrigue," said Dave Howe, President, Syfy. "We can't wait to delve deeper into the lives of Quentin and his college friends, as they struggle with the enormity of their burgeoning POWERS - and unleash them upon the world."
"Ever since 'The Magicians' was published I've wanted to see this story on screen," said Lev Grossman. "The people, the school, the other worlds, the magic. I'm so thrilled that it's finally happening, and I'm beyond thrilled that we found the right people to do it. Get ready; you've never seen anything like this."
"Lev is a visionary world-creator. It's an awesome responsibility to honor the novels' core audience and also to translate that vision to the screen," said Jeff Wachtel, President and Chief Content Officer, NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment. "We are lucky to have Sera Gamble, Michael London, John McNamara and Janice Williams as the team bringing this series to life."
Lev Grossman's "Magicians" trilogy is an international sensation, published and widely praised in more than twenty countries. The epic conclusion to the series, "The Magician's Land," opened at #1 last summer on the New York Times Hardcover Best Seller's list, and was widely acclaimed as one of the best books of the year.
The twelve episode season will begin shooting in Vancouver in July.
The Magicians joins Syfy's impressive roster of high-profile scripted and development projects, including the December 2015 10-part series The Expanse, starring Thomas Jane; Arthur C. Clarke's epic mini-series Childhood's End, also set to premiere this December; Gale Anne Hurd's 13-episode thriller Hunters; David Goyer's Superman prequel, Krypton; and Incorporated, a pilot thriller from Matt Damon and Ben Affleck.
About Universal Cable Productions
Universal Cable Productions (UCP) creates innovative and critically acclaimed original scripted and digital content across media platforms for domestic and international distribution. UCP's content library spans classics such as Emmy-award winning, "Monk," and critic and fan favorites "Psych," "Battlestar Galactica," and "Warehouse 13." In the U.S., UCP's programming can be seen across various networks, including: "Dig," "Playing House," "Royal Pains," "Satisfaction" and "Suits" on USA Network; "Ascension," "Defiance," "Dominion," and "12 Monkeys" on Syfy; "Girlfriends' Guide To Divorce" on Bravo; "Difficult People" on Hulu; "Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome" on Machinima Prime/YouTube, Syfy and DVD/Blu-Ray; and "Side Effects" on Awesomeness TV/YouTube. Universal Cable Productions is a part of NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment, a division of NBCUniversal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies. Follow us @UCPisTV.
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.)
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This is definitely the type of show I'd need to see a trailer for to decide if I'll watch or not, I hope it turns out good though.
ReplyDeleteI really have to read the books now but I have so many. LOL, I'll get to them eventually but I can't wait for this show. It sounds really interesting!
ReplyDeleteSounds good. Can't wait for some promos..
ReplyDeleteI guess cable succeeded in getting another "magic" series on TV before broadcast in spite of numerous attempts to do so. In the last few years broadcast networks had magical cop procedural pilots, magic medical procedural pilots, and magic/conspiracy pilots that all went nowhere.
ReplyDeleteI hope it's good. Syfy could use a hit show.
Sounds like my type of show as well, though if only it was not on syfy.
ReplyDeleteYAWN
ReplyDeleteIt sounds alright, but I'll need to see a promo or two to decide.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure that's possible.
ReplyDeleteAgreed. There have been plenty of concepts for Syfy shows that seemed intriguing in print then miss the mark by the time you see footage.
ReplyDeleteYikes. That's not a good sign.
ReplyDeleteWell, I don't know much about the lead actor Jason Ralph but it seems like he has his work cut out for him.
ReplyDeleteOmggg yay finally. Anyways do you guys think any network pilots will get picked up today?
ReplyDeleteHell yes!!!! Been crossing my fingers for this one. I just hope it has good production value and is not like Syfy's latest fantasy offerings.
ReplyDeleteDidn't SYFY try another similar series little over 7years ago I believe the actor now is on Arrow as the police detective. I remember the show didn't last past 12episodes before being cancelled .
ReplyDeleteThe Dresden Files?
ReplyDeleteOlympus being one of them. Hopefully Killjoys is good.
ReplyDeleteThe books were ok but the fact that Sera Gamble is involved makes me leery.
ReplyDeleteKilljoys isn't SyFy though it's Space. It looks good but the love triangle is really putting me off. Dark Matter is the one I'm most looking forward to.
ReplyDeleteSo this is why Stella Maeve left Chicago PD
ReplyDeleteAh, when Bruce said SYFY I was thinking the network in general, not the genre. My bad.
ReplyDeleteMagician arrives to the executives office
ReplyDeleteM: Allow me to show you a trick that will make you go wow!
E: Ok! Show us what you got?
M: Did you see it?
E: See what?
M: My Trick
E: Um what trick?
M: The trick is that you guys have made good shows disappear over the years! *Smoke*
my heart is still shattered over that...:(
ReplyDeleteWill keep my eye on this...
ReplyDeleteNo love triangle in killjoys!!!! it was abandoned.
ReplyDeleteSounds like it could be interesting, but I'll need trailers, promos and more info...
ReplyDeleteAs much as I want to, I don't plan on reading the books yet though. I have way too many on my "to read" list already, I'm not starting anything new until I make a decent dent in what I have right now.
Nice. Been waiting to hear about this.
ReplyDelete