Announced today at an exclusive network event in Toronto with Rogers Media and FX Network executives, FX Canada released the names of 11 new, exclusive series to join the network’s current roster of critically acclaimed and envelope-pushing series. Boasting the highest pedigree of producing, directing, writing, and acting talent anywhere on cable television, the new programming lineup makes FX Canada home to the hottest premium dramas and comedies on specialty television today.
“FX Canada is synonymous with the gripping, water-cooler series that make specialty television a driving force in the new media landscape,” said Scott Moore, President, Broadcast, Rogers Media. “Our strong relationship with the industry-leading programming team at the FX Networks, John Landgraf and Eric Schrier, enables us to continue to deliver the premium and world-class content that defines the FX brand.”
John Landgraf, President and General Manager, FX Networks said, “We could not be more pleased with our lineup of new series and development. FX Networks is expanding to three channels in the U.S. and is undergoing a massive programming ramp up. We have won bidding wars for some of the most high-profile projects for television and we are very excited about our future. This bodes well for our FX Canada subscribers. We’re grateful to Scott Moore and our wonderful partners at Rogers Media for their support of these initiatives.”
The newest crop of FX original series features the highest pedigree of producing, directing, writing, and acting talent anywhere on cable television and is available to Canadian viewers exclusively on FX Canada. This crop includes series produced by Academy Award®-winners Joel and Ethan Coen (True Grit, A Serious Man, No Country for Old Men), written and directed by Academy Award®-winner Charlie Kaufman (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Being John Malkovich), and starring, multi-award winner Billy Crystal (When Harry Met Sally, Monsters Inc., Analyze This), the following series – all currently in development – will soon join FX Canada’s growing roster of hit series.
Below is a list of returning drama and comedy series; new drama series and limited/miniseries; drama and comedy series in the pilot production; and drama, comedy, and limited series in the script development stage.
New Drama Series and Limited Series
The Bridge
Headlining the new summer schedule on FX Canada is the highly anticipated new crime thriller The Bridge, premiering Wednesday, July 10 at 10 p.m. ET (check local listings.) From writers/producers Meredith Stiehm (Homeland) and Elwood Reid (Hawaii Five-0), The Bridge stars Academy Award® nominee Demián Bichir (A Better Life) and Diane Kruger (Inglourious Basterds), and centres on two detectives – one from the United States and one from Mexico – who must work together to hunt down a serial killer operating on both sides of the U.S.-Mexican border. The Bridge will continue to airWednesdays at 10 p.m. ET, exclusively on FX Canada.
Fargo
Based on the Coen Brothers’ Oscar-winning crime drama of the same name, the 10-episode limited series Fargo will follow an all-new “true crime” story. The series follows a new case and new characters, all entrenched in the trademark humor, murder, and “Minnesota nice” that has made the film an enduring classic. Written by Noah Hawley (The Unusuals, My Generation) and executive produced by Hawley, Joel and Ethan Coen (True Grit, A Serious Man, No Country for Old Men) and Warren Littlefield (The Unusuals), Fargo is produced by MGM Television and FX Productions with production slated to begin this fall.
Returning Series
Joining the FX Canada schedule this summer and fall is hit comedy classic It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, which follows the lives of five ne’er-do-wells: Mac (Rob McElhenney), Dennis (Glenn Howerton), Charlie (Charlie Day), Sweet Dee (Kaitlin Olson), and Frank (Danny DeVito). Viewers are invited to catch up with Season 8 beginning Thursday, July 4 at 10 p.m. ET (check local listings) before heading into the brand new Season 9 of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia this fall, when FX Canada becomes the exclusive Canadian broadcaster of the series. Season 8 of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia airs Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET this summer; full broadcast details for Season 9 to be announced in the coming weeks.
Returning this summer, television’s favourite irreverent dog, Wilfred, howls his way back to the FX Canada schedule Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET with an all-new Season 3, premiering Thursday, June 20 (check local listings). This fall, provocative series American Horror Story returns to FX Canada with the eagerly awaited new season – Coven – set in New Orleans and starring a multi-award-winning cast, including Kathy Bates (The Blind Side) and series regular Jessica Lange. Plus, Season 4 of the adrenaline-fuelled biker drama Sons of Anarchy, and Season 5 of the fantasy football comedy The League all make their triumphant return to the FX Canada schedule ahead of Season 2 of the electrifying espionage drama, The Americans.
