A&E has given the go-ahead for a new scripted TV show called The Returned. It’s based on a French supernatural series, Les Revenants, and there will be 10 episodes in season one.
Here’s the official press release:
A&E NETWORK GREENLIGHTS NEW SCRIPTED DRAMA SERIES “THE RETURNED” FROM A+E STUDIOS AND FREMANTLEMEDIA NORTH AMERICA
10 EPISODE SEASON TO GO INTO PRODUCTION THIS SUMMER FROM EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS CARLTON CUSE AND RAELLE TUCKER
New York, NY – April 29, 2014 – A&E Network has given the greenlight to ten episodes of the new original scripted drama series “The Returned,” a co-production of A+E Studios and FremantleMedia North America. Carlton Cuse (“Bates Motel”) wrote the first episode, and he and Raelle Tucker (“True Blood”) will write and executive produce the series. Casting will begin immediately. The announcement was made today by David McKillop, General Manager and Executive Vice President of A&E Network.
“The Returned” is based on the popular and International Emmy(R)-award winning French suspense series adapted by Fabrice Gobert and inspired by the feature film, Les Revenants, directed by Robin Campillo. “The Returned” focuses on a small town that is turned upside down when several local people, who have been long presumed dead suddenly reappear, bringing with them both positive and detrimental consequences. As families are reunited, the lives of those who were left behind are challenged on a physical and emotional level. Interpersonal relationships are examined with intrigue and depth as strange phenomena begin to occur.
“‘The Returned’ has the potential to be one of the most compelling drama series on cable, thanks to phenomenal scripts written by Carlton and Raelle,” said McKillop. “We look forward to seeing their vision brought to life on screen.”
Commented Thom Beers, CEO, FremantleMedia North America, “‘Les Revenants’ has proven to be both a critical and commercial success worldwide and we couldn’t be more excited to partner with A&E on this adaptation. Carlton and Raelle, the creative forces behind such fantastic television as ‘Lost’ and ‘True Blood,’ are the perfect combination to bring this complicated and provocative family drama to US audiences.”
“The Returned” is co-produced by A+E Studios and FremantleMedia North America in association with Haut et Court TV SAS, the producer of the French series, for A&E Network. Executive producers are Carlton Cuse for Carlton Cuse Productions, Raelle Tucker for Angry Annie Productions and Thom Beers, Craig Cegielski and Stefanie Berk for FremantleMedia North America. FremantleMedia will distribute the series internationally, excluding the U.S. and Canada, which will be distributed by A+E Studios.
About A&E Network
Now reaching 100 million homes, A&E(R) is home to 100% original content that inspires and challenges audiences to BE ORIGINAL. A&E offers a diverse mix of high-quality, uniquely immersive entertainment ranging from the network’s original scripted series, including Bates Motel and Longmire(TM), to signature nonfiction franchises including Duck Dynasty(R), Beyond Scared Straight and Storage Wars(R). The A&E website is aetv.com. Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/aetv and Facebook at facebook.com/AETV.
About A+E Studios
A+E Studios is the in-house production arm of the award-winning global media company A+E Networks, LLC. A+E Studios commissions, creates and co-produces content across all networks and platforms under the A+E Networks portfolio, including A&E(R) Network, Lifetime(R), HISTORY(R), LMN(R), FYI(TM), H2(TM) and A&E IndieFilms(R).
About FremantleMedia North America
FremantleMedia North America (FMNA) is the U.S. arm of global media giant FremantleMedia, which includes a distribution arm, FremantleMedia International, a digital and branded entertainment division and a kids & family entertainment business. As one of the world’s largest and most successful creators, producers and distributors of TV brands in the world, FremantleMedia’s comprehensive global network has operations in 25 countries, creating over 8500 hours of programming a year, rolling out more than 60 formats and managing over 400 individual titles. FMNA and its portfolio of companies, including Original Productions and 495 Productions, produce entertaining and innovative scripted and alternative programs for network, cable, syndicated and online platforms. Their slate includes a diverse range of both critically-acclaimed and award-winning successes including “American Idol,” “America’s Got Talent,” “Family Feud,” “Let’s Make A Deal,” “The Price Is Right,” “The Great Christmas Light Fight,” “The Tomorrow People,” “Deadliest Catch,” “Married to Medicine,” “Party Down South,” “Ice Road Truckers,” “Storage Wars” “The Pet Collective,” and the upcoming “Celebrity Name Game,” among others.
What do you think? Do you think that you’ll watch this show?
Love The Returned and I hope season two answers questions why they came back and who is the little boy really is.
I watched the 1st season of the French version ” Les Revenants” and fell in love with it. I was thrilled to learn that Sundance had acquired the rights to the 2nd season of this series. So I waited. And waited. What we got was an “Americanized, English remake ” of season 1. A few of the same actors were in it, but after watching only the 1st 2 episodes, I was done with it. There is absolutely no comparison to the overall quality of the original French version and even the soundtrack that was so haunting and so much… Read more »
I like this show The Returned. Please give it a chance & don’t cancel it. It’s getting so interesting! Are they bad people, are some good & others evil? Can no one die in that town? If you kill the returned, does that person you killed come back? Why are they coming back in the first place? Why didn’t that one family’s daughter come back? Ughhhhhh! I have to know LOL
I watched season 1 of the French version of The Returned on Sundance; loved it. I have been watching season 1 of the American version of The Returned on A&E. Even the actors look similar to the ones in the French version. With the American version, I am not distracted by the subtitles. It is difficult to watch the show and read the subtitles at the same time. Looking forward to more.
Who sings the song,Wild World?
Is this just a random question, or is it relevant to the story? The original song was by Cat Stevens, and there was a semi-popular remake of it by Mr. Big in the 80’s (much better version IMO).
Cassandra Jenkins
My favorite show is The Glades. Since you have cancelled it, I’m done watching your station!!
The orginial the best show I’ve ever scene. Reseruction is a cheap ****** knockoff based off a book. Returned is based off a french movie. They I have high hopes for this but I doubt it can match the perfect setting and tone of the French original.
Exactly…they cancel one of the best written shows (The Glades ) on TV in a long time then put on a copy of another show from another station.
No I will not watch this show or any other that A & E has to offer. I have blocked A & E with a password from my digital viewing device. After they cancelled the Glades with a hold your breath season ending, I have no interest in anything they have to offer.
Sounds exactly like Resurrection on ABC. So what’s new and why should I watch this one?
isn’t this the plot to ABC’s resurrection?
It’s the other way around . Resurrection is a copy of the returned. I watched the French version last year in the UK.
It is not as simple as Resurrection being a cheap copy of the French show The Returned. This is complicated, but Resurrection is based on an American novel, which happened to be called The Returned. The French TV show The Returned is based on a French movie called They Came Back. Confusing enough for you? The similarities between Resurrection and the French show The Returned are somewhat superficial, since the story ends up going a different way. But all of these things, the French movie, the French TV show, the American book, and the American TV show all happen to… Read more »