Lionsgate & Liberty Global partner on thriller for Starz

Scripted-logo-460_2Stephenie MeyerLionsgate 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.”

 

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