Drama Series Pilots
The Strain
Based on the best-selling vampire novel trilogy from Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Guillermo del Toro and author Chuck Hogan, The Strain is a one-hour high-concept thriller that tells the story of Dr. Ephraim Goodweather (Corey Stoll, House of Cards), the head of the Center for Disease Control Canary Team in New York City. He and his team are called upon to investigate a mysterious viral outbreak with hallmarks of an ancient and evil strain of vampirism. As the strain spreads, Goodweather, his team, and an assembly of everyday New Yorkers wage war for the fate of humanity itself. Del Toro and Hogan will co-write the pilot script, and del Toro will also serve as director. FX Productions will produce the series alongside award-winning writer and producer Carlton Cuse (Lost, Bates Motel) as executive producer.
Tyrant
From Emmy® and Golden Globe® award-winning producers Howard Gordon and Gideon Raff (Homeland), and Emmy®-nominated writer/producer Craig Wright (Six Feet Under, Lost), Tyrant tells the story of an unassuming American family drawn into the workings of a turbulent Middle Eastern nation. The series was created by Raff and developed by Gordon and Wright. Production is tentatively slated to begin in spring of 2013.
Comedy Series Pilots
The Comedians
Written by and starring multi-award-winning actor Billy Crystal (When Harry Met Sally, Monsters Inc., Analyze This), The Comedians is a 30-minute, single-camera comedy about a superstar veteran comedian who is reluctantly paired with a younger, edgier comedian for a late-night comedy sketch show. Crystal wrote the half-hour pilot alongside Matt Nix (Burn Notice), Ben Wexler (The Good Guys), and Larry Charles (Curb Your Enthusiasm). Charles will also serve as director. Based on the 2004 Swedish series Ulveson and Herngren, The Comedians will be produced by Fox Television Studios.
Chozen
Chozen is an animated comedy about a white rapper, recently out of prison, who uses his new survival skills in his quest for redemption. Grant Dekernion serves as writer and executive producer, Danny McBride and Rough House Pictures, the team behind Eastbound & Down, will executive produce along with Floyd County Productions. Characters will be voiced by Bobby Moynihan (Saturday Night Live), Michael Pena (Gangster Squad), Hannibal Buress (Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell), Kathryn Hahn (Parks and Recreation), Nick Swardson (Parks and Recreation), and Danny McBride (Eastbound & Down). FX Productions will produce.
How and Why
Academy Award®-winner Charlie Kaufman (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Being John Malkovich) returns to half-hour television with How and Why, the story of a man who can explain how and why a nuclear reactor works, but is clueless about life. Kaufman will write and direct the pilot and serve as executive producer. FX Productions will produce.
Limited/Mini Series Script Development
(The following series are currently in development with FX Productions. Further information and broadcast details to be announced in the coming months.)
Grand Hotel
An international luxury hotel in Paris turns into a hellish trap when it becomes the center of a terrorist attack. Written and executive produced by Richard McBrien (Merlin, Wallander), Grand Hotel will also be executive produced by Pippa Harris (Revolutionary Road, Jarhead), Sam Mendes (Skyfall, American Beauty), and Alain and Vassili Clert (Spiral).
Mayflower
This limited series is an unflinching portrait of the Puritan settlers at Plymouth Colony and their uneasy alliance with the local Native Americans. The series will be executive produced by Gil Netter (Life of Pi, The Blind Side) and marks his first foray into television. Serving alongside Netter as executive producers are Dan Carey and Paul Giamatti (Sideways, John Adams). Doug Miro and Carlo Bernard (The Sorcerer’s Apprentice) serve as writers and executive producers on the series. Produced by FX Productions in association with Touchy Feely Films.
Sutton
Based on the novel Sutton by J.R. Moeringher, this extraordinary journey begins on Christmas Eve 1969, when Willie “The Actor” Sutton – Irishman, lover, folk hero, and the most prolific bank robber in American history – stepped out of Attica Prison and boarded a plane for New York City, where he proceeded to take a reporter and photographer on a five-borough guided tour of his remarkable life and crimes. Written and executive produced by Rob Siegel (The Wrestler, Big Fan), Sutton will be executive produced by Jim Burke (The Descendants, Cedar Rapids), Michael De Luca (Moneyball, The Social Network), Alexander Payne (The Descendants, Sideways), and Jim Taylor (The Descendants, Sideways). Produced by FX Productions.
