A&E has picked up the rights to air the upcoming dramatic series The Frankenstein Chronicles here in the United States. Starring Sean Bean, the crime drama is a re-imagining of the Frankenstein myth and is set in 19th century London. There are six episodes.
Here’s their announcement:
A&E NETWORK SET TO AIR THE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED ORIGINAL DRAMA SERIES “THE FRANKENSTEIN CHRONICLES” IN THE US
MYSTERY CRIME DRAMA STARRING SEAN BEAN (“GAME OF THRONES,” “LEGENDS”) IS A THRILLING RE-IMAGINING OF THE FRANKENSTEIN MYTH SET IN 19th CENTURY LONDON
SIX-EPISODE SERIES FROM RAINMARK FILMS AND DISTRIBUTED BY ENDEMOL SHINE INTERNATIONAL
New York, NY – October 7, 2015 – A&E Network will air the six-episode period mystery crime drama series, “The Frankenstein Chronicles,” produced by Rainmark Films and distributed by Endemol Shine International, in the US. The hour-long drama starring Sean Bean (“Game of Thrones,” “Legends”) is a thrilling and terrifying re-imagining of the Frankenstein Myth set in 19th century London. The announcement was made today by Elaine Frontain Bryant, Executive Vice President of Programming for A&E.
“‘The Frankenstein Chronicles’ uniquely merges classic elements from both the crime and horror genres which pairs perfectly with A&E’s growing scripted slate,” said Frontain Bryant. “We’re excited to be partnering with Endemol Shine to bring this intriguing and sophisticated series to American audiences.”
London, 1827. After a successful operation by the Thames River Police to apprehend a gang of opium smugglers, a child’s corpse is discovered. Inspector John Marlott (Sean Bean) is horrified to discover that it’s not actually a child, but a grotesque assembly of human body parts.
In Season One, we follow Marlott on the hunt for the killer behind this abomination, taking him into the dark corners of Georgian London, an underworld of prostitution, drug smuggling, bodysnatching, murder for profit and other vices. As Marlott investigates, it brings him up against the medical establishment and powerful political forces wrestling with the march of scientific progress. One thing is certain – a demonic power is at work in the city, apparently attempting to reanimate the dead in a curious parody of the celebrated novel FRANKENSTEIN.
Unable to shake the memory of what happened on the banks of the Thames but reluctant to admit the impossible, Marlott brings his enquiry to a dramatic conclusion. But in his moment of triumph, another horror is revealed which will change Marlott’s life forever.
“The Frankenstein Chronicles” was created by Emmy(TM) nominated director and writer Benjamin Ross (“The Young Poisoner’s Handbook”, “Torte Bluma”) who is also the director for all six episodes and writer Barry Langford (“Torte Bluma”).
Commissioned by ITV, executive produced by Tracey Scoffield (“Muhammad Ali’s Greatest Fight”) and Frank Doelger (“Game of Thrones”), and produced by David Tanner for Rainmark Films Ltd, “The Frankenstein Chronicles” stars Sean Bean (“Game of Thrones”), Anna Maxwell Martin (“The Bletchley Circle”), Charlie Creed Miles (“Ripper Street”), Steven Berkoff (“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”), Samuel West (“Mr Selfridge”), Tom Ward (“Silent Witness”), Ed Stoppard (“Cilla”), Elliot Cowan (“Da Vinci’s Demons”), Hugh O’Conor (“Chocolat”), Joe Tucker (“Bronson”), Kate Dickie (“Game of Thrones”), Lalor Roddy (“Hunger”), Patrick Fitzsymons (“Game of Thrones”) and Richie Campbell (“Waterloo Road”). Robbie Gee (“Snatch”), Ryan Sampson (“Plebs”), Shaun Mason (“Cilla”), Steve Wilson (“Game of Thrones”), Stuart Graham (“The Fall”), Tom Ward (“Silent Witness”) and Vanessa Kirby (“About Time”) also star.
“The Frankenstein Chronicles” is a Rainmark Films production in association with Far Moor (Executive Producers Justin Thomson-Glover and Patrick Irwin) and Agraffe Limited with funding from Northern Ireland Screen.
About A&E Network
Now reaching more than 96 million homes, A&E is the home to quality original content that inspires and challenges audiences to BE ORIGINAL. A&E offers a diverse mix of uniquely immersive entertainment ranging from the network’s original scripted series, including “Bates Motel” and “Damien” to signature non-fiction franchises, including “Duck Dynasty,” “Wahlburgers” and “Storage Wars.” The A&E website is located at aetv.com. Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/aetv and Facebook at facebook.com/AETV.
About Endemol Shine International
Global distributor Endemol Shine International has a portfolio of over 38,000 hours of owned and third party programming across scripted and non-scripted genres. This includes Broadchurch, Peaky Blinders, The Fall, Humans, The Frankenstein Chronicles, Code of a Killer, Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell, Grantchester, Kingdom, Hot in Cleveland, Home and Away, MasterChef, The Block, 24 Hours in A & E, Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown, One Born Every Minute, My Kitchen Rules, The Biggest Loser and Mr Bean.
Endemol Shine International has regionally focused distribution hubs in London, Los Angeles, Paris, Sydney, Miami, Moscow, Singapore and Mumbai, which serve broadcasters and other platforms in every market. Endemol Shine International is part of Endemol Shine Group, the new joint venture bringing together Endemol and Shine Group, to create a global content creator, producer and distributor with a diverse portfolio of over 600 revenue generating titles across scripted and non-scripted genres; coupled with digital, gaming, and distribution operations. Endemol Shine Group has creative operations in over 30 markets and in addition to its global, multi-genre library the company has the resources to deliver world-class productions to local broadcasters and other platforms across the globe. 21st Century Fox and funds managed by affiliates of Apollo Global Management, LLC jointly manage Endemol Shine Group, with each owning 50 per cent.
What do you think? Does this sound like a series that you might like to watch? Do you think it will be a hit?
I have been waiting for The Frankenstein Chronicles to air in the U.S. It will be awesome to see Sean in this series. He’s one of the Best,, miss him from GOT series. He was too good, to not still be there. Anxious for this show to start.
I’ll be watching, Sean Bean is amazing.
So what is going to happen to the cable show legend that star Sean Bean? Is TNT going cancell the show. Because they have been showing it to be coming back in November? Please answer?
Anything with Sean Bean is worth watching, so yeah, I’ll be watching 🙂
Yeah, me too.
Well, one good thing came out of this: now we know when Legends will be back. Very good show btw. Yeeeahhhhh!
I realize this is set in the 19th century, but didn’t we go thru this kind of thing before with police in NY city at about the same time and it was really terrible and very hard to understand with sets that were always dark and gave me claustrophobia. Show was Copper I think
Big mistake. Leave Sean Bean alone with Legends.
Many of us are getting tired of too many period shows. Vikings is good, but the Bastar d Executioner and some other middle English shows are too much and sometimes hard to understand dialogue-wise. Did someone leave a door open to the 1100 to 1500s?
How can he be starring in this? Has Legends been cancelled?
No, it hasn’t. Legends returns 11/2. Both shows have a limited number of episodes so he can do multiple projects.
Legends airs on November 2nd on TNT at 10:00 pm mountain time.