Lionsgate & Liberty Global partner on thriller for Starz

Lionsgate and Liberty Global have partnered up to produce new spy thriller The Rook for the premium pay platform Starz.

The series will air on the Lionsgate-owned Starz platform in the US next year.

At the same time, Liberty Global will feature the series exclusively on-demand across Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean. Lionsgate will distribute the series worldwide.

The Rook is a series produced by Twilight Saga creator Stephenie Meyer (pictured), with Kudos co-founder Stephen Garrett serving as showrunner and executive producer.

The news comes as Liberty looks to make a scripted push across its various pay TV platforms. Just last year, All3Media agreed to produce four original drama series for the US cable giant, its co-parent.

In addition, Liberty-backed Platform One Media also launched to further the push, with ex-Gaumont Television CEO Katie O’Connell Marsh leading he new business.

This month Starz, which Lionsgate acquired for US$4.4 billion last year, also made a commitment to grow its on-demand content offering by 40% for the end of 2017.

Bruce Mann, Liberty global chief programming officer, said: “The Rook is another important step in Liberty Global’s premium scripted content strategy. Shot in the UK, this project is a perfect fit for Virgin Media as well as our other European markets.”

Lionsgate Television Group chairman Kevin Beggs and president of worldwide television and digital distribution, Jim Packer, said in a statement: “The Rook is a major premium property driven by an amazing creative team, and it’s not only a terrific addition to the Starz platform but the perfect series to launch a content alliance with our friends at Liberty Global.”