Primeval: New World

Primeval stretched to five seasons before its run ended. Canadian broadcaster Space has now resurrected the dinosaur drama with Primeval: New World. Entertainment One is distributing and will launch it internationally at MIPCOM.

Canadian indie Omni Film (Defying Gravity) made the 13x60mins show with Impossible Pictures, which made the original series.

New World is set in British Columbia, where it was also shot and follows a team attempting to deal with prehistoric and futuristic creatures that are coming to earth through portals called anomalies. Niall Matter (Melrose Place) is the lead, playing inventor Evan Cross.

“It’s a spin-off and not a reversion, which gives us much more latitude and means both stories can sit side by side; we wanted to build on the original but to make something new and ended up with something different, but true to the brand,” says Gabriela Schonbach, partner at Omni Film and exec producer of the series.

German free-to-air broadcaster ProSieben and UK pay TV channel UKTV have acquired the show, which will debut on CTV’s Space channel in Canada this autumn and UKTV channel Watch next year. Both were investors in the BBC Worldwide-distributed seasons of the series.

“The new show has an edge, but is definitely family viewing, according to Schonbach. “It might scare little kids, but it’s family friendly,” she says. “It’s moderate in terms of gore although we show a little.”

The show: Primeval: New World
The producers: Omni Film, Impossible Pictures
The distributor: Entertainment One
Airing: CTV (Canada), UKTV(UK), ProSieben (Germany)
Concept: Spin-off from dinosaur drama Primeval