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JOHN TORY INTRODUCES NEXT L.A. MISSION
High Park Entertainment, New Metric Media and Take 5 Productions are among the 30 companies set to take part.
APRIL 30, 2019
Toronto Mayor John Tory will head to L.A. next week to highlight the city’s production industry, meeting with studios like Apple, Netflix and Walt Disney to attract more business.
Tory will be accompanied by a delegation of 30 Toronto-based companies such as High Park Entertainment, New Metric Media, Take 5 Productions, SpinVFX, Technicolor, Panavision Canada, Mr. X, Deluxe, Cinespace Film Studios, Pinewood Toronto Studios and William F. White International. Tory made the announcement Monday at TriBro Studios in East York.
Prior to this trip, Tory previously traveled with delegations to L.A. in April 2018 and January 2017. This year’s mission will run from May 9 to 10.
In addition to facilitating meetings with studios, according to a release, the trip will also showcase how the industry’s workforce is developing to meet demand from various production entities. The announcement also noted the visit will reinforce the city’s upcoming studio space capacity, which is set to increase over the next two years.
Studio space has been a consistent issue for the Toronto film and TV industry. Previously, a 2017 FilmOntario report estimated that Toronto studios had to turn away as much as $260 million in production activity due to a lack of studio space in the prior year.
However, a raft of announcements have suggested the capacity crunch will ease in the coming years. For instance, following Bell Media’s majority stake acquisition in Pinewood Toronto Studios, the studio is in the midst of an expansion that will see it add 200,000 square feet of studio space, while Cinespace will open up a 165,000-square-foot facility in Toronto’s Port Lands. Additionally, earlier this year, Netflix announced it would establish a long-term presence in Toronto, leasing some of this space through multi-year agreements with Cinespace and Pinewood Toronto Studios.
According to the City of Toronto’s most recent production report, total foreign and domestic production spend in Toronto hit $1.96 billion in 2018 – the second-highest total ever reached by the city. Of that, major productions accounted for $1.2 billion, while commercial spend came in at $432 million and the city’s animation and VFX sector brought in $332 million.
NETFLIX's 'october faction' casts tamara taylor, j.c. mackenzie as leads
OCTOBER 12, 2018
Bones alum Tamara Taylor and J.C. MacKenzie will head the cast of October Faction, a Netflix sci-fi series based on the comic of the same name.
Taylor and MacKenzie (Molly's Game, Madam Secretary) will play Deloris and Fred Allen, a married couple who also work together as monster hunters. When they return to their upstate New York hometown after the death of Fred's father, they have to keep their hunting activity a secret while discovering the town isn't as peaceful as it seems.
The cast also includes Aurora Burghart and Gabriel Darku as Viv and Geoff, the Allen children, along with Wendy Crewson (Room, Saving Hope), Megan Follows (Reign) and Stephen McHattie (Orphan Black). Follows is also set to direct an episode.
October Faction, based on Steve Niles' IDW comic, is one of three sci-fi shows Netflix ordered straight to series in September, along with The I-Land starring Kate Bosworth and Warrior Nun, based on a manga series.
Damian Kindler (Krypton, Sleepy Hollow) adapted the comic and will serve as executive producer and showrunner. Niles, James Thorpe, Thomas Walden and Eric Birnberg also executive produce.
IDW Entertainment will distribute the series outside the United States and Canada. October Faction is the third show the company has set up at Netflix, along with Locke & Key and V-Wars.
NETFLIX GOES MONSTER HUNTING WITH "OCTOBER FACTION" SERIES FROM "30 DAYS OF NIGHT'S" STEVE NILES!
SEPTEMBER 28, 2018
Building on the success of the IDW comic book series written by Steve Niles, Netflix has ordered 10 episodes of October Faction, set to be helmed by Director X (Superfly, Mister Tachyon, Across the Line), Damian Kindler, Megan Follows (Reign, Anne of Green Gables), Mina Shum (Meditation Park, Ninth Floor) and David Frazee (Vikings, Orphan Black).
“The series follows globetrotting monster hunters Fred and Deloris Allen who, after the death of Fred’s father, return to their hometown in upstate New York with their teenage children Geoff and Viv. As the family adjusts, Fred and Deloris must hide their identities as members of a secret organization, and our heroes quickly discover that their new small-town setting isn’t as idyllic as it seems.”
