Starz's "Da Vinci's Demons" To Premiere At MIPTV

PARIS, Jan. 16, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- MIPTV today announces that Starz Entertainment's brand new drama Da Vinci's Demons, will debut as MIPTV's 2013 World Premiere TV Screening in Cannes, France. International buyers and media will get an exclusive international preview of the eight-part series' first episode in the Palais des Festivals' Grand Auditorium on Monday 8 April. Organised by Reed MIDEM, MIPTV will take place in Cannes from 8-11 April 2013.

The screening of Da Vinci's Demons will be followed by an on-stage conversation with writer and showrunner David S. Goyer, along with the series' principal cast Tom Riley and Laura Haddock. The talent will later walk the red carpet to attend the MIPTV opening night party.

Produced by Adjacent Productions for Starz Entertainment, Da Vinci's Demons is being sold internationally at MIPTV by BBC Worldwide.

Da Vinci's Demons is a historical fantasy following the 'untold' story of the world's greatest genius during his turbulent youth in Renaissance Florence. The series reveals the secret history of Leonardo Da Vinci, a young man tortured by the gift of superhuman genius. The Italian painter and inventor – a bastard son who yearned for legitimacy – finds himself in the midst of a conflict between truth and lies, religion and reason, past and future.

British actor Tom Riley (Monroe, Arcadia, Bouquet of Barbed Wire, Posh, My City) stars in the title role. Riley has received wide critical acclaim in the UK for his performances in theatre, film and on television, one of his best-known roles being in ITV's drama series Monroe. Laura Haddock (The Inbetweeners Movie, Upstairs, Downstairs, Storage 24, Strikeback, Missing) plays Lucrezia Donati, the mistress of Lorenzo Medici and Da Vinci's lover. Haddock is a 27-year-old regular of British television.

David S. Goyer, co-writer of critically-acclaimed blockbusters The Dark Knight trilogy and Man of Steel, is Da Vinci's Demons' showrunner, writer, executive producer and director of some episodes. "Given that Da Vinci was the model for the Renaissance Man, these were incredibly large shoes to fill," commented Goyer. "Leonardo had to be smart, witty, and incredibly confident. He also had to be tormented, because as a true visionary and polymath he was ostracised for his ideas as much as he was celebrated. Tom came in and was able to effortlessly combine all of those elements."

Jane Tranter, Head of Adjacent Productions, added: "The young life of this incredibly complex and brilliant man had not yet been explored. With David Goyer, whose imagination has created juggernaut and iconic theatrical features, coupled with the premium presence of Chris Albrecht, Carmi Zlotnik and their Starz team, we couldn't be more passionate about bringing this story to international audiences."

Julie Gardner (Torchwood, Doctor Who) is also executive producer, along with Adjacent's Tranter (Rome, Little Dorrit). Production on the series began in summer 2012, and Starz will launch the show in the US in 2013. BBC Worldwide will distribute the series in international territories.  FOX International Channels has acquired first window Pay-TV rights in all its broadcasting markets, and is planning to premiere the series in tandem with Starz US. 

"We are delighted and honoured that Starz and BBC Worldwide have chosen MIPTV to premiere Da Vinci's Demons to an international audience, in the presence of its lead cast and distinguished writer," said Laurine Garaude, Director of Reed MIDEM's Television Division. "The recurring success of the World Premiere TV Screenings at MIPCOM and MIPTV confirms the event's position as a premium showcase for leading television and film companies to screen outstanding programmes to the most influential buyers, industry players, and international media from over 100 countries."

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About MIPTV – Founded in 1963, MIPTV is the annual international market and creative forum for content on every screen. It brings professionals from the global TV and online content industry to Cannes, France, for four days of exhibition, conferences, screenings and networking. It is a key market for buying and selling content and early-stage content development. At the heart of MIPTV, MIPCube unites those who create, produce and distribute content with the innovators providing cutting-edge solutions to transform it into business results. The weekend prior to MIPTV, MIPDoc and MIPFormats constitute a two-day showcase for non-fiction and unscripted programming. In 2013, MIPTV celebrates its 50^th anniversary. www.miptv.com

About Adjacent Productions - Adjacent Productions is a label that sits within BBC Worldwide Productions, one of five core businesses under BBC Worldwide America, the U.S. division of BBC Worldwide, the main commercial arm and wholly-owned subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). The Adjacent Productions label serves to identify new programming created by the Los Angeles-based production company, while BBC Worldwide Productions identifies BBC reformats that the team develops and produced for the U.S. market. The first original series under the Adjacent Productions label is Da Vinci's Demons (Starz), set to premiere spring 2013.

About BBC Worldwide Ltd. - BBC Worldwide Limited is the main commercial arm and a wholly owned subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). The company exists to exploit the value of the BBC's assets for the benefit of the licence fee payer and invest in public service programming in return for rights. The company has five core businesses: Channels, Content & Production, Sales & Distribution, Consumer Products and Global Brands. In 2011/12, BBC Worldwide generated headline profits of £155 million on headline sales of £1085 million and returned £216 million to the BBC. For more detailed performance information please see our Annual Review website.

SOURCE Reed MIDEM