ITV seeks Sanctuary

Trade magazine Broadcast reports ITV4 has secured broadcasting rights to the first season of Sanctuary, a new show starring Stargate-SG1 and Stargate: Atlantis star Amanda Tapping, which started life recently as Internet webisodes. The 20-minute web pilot gained more than 500,000 online viewers on debut.

The show centres on the dangers caused by genetic mishaps and, perhaps, deliberately engineered genetic versions of “humanity”, a darker side to the evolution of mankind which has let monsters loose in the world -- but may be the key to the future of our race.

Each webisode of Sanctuary follows the exploits of Dr. Helen Magnus (Amanda Tapping, Stargate SG-1, Stargate Atlantis) as she seeks out all manner of terrifying and monstrous creatures.

Also in the cast are Dawson's Creek actor Robin Dunne who plays reluctant protege Will Zimmerman and Emilie Ullerup, (seen in Battlestar Galactica), who plays Helen's intrepid, if somewhat reckless, daughter Ashley. Together they are drawn into a frightening and mysterious world populated by beings that defy explanation.

Sanctuary, made by Toronto-based producer and distributor Tricon Films & Television, is the creation of veteran science fiction writer and producer Damian Kindler and directed by Martin Wood (Stargate SG-1, Stargate Atlantis). Kindler, Tapping and Wood serve as executive producers along with N. John Smith.

The TV version of the drama, currently in production from Vancouver-based Stage 3 Media for the Sci Fi Channel in the US, will air later this year on ITV4, which already screens a number of cult SF TV shows from the ITV archive including The Champions, Randall & Hopkirk Deceased and UFO.

Sanctuary is probably the first television series shot almost entirely on green screen with live action actors and uses the same style as seen in feature films 300 and Sin City.

• Visit the official Santuary web site

• ITV's Sanctuary Web Site