What if someone you loved died... and then appeared at your door years later? This compelling "what if?" will be at the heart of A&E's upcoming series, The Returned. Based on the French series of the same name, A&E has ordered a 10-episode first season order of the series, and they have now cast a key character that should please fans of Supernatural and Being Human.
Deadline reports that actor Mark Pellegrino has signed on for a lead role in The Returned. The former Lost co-star will be reunited with Carlton Cuse, who was co-showrunner of Lost and will write and executive produce The Returned. In addition to acting in shows like Supernatural and Being Human, Pellegrino has also appeared in Revolution and Dexter. This time around, Pellegrino will play a father whose children return from the dead:
"Pellegrino will play the rugged Jack, father of 20-year-old twin girls Lena, and Camille, who died in a school bus crash four years ago at age 16 and are now coming back."
We'll keep Daily Dead readers posted on further casting news as it develops in the coming weeks. To learn more about A&E's The Returned, check out their official press release that outlines the show's synopsis and the people working behind the camera:
“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®-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.”
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To learn more about the French series, check out our exclusive Q&A with series creator Fabrice Gobert:
Raised on a steady diet of R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps books and Are You Afraid of the Dark?, Derek has been fascinated with fear since he first saw ForeverWare being used on an episode of Eerie, Indiana.
When he’s not writing about horror as the Senior News Reporter for Daily Dead, Derek can be found daydreaming about the Santa Carla Boardwalk from The Lost Boys or reading Stephen King and Brian Keene novels.
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