Producers are John Calvert (X Company, Anne with an E) and Mohamad El Masri (Here and Now). Damian Kindler (Sleepy Hollow, Krypton) acts as showrunner. Executive Producers include James Thorpe, Steve Niles, Thomas Walden and Eric Birnberg. Co-Executive Producers are George Strayton (Mech-X4, Xena: Warrior Princess) and Melissa Blake (Sleepy Hollow, Heroes).
October Faction is produced by High Park Entertainment in association with IDW Entertainment. IDW Entertainment is the worldwide distributor.
‘V-Wars’: Peter Outerbridge Joins Netflix Vampire Drama As Series Regular
JUNE 14, 2018
Zoo alum Peter Outerbridge is set as a series regular opposite Ian Somerhalder and Adrian Holmes in Netflix’s upcoming vampire drama V-Wars, based on Jonathan Maberry’s bestselling book, from IDW Entertainment and High Park Entertainment.
The book, published in 2012 by IDW Publishing, debuted as a collection of prose stories that chronicles the first Vampire War. In the series, Dr. Luther Swann (Somerhalder) enters a world of untold horror when a mysterious disease transforms his best friend, Michael Fayne (Holmes), into a murderous predator who feeds on other humans. As the disease spreads and more people are transformed, society fractures into opposing camps pitting normal people against the growing number of these “vampires.” Swann races against time to understand what’s happening, while Fayne rises to become the powerful underground leader of the vampires.
Outerbridge will play Calix Niklos an elegant, malicious science expert on the Homeland Security Team.
Brad Turner (Human Cargo, 24, Stargate and Stargate Atlantis) will direct the pilot episode and executive produce. William Laurin and Glenn Davis will serve as showrunners. Eric Birnberg and Thomas Walden will executive produce for High Park, with David Ozer and Ted Adams for IDW Entertainment and James Gibb for Marada Pictures. V-Wars is produced by High Park in association with IDW.
Outerbridge is known for his roles as General Davies on CBS’ Zoo and Ari Tasarov on Nikita. His other TV credits include Designated Survivor, Taken and The Expanse, among others. His upcoming films include Level 16 and Code 8. Outerbridge is managed by Perry Zimel at Oscars Abrams Zimel and Associates.
‘V-Wars’: Adrian Holmes To Co-Star, Jacky Lai Cast In Netflix Vampire Drama Series
JUNE 4, 2018
Adrian Holmes (Arrow) is set to co-star opposite Ian Somerhalder in Netflix’s upcoming vampire drama V-Wars. In addition, Jacky Lai (Beyond) has booked a key role in the series based on Jonathan Maberry’s bestselling book, from IDW Entertainment and High Park Entertainment.
The book, published in 2012 by IDW Publishing, debuted as a collection of prose stories that chronicles the first Vampire War. In the series, Somerhalder will star as Dr. Luther Swann, who enters a world of untold horror when a mysterious disease transforms his best friend, Michael Fayne (Holmes), into a murderous predator who feeds on other humans. As the disease spreads and more people are transformed, society fractures into opposing camps pitting normal people against the growing number of these “vampires.” Swann races against time to understand what’s happening, while Fayne rises to become the powerful underground leader of the vampires.
Holmes’ Fayne is the lynchpin in a horrifying virus with brutal consequences. Fayne’s natural charisma, quick thinking, and natural strategic sense lead him to assume a critical role as a leader of the growing “vampire” faction in a struggle that threatens to tear society apart.
Lai will portray Kaylee Vo, a struggling young online journalist – a would-be Assange who will do or say almost anything to advance her career. A fierce, funny, hustling fringe player, she breaks the biggest story imaginable and soon finds herself a key part of that story with a growing list of deadly enemies.
Brad Turner (Human Cargo, 24, Stargate and Stargate Atlantis) will direct the pilot episode and executive produce. William Laurin and Glenn Davis will serve as showrunners. Eric Birnberg and Thomas Walden will executive produce for High Park, with David Ozer and Ted Adams for IDW Entertainment and James Gibb for Marada Pictures. V-Warsis produced by High Park in association with IDW.
Holmes recently recurred on CW’s Arrow and was the series lead on CTV and Bravo’s hit police drama 19-2. He will next be seen in Skyscraper opposite Dwayne Johnson. He is repped by Greene & Associates Talent Agency and Play Management.
Lai recently recurred on Beyond and guest-starred on Once Upon A Time and The Flash, among other credits. She’s repped by Red Management and D2 Management.
