The fantasy series may have been cancelled by NBC after one season but Merlin continues to be a big success elsewhere. The BBC ordered a fourth season (series) late last year. It’s currently being filmed and will debut in the UK this fall. Last week, Syfy officially announced that season four of Merlin would air here in the States in early 2012.
Now, it’s been announced that Merlin has been renewed for a fifth season overseas. Production on this new round of 13 episodes will go into production in March 2012. We’ll likely have to wait until Syfy sees how well season four performs before licensing number five.
Here’s the official press release:
FREMANTLEMEDIA ENTERPRISES ANNOUNCES MAGICAL FIFTH SEASON COMMISSION FOR MERLIN AT COMIC-CON SAN DIEGO
San Diego, CA – July 24, 2011 – It was today announced by FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME) that hit television show MERLIN, produced and created by Shine TV, has been commissioned for a fifth season by the BBC. The news was revealed during a special MERLIN panel at Comic-Con International panel on Sunday, July 24 that featured cast members Anthony Head, Bradley James, Katie McGrath and Colin Morgan, and executive producers and co-creators Johnny Capps and Julian Murphy.
MERLIN airs on Syfy in the United States. Season four will premiere in early 2012.
MERLIN’s success and popularity continues to flourish across the globe, FME, who has invested in the fifth season of MERLIN alongside UK broadcaster BBC One, has now sold MERLIN to over 52 broadcasters in more than 183 countries including Syfy (USA), RTL (Germany), Disney (South America), Canal + (France) and Network 10 (Australia).
David Ellender, Global CEO, FME commented, “With MERLIN now in 183 countries and both a fourth and fifth season underway, it is a truly global brand. Consistent audience figures in each territory, a strong international fan base and a fantastic cast further cement its cross generational appeal. We are continuing to work with the best broadcasters, producers and licensing partners on this brand and look forward to its on-going success.”Johnny Capps and Julian Murphy, executive producers for Shine TV, said: “We are both delighted to have a fifth season commissioned and thrilled with the worldwide success of MERLIN. We have some fantastic ideas in mind for the next stage of the journey and relish the chance to take the program to the next level!”
The fourth season of the fantasy drama, which is currently being filmed in Pierrefonds, France and Cardiff, Wales, will begin airing in Autumn 2011 on BBC One in the UK, and in early 2012 on Syfy in the US. The third season, which was broadcast in winter 2010, pulled in the highest UK ratings for the drama so far, with a weekly average of over 6 million viewers and a total of 24.3% share of the audience.
Launched in 2008, MERLIN tells the story of young Merlin in Camelot as he comes to grips with his powers and destiny. The epic fourth season of MERLIN sees Camelot on the brink of a Golden Age as the familiar blend of magic, mystery and action adventure returns. With Morgana now a dangerous outcast, Merlin must use all his power to ensure that Arthur fulfils his destiny as the Once and Future King. No further details about plot or characters have been revealed yet for the fifth season.
MERLIN stars Colin Morgan as Merlin, Bradley James as Prince Arthur, Anthony Head as King Uther, Katie McGrath as Morgana, Angel Coulby as Gwen, Richard Wilson as Gaius and John Hurt as the voice of the Great Dragon. Seasons three and four have seen a host of high-profile guest-stars including: Emilia Fox, Tom Ellis, Miriam Margoyles, Warwick Davies, Nathaniel Parker and Pauline Collins.
FremantleMedia Enterprises holds the exclusive distribution rights (excluding UK), home entertainment and licensing rights to The Adventures of Merlin. FME has secured licensing rights to produce numerous multi-territory brand extensions including a publishing and figurines range, experiential events and consumer promotions.
MERLIN is made for BBC Cymru Wales by award-winning executive producers Johnny Capps and Julian Murphy from Shine Television, with Bethan Jones as executive producer for the BBC.
The new 13 episodes of Season 5 will start filming in Wales and Pierrefonds, France in March 2012.
What do you think? Glad to hear the Merlin has been renewed? Do you want Syfy to air it too?
Image courtesy of Gary Miereanu/GT Marmots PR.
I started watching this show on Netflix. I was instantly hooked. I am just a few episodes away from finishing season three and can not wait to tune in to Syfy to see season four. I just spent a panic stricken half hour searching for any news to indicate that there will be more beyond four. I was extremely relieved to see that BBC commissioned a fifth season and am keeping my fingers crossed that Syfy will pick it up.
Please, keep going after Season 5. Horrible shows made it to 10 seasons, PLEASE KEEP MERLIN GOING. PlEaSe?
New. Bright. Brilliant writing. Overall extremely well done! Look forward to more!
Omg CAN NOT WAIT UNTIL SEASON 5 . That is AMAZING news
LOVE MERLIN! Keep it coming….
Merlin is a terrific show with a great cast and an immortal legend for a story arc. Of course this means that Syfy will gracelessly abandon it at the worst possible moment. But the good news is that they cannot “cancel” it because it isn’t theirs to cancel – they’re just a licensee. It puts up good numbers in non-US markets and there are plenty of digital customers here in the future. I hope they do 7-8 seasons and get the bulk of the legend covered.
Love merlin! been watching it overseas in iraq all year long over and over again please make a new season!!!!
I am going to invest my whole life’s savings and gamble it on placing Merlin in prime time in anyone of our major networks! I will never have second thoughts about it. It is just right there to be picked up!
It’s a shame that this “Merlin” series has not been picked up by a major network here in the USA because if I were to compare Merlin with the present broadcasting of our major channels, there are a lot of other network shows that we can do without and take Merlin as a contender. Merlin has the makings of a great television programming together with their shooting locales, their actors and actresses, the wardrobes and the great CGI’s. It is truly a shame that this type of programming has not been picked up by one of our major networks because… Read more »
toekneegee » The first season ran on NBC but the ratings were terrible.
Not enough commercials to make it viable for them I suppose
Just watched Merlin S4E13 and it was EPIC! Please continue Season 5 for all of us.
We all know syfy blah will cancelle merlin. I’m all about season 5. My hope to continue enjoyn this show is to the overseas who recognize great tv to keep it goin so i can watch it online. Ps 13 Eps is not enough. If season four is what this show could be capable of (talking about the bare it and share it moments of Arthur and lance) 😉 u know what i’m talkn bout. Lance+water+nerkerd=fan for life haulah
Please keep Merlin on! The show is wonderful,and the cast is brilliant!
There needs to be a season 5,i’ll be so deprived without Merlin episodes =[
love the show brilliant news that season five has the go ahead cant wait
LOVE MERLIN!!! I hope it goes beyond 5 seasons. There is enough stories that could push this series at least to 7 or 8 seasons. Till then, SyFy, Please RENEW!!!!!