From a media release:
GLOBAL AND TF1 GREEN LIGHT NEW ORIGINAL SUSPENSE DRAMA, RANSOM
- CBS joins as broadcast partner for the new series from Entertainment One
- The Canada/France Co-Production from Entertainment One, Sienna Films (Canada), and Wildcats Productions (France) is set to Premiere in 2017
- Rising Star Luke Roberts Cast as Lead Character Eric Beaumont
- Ransom is Executive Produced by Frank Spotnitz and his Company Big Light Productions, and Created by Canadian David Vainola
Global, in partnership with France’s TF1, announced today that they have green lit 13-episode original suspense drama Ransom, with CBS (US) joining as a broadcast partner. Starring the talented Luke Roberts (Black Sails, Game of Thrones), Ransom is a Canada/France treaty co-production from global studio Entertainment One (eOne), Big Light Productions and producers Sienna Films and Wildcats Productions. Filming in both Europe and Canada in the coming months, Ransom is set to premiere in 2017.
Through his company Big Light Productions, Golden Globe® winning and Emmy® nominated screenwriter Frank Spotnitz (The X-Files, The Man in the High Castle) serves as an executive producer on the series. Created by David Vainola (Diamonds, Combat Hospital) and Spotnitz, Ransom is inspired by the professional experiences of distinguished crisis negotiator Laurent Combalbert. Laurent Combalbert and his partner, Marwan Mery, are considered to be among the top negotiators in the world. Today, they travel around the globe to help multinational corporations and governmental agencies with complex negotiations and conflict resolution.
Ransom follows crisis and hostage negotiator Eric Beaumont (Luke Roberts), whose team is brought in to save lives when no one else can. Eric understands criminals better than they do, and uses his insight into human behaviour to resolve the most difficult kidnap and ransom cases. Despite the stakes, Eric refuses to resort to violence, even when confronted by some of the most dangerous criminals in the world. While Eric’s considerable powers of manipulation make him the best at what he does professionally, they often complicate his relationships with family, friends and colleagues. Is Eric being himself, or who he needs to be in order to get what he wants? The difference is often hard to tell. The series begins with Eric taking on Maxine Carlson, a new member of the team eager to prove herself. But a dangerous secret from Maxine’s past may pose a threat that even the great Eric Beaumont is unable to resolve.
Ransom is a Canada-France treaty co-production and will be co-produced by eOne; Jennifer Kawaja and Julia Sereny via their Sienna Films banner; and Valerie Pechels and Odile McDonald of Wildcats Productions; while Spotnitz via his Big Light Productions banner will executive produce. Ransom has been co-developed by TF1 and Corus Entertainment Inc., with the participation of the Centre National du Cinema et de l’Image Animé in France as well as Canada Media Fund, and will be produced with the financial assistance of the Ontario Film and Television Tax Credit and the Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit.
eOne controls worldwide rights to the series, excluding French-speaking territories.
Yawn. Sounds like another boring unoriginal procedural.