Ian Somerhalder to Star in Netflix Vampire Drama Series 'V-Wars'
APRIL 16, 2018
Netflix and Ian Somerhalder are ready to fight the V-Wars.
The streaming giant has handed out a 10-episode, straight-to-series order for vampire drama V-Wars, based on the IDW novel of the same name, with the Vampire Diaries alum set to star. The order comes as another IDW property, the beloved Locke and Key, is awaiting word on a new home after Hulu's surprising pass on the pilot.
V-Wars revolves around Dr. Luther Swann (Somerhalder), who enters a world of horror when a mysterious disease transforms his best friend, Michael Fayne, into a murderous predator who feeds on other humans. As the disease spreads and more people are transformed, society fractures into opposing camps pitting normal people against the growing number of these vampires. Swann races against time to understand what’s happening, while Fayne rises to become the powerful underground leader of the vampires.
The series is based on IDW Publishing's V-Wars franchise, written by New York Times best-selling author Jonathan Maberry. High Park Entertainment produces alongside IDW Entertainment, which will distribute the series worldwide (excluding Canada). 1-800-Missing creators William Laurin and Glenn Davis will serve as showrunners. Brad Turner (Stargate, Stargate Atlantis) will direct and exec produce. High Park's Eric Birnberg and Thomas Walden will exec produce alongside IDW Entertainment president David Ozer, IDW CEO Ted Adams and Marada Pictures' James Gibb.
"We could not have dreamed of a better choice than Ian Somerhalder to bring his keen understanding of this genre from his years of starring in The Vampire Diaries to lead the cast of V-Wars as Dr. Luther Swann and to be a creative force on this series, as well as to serve as a director this season. We are thrilled to partner with Netflix to bring the multifaceted world that Jonathan Maberry created to audiences worldwide."
V-Wars was first announced in 2014 as part of a straight-to-series deal with Entertainment One. That company, as well as the drama's original writer and producers Circle of Confusion are no longer attached. The pickup comes as IDW's Locke and Key is being shopped to other streaming outlets, among others, as the company looks to find a new home for the Carlton Cuse drama based on Joe Hill's beloved comic series. Despite multiple attempts to bring the series to both the big and small screen, IDW remains committed to finding the project a creative home.
For Somerhalder, meanwhile, V-Wars arrives a year after he signed off of The CW's Vampire Diaries following its eight-season run. He currently has a pod deal with TVD producers Warner Bros. Television with actress Nikki Reed, his wife, via their Rare Bird Productions banner. He is repped by ICM Partners, Untitled Entertainment and Morris Yorn.
V-Wars arrives as Netflix continues to spend an estimated $8 billion annually on original programming. The genre drama joins a roster of Marvel fare including the recently renewed Jessica Jones and gives the streamer a series vampire drama as The CW is prepping the final season of Vampire Diaries spinoff The Originals, while working on yet another offshoot from the franchise. The genre remains popular with NBC's Midnight, Texas, and Syfy's Van Helsing, among others.
‘Locke & Key’: Frances O’Connor To Star In Hulu Pilot From IDW Entertainment, Carlton Cuse, & Joe Hill
AUGUST 17, 2017
Frances O’Connor (The Conjuring 2, The Missing) has been cast as the lead in Locke & Key, Hulu’s one-hour horror/fantasy drama adaptation of the IDW comic by Joe Hill and artist Gabriel Rodriguez. The pilot comes from Hill, Carlton Cuse and IDW Entertainment.
Locke & Key, written by Hill and to be directed by Andy Muschietti. revolves around three siblings who, after the gruesome murder of their father, move to their ancestral home in Maine with their mother Nina (O’Connor) only to find the house has magical keys that give them a vast array of powers and abilities. Little do they know, a devious demon also wants the keys, and will stop at nothing to attain them.
Cuse, who serves as showrunner, executive produces with Hill; Muschietti’s sister, Barbara Muschietti; Lindsey Springer; Ted Adams and David Ozer of IDW Entertainment; and David Alpert and Rick Jacobs from Circle of Confusion.
“We are thrilled to have the multidimensional talents of Frances O’Connor to breathe color and life into this pivotal character in our series, and along with a stellar production team in place, we have no doubt that we will be able to bring Joe Hill’s creative vision to the small screen,” said Ozer.
Locke & Key previously was adapted as a TV series during the 2010-11 development season when it reached the pilot stage at Fox with Miranda Otto playing Nina.
Australian actress O’Connor is repped by UTA and Wishlab in the US and ARG in the UK.
