ITV acquires sci-fi drama

ITV has acquired the UK rights to Sanctuary, a new sci-fi series from the creators of Stargate: SG-1.

The deal was brokered by ITV's director of acquisitions, Jay Kandola, on behalf of Dave Fewings, channel editor of ITV4, which will air the drama later this year.

Sanctuary is made by Toronto-based producer and distributor Tricon Films & Television.

It is 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. The result blends detailed 3D backgrounds with live action and game-style cinematics to give a graphic novel feel.

Sanctuary began on the internet in May 2007, where it was the world's first high-definition sci-fi web series. Its 20-minute pilot gained more than 500,000 online viewers within the first month.

Fewings said: "Coming from the team behind Stargate and starring Amanda Tapping, Sanctuary couldn't have a better sci-fi pedigree. It's absolutely at the cutting edge of the genre."

The drama is currently in production by Vancouver-based Stage 3 Media for the Sci Fi Channel in the US as well as Astral Media's The Movie Network and Corus Entertainment's Movie Central in Canada.

Source: Broadcast Now