Entertainment One, Company Pictures and MTV, in association with Astral’s The Movie Network (Eastern Canada) and Corus Entertainment’s Movie Central (Western Canada), announced today that production is currently underway in Toronto on the North American adaptation of the U.K. drama series sensation Skins. The 10-part, one-hour drama series will debut in January 2011 on MTV in the U.S. and on The Movie Network and Movie Central in Canada.
In association with MTV U.S., Skins is produced as a Canada/UK co-venture and was created by Bryan Elsley and Jamie Brittain, the father-and-son team at Stormdog Films. The series is based on the award-winning and edgy UK hit series and follows the lives of a group of charismatic, but troubled teens as they careen towards adulthood.
After open casting calls in both New York and Toronto – 1,000 teens turned up in each city – nine unknowns, aged 14 to 18 (three Americans and six Canadians) were cast in the lead roles. Now in its 5th season, Skins, which aired on E4 in the UK, quickly became a commercial and critical success, winning the 2009 BAFTA Audience Award and Best Drama Series at the 2008 Broadcast Awards.
Skins is co-produced by Entertainment One and Company Pictures, a division of ALL3MEDIA, the company that produces the U.K.’s Channel 4 series. Elsley is executive producing, along with Laszlo Barna and Michael Rosenberg of eOne and Charlie Pattinson and George Faber of Company Pictures. The deal was brokered by Greg Lipstone, of ICM, which represents Company Pictures and ALL3Media. Elsley is represented by Ted Miller at CAA. Liz Gateley and David Janollari serve as MTV executives in charge of production.
