NEW
FANTASY SERIES ATLANTIS FOLLOWS DOCTOR WHO 50TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL
IN BBC AMERICA’S BIGGEST SUPERNATURAL SATURDAY
EVER
From the creators of Merlin and
BAFTA award-winning series Misfits
New
York – October 24, 2013 – BBC AMERICA’s Supernatural
Saturday brings the iconic lost city to life in new 13-part
fantasy-adventure series, Atlantis. When Jason (Jack Donnelly,
Dancing on the Edge) sets out to find his father, he could never imagine
his journey would lead to a strange, yet impossibly familiar land full of
dangerous creatures, legendary heroes and palaces so vast it was said they were
built by giants –
the ancient fabled city of Atlantis. In a milestone television
event, Atlantis premieres Saturday,
November 23, 9:00pm ET/PT following the encore broadcast of Doctor Who’s
50th Anniversary Special, The Day of the Doctor, as part of
BBC AMERICA’s biggest Supernatural Saturday ever.
A young man trying to unearth
his roots and find his missing father, Jason’s search unexpectedly leads him to
this strange mythical realm – and whether he likes it or not, he isn’t leaving
anytime soon. He must now familiarize himself with their customs, earn a living,
forge alliances and fight-off otherworldly foes. Jason quickly learns that
beneath the
surface of what appears to be a magical place, is a dark and simmering past
filled with secrets and deceit to which he now seems inexplicably bound. And
when he becomes embroiled in a perilous game of politics and power, Jason will
need all the help he can get.
Befriended by an overweight,
overly-confident Hercules (Mark Addy, Game of Thrones) and the studious
young Pythagoras (Robert Emms, War Horse), Jason embarks on an adventure,
which sees him brush shoulders with a sweet girl named Medusa (Jemima Rooper,
Hex), come face to face with the fearsome Minotaur, do battle with
the dead and catch the eye and heart of the beautiful
Ariadne (Aiysha Hart, About Time), the princess of Atlantis whose family
and royal standing restricts who she may love. Accordingly, Jason discovers the
treachery of Atlantis’ rulers, including Queen Pasiphaë (Sarah Parish,
Hatfields & McCoys), a rumored manipulator of the dark
arts who has her own plans for Ariadne. Jason finds guidance and protection with
the revered Oracle (Juliet Stevenson, The Hour), who has never felt the
burden of responsibility more than when Jason arrives in Atlantis. He learns
from the soothsayer that it’s no mistake he happens upon the shores of the famed
city – it is fate. In realizing his destiny, Jason and his allies
will voyage
through a vast store of myths and legends, re-imagined for a new
generation.
Creator,
writer, and executive producer Howard Overman (Misfits), on the series:
"It is both a privilege and a delight to have the opportunity to take audiences
on a journey into the fantastical world of Atlantis. Drawing on the Greek Myths
for inspiration, we aim to tell classic, action adventure stories in unexpected
and exciting ways."
The
new 13-part series was filmed in Wales and Morocco. Executive producers are
Johnny Capps, Julian Murphy, and Howard Overman for Urban Myth Films and Bethan
Jones for BBC Cymru Wales.
CAST AND PRODUCTION
CREDITS
Jason
Jack Donnelly (Dancing
on the Edge, House of Anubis)
Hercules
Mark Addy (Game of Thrones, The Full
Monty)
Pythagoras
Robert Emms (War Horse, Kick-Ass 2)
Pasiphaë
Sarah Parish (Hatfields & McCoys,
Mistresses)
The
Oracle Juliet Stevenson (The
Hour, Bend it Like Beckham)
Medusa
Jemima Rooper (Lost in Austen,
Hex)
Ariadne
Aiysha Hart (About Time, Djinn)
Minos
Alexander Siddig (Da Vinci’s Demons,
24)
Creators
Julian Murphy (Merlin,
Hex)
Johnny Capps (Merlin,
Hex)
Howard Overman (Misfits,
Merlin)
Director
Justin Molotnikov (Shameless, Merlin)
Executive
Producer Bethan Jones (Sherlock,
Mistresses)
EPISODE
SYNOPSES:
EPISODE ONE – SATURDAY,
NOVEMBER 23, 9:00 PM ET/PT
Jason
goes searching for his father and ends up on the shores of an ancient land full
of mythical creatures and legendary heroes: the lost
city of Atlantis. But it seems the newcomer has arrived at the worst possible
time, and becomes caught in a deadly ritual from which no one has ever escaped.
EPISODE TWO – SATURDAY,
NOVEMBER 30, 9:00PM ET/PT
When a
dying old man asks for the trio’s help in locating his missing daughter, Jason,
Hercules, and Pythagoras find themselves battling the fierce worshipers of
Dionysus alongside a young woman named Medusa.
EPISODE THREE – SATURDAY,
DECEMBER 7, 9:00PM ET/PT
After
insulting the rich and powerful Heptarian, Jason and his friends are arrested
and sentenced to compete in the perilous sport of bull leaping. In order to gain
their freedom they must first survive this daunting test of bravery, but Jason’s
enemies are prepared to do whatever it takes to keep him from getting out
alive.
