Starz Boards BBC One’s ‘The Missing’

Starz Boards BBC One’s ‘The Missing’ As Co-Producer

By Patrick Munn

  Starz is boarding another BBC Drama for their next original series. I’ve learned that the premium cable network has come on-board 8 episode drama series The Missing (formerly known as Breakdown) as a co-producer. The series, which is being toplined by James Nesbitt and Frances O’Connor, is set to premiere on Starz in Q4 2014.

The Missing follows Tony, a man who will do whatever it takes to find his missing child. When Oliver disappears on a holiday in France, Tony’s exhaustive search fractures his marriage to Emily (Frances O’Connor) and threatens to destroy his life. The French police detective who launched the initial search for the child also cannot shake the small belief that he may still be alive. This gripping relationship thriller is told simultaneously over two time frames and is set in two countries. Exploring the emotional cost of obsession, hope and finding when to let go, this thrilling new drama shows the impact of a child’s abduction. The series stars James Nesbitt, Frances O’Connor, Jason Flemying, Tcheky Karyo, Ken Stott, Arsher Ali, Titus de Voogdt, Said Taghmaoui, Émilie Dequenne, Anamaria Marinca, Eric Gordon, Anastasia Hille and Johan Leysen.
“The Missing is a powerful and poignant story about a father’s determination to find his missing child, and that is something any viewer can understand”, said Carmi Zlotnik, Managing Director of Starz. ”The Williams’ scripts gripped us on every page, and we are glad to be working in partnership again with the BBC, Charlie Pattinson and Colin Callender on this very special project.”

The eight part drama series was penned by Jack and Harry Williams. New Pictures, Company Pictures, Two Brothers Pictures and Playground are producing, with Chris Clough serving as the series producer and Charlie Pattinson, Willow Grylls, Elaine Pyke, Colin Callender, Polly Hill, John Yorke and Harry and Jack Williams serving as executive producers. Ripper Street helmer Tom Shankland is attached to direct.

With Starz having now boarded The Missing, the network has found the drama series they were after for the Q4 2014 slot on their schedule. The network has had a tough time finding a high end drama to fill the slot ever since they backed out of the Sky Atlantic series Fortitude, when it seemed unlikely that Fortitude could be delivered on time. Starz also recently picked up ballet drama Flesh and Bone and are also developing a follow up to The White Queen.