Nemesis (TV series)

Nemesis
Genre	Spy
Created by	Frank Spotnitz
Starring	Melissa George, Adam Rayner
Country of origin	United Kingdom
No. of episodes	8
Production
Running time	60 min.
Broadcast
Original channel	BBC One, Cinemax
Original airing	TBA
Chronology
Related shows	X-Files, Spooks/MI5

Nemesis is an upcoming British espionage series by the independent production company Kudos for the BBC in association with American premium cable broadcaster, HBO (for Cinemax).

Australian actress Melissa George (Grey's Anatomy, Alias) stars as Samantha, an espionage operative for a private intelligence agency. After an attempt on her life she realizes that it probably had been orchestrated by members of her own squad. After recovering and back in active duty, she must perform her secret missions without knowing who to trust and who wants her dead.^[1]

George has said Nemesis is the "role of a lifetime". It will require the New York-based actress to move to London for six months of the year. ^[2]

English actor Adam Rayner (Hawthorne, Mistresses) will portray Adian, one of Samantha's fellow team members.^[3]

The series was created by Frank Spotnitz (best known as Executive Producer and head writer for X-Files) who will write the eight episodes that will serve a season 1. Spotnitz is executive producing Nemesis with Kudos’ Stephen Garrett (executive producer of Law & Order: UK, Spooks/MI5 plus feature films Salmon Fishing in the Yemen and Eastern Promises), Jane Featherstone (producer behind Spooks/MI5, The Hour, Life on Mars) and Alison Jackson (Ashes to Ashes, Eternal Law).

S.J. Clarkson will direct the first two episodes of the series. Clarkson has worked on many British television series such as Life on Mars, Whitechapel and Hustle as well as some episodes of US shows (Dexter, Heroes and House M.D.).^[1]

The production starts this fall in Europe and North Africa.^[4]

Development

When Spotnitz had wrapped up X-Files he met Stephen Garrett and Jane Featherstone of Kudos Film and Television. They asked him to come to England and work with British television. Spotnitz had lived in Europe before and was interested in returning. He claims the ideas was appealing but it simply never happened. The years passed and Spotnitz was talking to talking with X-Files star Gillian Anderson who was visiting Los Angeles from London, were she lives and she said 'Would you ever consider doing a show (in England)?' Spotnitz started talking to her about doing a spy series and then the first call he made was to Stephen Garrett since the two lost touch. 'You know the idea of doing a show in England? I think I may finally have it.'^[5]

On January 13, 2011 the BBC announced the show, then called Morton.^[6] Gillian Anderson is no longer attached to the show. It took Spotnitz and Kudos longer than estimated to get a “yes” from BBC and by then, Anderson was to busy with other projects.^[1]

Spotnitz relocated to London with his family.^[1] While trying to get Nemesis/Morton off the ground, he served as co-producer and head writer for Strike Back: Project Dawn (or just Strike Back in the United States), a co-production between British broadcaster, BSkyB (for Sky1) and American premium cable broadcaster, HBO (for Cinemax).

On September 22, 2011 reports confirmed that HBO/Cinemax would come on board as co-producers and that the name Morton had been scrapped and the new name was Nemesis.^[7]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} "Interview: "Strike Back" Co-Executive Producer Frank Spotnitz". TheFutonCritic.com. http://www.thefutoncritic.com/interviews/2011/08/12/interview-strike-back-co-executive-producer-frank-spotnitz-507102/20110812_strikeback/. Retrieved 2011-09-25. 
2. ^ Parri, Linda (2011-10-01). "Melissa George's big secret to find WA roots". Perth Now. http://www.perthnow.com.au/melissa-georges-big-secret-to-find-wa-roots/story-fn6mhd09-1226155118251. Retrieved 2011-10-16. 
3. ^ "'Hawthorne' Regular to Star Opposite Melissa George in Cinemax Spy Thriller (Exclusive)". Hollywood Reporter. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/hawthorne-regular-star-opposite-melissa-248800. Retrieved 2011-10-16. 
4. ^ Marnell, Blair. "Melissa George Is Cinemax's 'Nemesis'". CraveOnline. http://www.craveonline.com/tv/articles/174824-melissa-george-is-cinemaxs-nemesis. Retrieved 2011-09-25. 
5. ^ "Interview: "Strike Back" Co-Executive Producer Frank Spotnitz". TheFutonCritic.com. http://www.thefutoncritic.com/interviews/2011/08/12/interview-strike-back-co-executive-producer-frank-spotnitz-507102/20110812_strikeback/. Retrieved 2011-09-25. 
6. ^ "Press Office - Danny Cohen announces new drama commissions for BBC One". BBC. 2011-01-13. http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2011/01_january/13/drama.shtml. Retrieved 2011-09-25. 
7. ^ Andreeva, Nellie. "Action Drama From Frank Spotnitz Is A Go At Cinemax, Melissa George To Star –". Deadline.com. http://www.deadline.com/2011/09/action-drama-from-frank-spotnitz-is-a-go-at-cinemax-melissa-george-to-star/. Retrieved 2011-09-25.