All star cast sets sail this Summer in Sky 1 HD's blockbuster adventure series, SINBAD
TX: Week 28 (Saturday 7 – Friday 13 July, 2012)
SINBAD (12 x 60’)
Sky 1 HD’s epic fantasy drama about the iconic mythological character is coming to Sky 1 HD this July. SINBAD a new production from the Emmy and BAFTA winning Impossible Productions, promises a 21st century take on the classic 8th century hero.
Beyond the surface - the adventure and mythology - Sinbad's stories are trying to make a larger point about humanity, about greed, lust and friendship. Anne Mensah, Head of Drama, Sky says: "Sinbad maybe set centuries ago, but the story of a young boy yearning to be a man is timeless ... Heroes never go out of fashion and Sinbad has a classic hero's journey, with lots of action and adventure. A good adventure remains fun whatever age you are, or whatever decade you're in." Writer Jack Lothian (Ashes to Ashes, Shameless) concurs: "You could easily do a contemporary version of the story on the streets of a British town because the themes resonate today."
SINBAD is portrayed by newcomer Elliot Knight leading an all-star cast in a gritty, high-octane adventure retelling of the classic Arabian Night hero. Stuart Murphy, Director of Entertainment Channels, Sky comments: "I love risks and instead of going for a known actor, we cast someone straight out of acting school. We wanted someone fresh, surprising and cool, but also vulnerable, and the moment we saw Elliot's casting tape, we knew we had discovered a remarkable talent."
Elliot Knight added on the role: "I was thrilled when I heard I'd got the role of SINBAD. This is exactly what I have wanted to do since I was big enough to run around the garden waving a toy sword! SINBAD is a great character for any actor to be able to play: impulsive, adventurous, passionate, loyal and brave; a true hero. His story is packed with action, adventure and fantasy and I am looking forward to the exciting challenge of bringing him to life for a new generation.”
Following his role in the death of his much-loved brother, the streetwise SINBAD finds himself on the run from his home town of Basra and cast out to sea on The Providence owing to a curse placed on him by his own grandmother (Dame Janet Suzman, Nicholas and Alexander). On board The Providence, an intriguing band of travellers are thrown together, including taciturn Norwegian sailor Gunnar (Elliot Cowan, Marchlands), the lithe and agile jewel-thief Rina (Marama Corlett, The Devil’s Double), and haughty and aristocratic Nala (Estella Daniels, Thorne). Completing the ship’s complement are the Cook (Junix Inocian, The 51st State), an odd-ball and eccentric character and the ship’s cerebral doctor Anwar (Dimitri Leonidas, Tormented).
SINBAD will feature a host of well-known faces, including LOST’s Naveen Andrews as arch nemesis, Lord Akbari, who will stop at nothing to destroy the young hero, and Orla Brady (Mistresses, Strike Back) as the evil Taryn. The series also stars Oscar nominee Sophie Okonedo (Hotel Rwanda) as Razia, Queen of the Water-Thieves and Timothy Spall (Secrets and Lies, Harry Potter) as Anicetus, The Old Man of the Sea.
Orla Brady commented: "This version, as imagined by Andy Wilson, feels very modern but is true to the ancient tale ... I think that Elliot and all the Providence gang bring a zeal to the story which feels modern, yet timeless."
Sophie Okonedo added: "I think myths and fairytales are not only enduring but are necessary to help us understand and interpret darker, stickier aspects of our nature. Sometimes it's easier to understand less digestible parts of ourselves in fairytales and myths."
Timothy Spall said: "Sky is a company of their word as far as the dramas are concerned. When they do their dramas they serve them well and just let people get on with it ... they've done some of the most interesting things on telly over the last five or six years. They're brave and when they make a decision to do something, they stick to it, and back it all the way."
Our flawed hero embarks on an epic and emotional quest to rid himself of the curse and embrace his destiny.
SINBAD is an Impossible Pictures production for Sky and BBC Worldwide produced with the assistance of Nine Network Australia. BBC Worldwide hold the international distribution rights. The series is produced by Tim Haines, Sophie Gardiner and Andrew Woodhead for Impossible Pictures and Elwen Rowlands for Sky.
As part of Sky 1 HD’s SINBAD is part of Sky’s commitment to increase its investment in original British content by 50% over the next three years. By 2014, Sky expects to invest £600 million a year in British programmes across its portfolio of channels.
This commitment follows the success of home-grown content such as entertainment hits GOT TO DANCE, AN IDIOT ABROAD and A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN, dramas such as STRIKE BACK and MAD DOGS, comedies such as TROLLIED and THIS IS JINSY, and factual shows such as ROSS KEMP EXTREME WORLD and the BAFTA-winning documentary FLYING MONSTERS 3D. Other forthcoming highlights include SPY starring Darren Boyd and Robert Lindsay; Craig Cash’s THE CAFE; Ruth Jones’ STELLA; Charlie Brooker’s A TOUCH OF CLOTH starring Suranne Jones and John Hannah; and STARLINGS starring Lesley Sharpe and Brendan Coyle.
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For images visit www.image.net or email StillsDepartment@bskyb.com
For further information please contact
Chris Aylott - Head of PR, Sky 1 HD
T: 020 7032 2893
E: chris.aylott@bskyb.com
Annabel Rudden - Junior Publicist, Sky 1 HD
T:
E: annabel.rudden@bskyb.com
Notes to editor
About Sky
Sky entertains and excites more than 10.4 million homes through the most comprehensive multichannel, multi-platform television service in the UK and Ireland. Sky continues to break new ground with its own portfolio of channels: Sky 1 combines its commitment to UK production with the best of the US; Sky Living pushes ahead with fresh and innovative entertainment formats; Sky Arts is the UK's only dedicated arts channel brand; Sky Atlantic is the home to HBO and other iconic drama and comedy, Sky Sports is still raising the bar in sports broadcasting; Sky News remains a pioneer in television news; and Sky Movies is leading the way in High Definition and on-demand.
Sky also works with dozens of other broadcasters on the satellite platform, as well as online and on mobile through the ground-breaking Sky Go service. Sky has also led the UK into the age of high definition television, launched Europe's first 3DTV channel, Sky 3D, and offers customer even more flexibility and choice through Sky Anytime+, its internet-delivered video on demand service. Since launching Sky Broadband and Sky Talk in 2006, the company has also been the UK's fastest-growing home communications provider.
Sky believes in making a wider contribution to the communities in which it operates, not least by increasing participation in, and access to, the arts, supporting grassroots sports, and taking positive action on the environment.
About Sky 1 HD:
Sky 1 HD is the most watched non-terrestrial channel in Sky homes, attracting more than 20m unique viewers every month and, according to the latest tracker results (October – December, 2011), was the third highest valued channel amongst all Sky subscribers behind only BBC1 and ITV1.
Sky 1 HD distinguishes itself from rival networks with original drama and comedy, talked about entertainment formats, distinctive factual programming and award-winning exclusive US drama.
