Electric Entertainment’s 10-Part Series – Based on the Noah Wyle-Starring Movie Franchise – will air in Asia within 24 hours of the US, first and exclusively on Universal Channel
Singapore, 30 June 2014 – Universal Networks International (UNI), the international channels’ division of NBCUniversal, has announced that the Electric Entertainment-produced TV series The Librarians is coming to Universal Channel – the home of “100% Characters”. The series will be aired across Asia within 24 hours of the TNT network US debut in December 2014.
Universal Channel viewers in Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Taiwan, Hong Kong and many more will all be able to tune in to Noah Wyle (Falling Skies, ER) reprising his recurring role from The Librarians movie trilogy in this brand new series starring Rebecca Romijn (X-Men) – timed to the US premiere.
Romijn is joined by Christian Kane (Leverage), Lindy Booth (Dawn of the Dead), and John Kim (The Pacific) as protectors of the world’s mystical treasures with Emmy®-winner John Larroquette (Night Court, Deception) playing their reluctant caretaker. Emmy® winners Bob Newhart (The Big Bang Theory, The Bob Newhart Show) and Jane Curtin (Kate & Allie, 3rd Rock from the Sun) are reprising their characters from the movie trilogy, at the start of the series. Matt Frewer (Max Headroom, Falling Skies) is also set to play a recurring role.
“An action-adventure drama, driven by a group of both daring and quirky characters, The Librarians is an exciting addition to Universal Channel’s programming line-up around the world,” commented Steve Patscheck, Executive Vice President, Programming, Universal Networks International. “We are pleased to be a part of this brand new series that will be timed to air within 24 hours of the US debut, giving international viewers immediate access to the all the action.”
“With The Librarians we knew we had a great series on our hands and now, with Universal Networks International as our partner, we are thrilled that it will have the global reach and publicity it deserves,” commented Electric’s Head of International Distribution Sonia Mehandjiyska.
The Librarians centres on an ancient organization hidden beneath the Metropolitan Public Library in New York dedicated to protecting an unknowing world from the secret, magical reality hidden all around. This interesting group of characters solves impossible mysteries, fights supernatural threats, and recovers powerful artefacts from around the world. Among the artefacts housed in the Library are the Ark of the Covenant, the Spear of Destiny, the Judas Chalice and Excalibur, to name a few. Only a person with special skills could be responsible for collecting and protecting these artefacts and, more importantly, for preventing them from falling into the wrong hands.
The Librarians franchise of movies began in 2004, with sequels in 2006 and 2008. The first instalment rated as US basic cable’s number one movie of the year, with the second instalment placing amongst the top five US basic cable’s movie telecasts of the year and cable’s number one original movie sequel.
The Librarians is Executive Produced by Wyle, Dean Devlin, John Rogers, and Marc Roskin.
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About Universal Networks International
Universal Networks International, the international channels division of NBCUniversal, is one of the world’s premier entertainment portfolios, delivering quality content and compelling brands to over 176 territories across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America and Asia Pacific. The brands in the portfolio include Universal Channel, Syfy, 13th Street, Studio Universal, E! Entertainment Television, The Style Network, DIVA, Telemundo and Golf Channel. These unique brands deliver a full range of entertainment experiences to local audiences across the globe.
Universal Networks International also operates Movies 24. Further, NBCUniversal News Group, one of the most influential and respected portfolios of on-air and digital news properties in the world, operate CNBC and NBC News internationally.
Universal Networks International is a division of NBCUniversal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. NBCUniversal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment television networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, world-renowned theme parks, and a suite of leading Internet-based businesses. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.
About Electric Entertainment
Electric Entertainment is a full service film, television, and new media production company and studio headed by veteran producer Dean Devlin along with Marc Roskin and Rachel Olschan. Along with Bryan Singer’s Bad Hat Harry production company, Electric produced Syfy Channel’s The Triangle, which won an Emmy® for its Visual Effects, and was the highest-rated miniseries on the cable channel since Steven Spielberg Presents TAKEN (2002). Electric’s recent film projects include MGM’s Flyboys and Sony Picture Classics’ politically-charged documentary Who Killed the Electric Car?, which was nominated by the Broadcast Film Critics Association for Best Documentary Feature.
Electric launched Electric Visual Effects (EFX), its in-house effects arm, allowing the filmmakers they work with to stretch their dollars way beyond traditional effects budget boundaries. The EFX crew has been assembled from industry veterans Devlin had previously collaborated with on his global box-office hits, including Independence Day, Godzilla, The Patriot and Eight Legged Freaks. EFX is headed by veteran visual effects producer Mark Franco, whose career spans over 25 years and includes productions such as Titanic, Batman & Robin, Armageddon and How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
Electric recently launched its international theatrical film and television sales and acquisitions division, which is headed by Sonia Mehandjiyska. Current titles include John Slattery’s God’s Pocket, the Terrence Malick-produced The Better Angels, and SXSW Award-winners Before I Disappear and Kelly & Cal.
Devlin is currently in pre-production on his feature directorial debut, Geostorm, which he is producing with Skydance Pictures’ David Ellison and Dana Goldberg and his Electric Entertainment team of Marc Roskin and Rachel Olschan.
Contact:
Universal Networks International
Haikal Jamari, Marketing & PR, South East Asia
T: (+65) 6326 1891 / (+65) 8338 3719
E: haikal.jamari@nbcuni.com
Strategic Public Relations Group on behalf of UNI
Yvonne Phoo, Manager, Singapore
T: (+65) 6325 8276 / (+65) 9101 1583
E: yvonne.phoo@sprg.com.sg
Strategic Public Relations Group on behalf of UNI
Ivan Lau, Associate, Singapore
T: (+65) 6325 8278 / (+65) 9343 0768
E: ivan.lau@sprg.com.sg