From FremantleMedia Enterprises
July 24, 2011
FREMANTLEMEDIA ENTERPRISES ANNOUNCES MAGICAL
FIFTH SEASON COMMISSION FOR MERLIN AT COMIC-CON SAN DIEGO
San Diego – It was today announced by FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME) that hit television show MERLIN, produced and created by Shine TV, has been commissioned for a fifth season by the BBC. The news was revealed during a special MERLIN panel at Comic-Con International panel on Sunday, July 24 that featured cast members Anthony Head, Bradley James, Katie McGrath and Colin Morgan, and executive producers and co-creators Johnny Capps and Julian Murphy.
MERLIN airs on Syfy in the United States. Season four will premiere in early 2012.
MERLIN’s success and popularity continues to flourish across the globe, FME, who has invested in the fifth season of MERLIN alongside UK broadcaster BBC One, has now sold MERLIN to over 52 broadcasters in more than 183 countries including Syfy (USA), RTL (Germany), Disney (South America), Canal + (France) and Network 10 (Australia).
David Ellender, Global CEO, FME commented, “With MERLIN now in 183 countries and both a fourth and fifth season underway, it is a truly global brand. Consistent audience figures in each territory, a strong international fan base and a fantastic cast further cement its cross generational appeal. We are continuing to work with the best broadcasters, producers and licensing partners on this brand and look forward to its on-going success.”
Johnny Capps and Julian Murphy, executive producers for Shine TV, said: “We are both delighted to have a fifth season commissioned and thrilled with the worldwide success of MERLIN. We have some fantastic ideas in mind for the next stage of the journey and relish the chance to take the program to the next level!”
The fourth season of the fantasy drama, which is currently being filmed in Pierrefonds, France and Cardiff, Wales, will begin airing in Autumn 2011 on BBC One in the UK, and in early 2012 on Syfy in the US. The third season, which was broadcast in winter 2010, pulled in the highest UK ratings for the drama so far, with a weekly average of over 6 million viewers and a total of 24.3% share of the audience.
Launched in 2008, MERLIN tells the story of young Merlin in Camelot as he comes to grips with his powers and destiny. The epic fourth season of MERLIN sees Camelot on the brink of a Golden Age as the familiar blend of magic, mystery and action adventure returns. With Morgana now a dangerous outcast, Merlin must use all his power to ensure that Arthur fulfils his destiny as the Once and Future King. No further details about plot or characters have been revealed yet for the fifth season.
MERLIN stars Colin Morgan as Merlin, Bradley James as Prince Arthur, Anthony Head as King Uther, Katie McGrath as Morgana, Angel Coulby as Gwen, Richard Wilson as Gaius and John Hurt as the voice of the Great Dragon. Seasons three and four have seen a host of high-profile guest-stars including: Emilia Fox, Tom Ellis, Miriam Margoyles, Warwick Davies, Nathaniel Parker and Pauline Collins.
FremantleMedia Enterprises holds the exclusive distribution rights (excluding UK), home entertainment and licensing rights to The Adventures of Merlin. FME has secured licensing rights to produce numerous multi-territory brand extensions including a publishing and figurines range, experiential events and consumer promotions.
MERLIN is made for BBC Cymru Wales by award-winning executive producers Johnny Capps and Julian Murphy from Shine Television, with Bethan Jones as executive producer for the BBC.
The new 13 episodes of Season 5 will start filming in Wales and Pierrefonds, France in March 2012.
Replies
HUZZAH!
The only complaint I have about this series is that the first season originally aired on NBC before being transferred to the Sci-Fi (I refuse to use that trademarkable name) Channel, and I have yet to see any of Season 1 there.
I've never even heard of this show before now.
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From J2 Communications
July 17, 2012
The Magic of MERLIN Grows Even Stronger
As Season 5 Debuts in the U.S. This Winter
At San Diego Comic-Con, MERLIN Cast, Creators
Preview New Season, Facebook Game and YouTube Channel
SAN DIEGO – July 16, 2012 – As MERLIN prepares to return to American audiences on Syfy this winter, Camelot is becoming more magical than ever, with a brand-new MERLIN game created for Facebook and a YouTube channel created for fans of the globally popular series.
At a special MERLIN panel at San Diego Comic-Con on Sunday, co-creators and executive producers Johnny Capps and Julian Murphy – joined by series stars Colin Morgan, Katie McGrath and Angel Coulby (in her first Comic-Con appearance) – previewed the upcoming season of MERLIN. Among the revelations for fans: Nearly four years elapse between the final episode of the fourth season and the upcoming fifth, during which time the evil Morgana has strengthened her relationship with the dragon Aithusa and grown more committed to toppling King Arthur and Camelot.
Acclaimed actors James Fox (Sherlock Holmes, The Remains of the Day) and Julian Glover (The Empire Strikes Back, Game of Thrones) are among the guest stars in MERLIN’s fifth season, which will also see Anthony Head (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The Queen) make a return appearance as Arthur’s father, the late King Uther – though exactly how and why remains a secret.
“Our fans are the reason MERLIN has become a hit all around the globe,” Murphy said. “Thanks to their passion, MERLIN has become more than a TV series, and is growing in exciting, creative new ways.”
Capps added: “This is our most ambitious season of MERLIN both dramatically and technically, taking the characters and the audience into areas we have previously only imagined.”
This fall, MERLIN fans will also be able to explore the world of Camelot in a new fantasy-adventure game created for Facebook. Combining the heroism and excitement of the series with a distinctive new art style and the ability to play and fight against enemies with friends or alone. The free-to-play MERLIN Facebook game will allow players to create their own customized characters and will offer real-time cooperative game play.
During the MERLIN Comic-Con panel, producers also announced that the official MERLIN YouTube channel at www.YouTube.com/MerlinOfficial is re-launching with enhanced content that includes exclusive behind-the-scenes clips from all five seasons, new cast interviews, on-set video messages, and content from around the world.
Coinciding with the debut of Season 5 in the U.S., the immensely popular fourth season of MERLIN will make its home-entertainment debut. Currently, all four seaons of MERLIN are available for download at the iTunes Store.
MERLIN airs in more than 180 countries, produced and created by Shine Ltd. and distributed globally by FremantleMedia Enterprises. MERLIN also stars Bradley James as Arthur, Richard Wilson as Gaius, and John Hurt as the voice of the Great Dragon Kilgharrah.
Fans can keep up with all the latest news from Camelot at the Official MERLIN Facebook page or by following @MerlinOfficial on Twitter.
From FremantleMedia Enterprises
Jan. 15, 2013
The King is Dead? Not Anymore,
as Anthony Head Returns to MERLIN
Arthur summons Uther from beyond
in all-new episode Jan. 18 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on Syfy
Death is often just a temporary state in the magical world of MERLIN.
Such is the case when Anthony Head makes a dramatic, one-episode return to the popular Syfy series this Friday, Jan. 18, at 10 p.m. ET/PT in an all-new episode entitled “The Death Song of Uther Pendragon.”
When a stranger gives Arthur (Bradley James) the power to summon the dead, the King finds himself torn between head and heart. Unable to resist temptation, he seizes the chance to speak to the person he misses most: his father, Uther (Anthony Head). But the spirit world is a dark and dangerous place – for little does Arthur realize that his decision comes at a terrible price. Against all odds, Merlin must put right Arthur's mistake before Camelot and everything they have built is destroyed forever.
Over the first three-plus seasons of MERLIN, James and Head developed a strong bond not unlike their on-screen father-son relationship. James was particularly pleased to have Head back on set for this special episode.
“It was really nice to have Tony back for a bit,” James explained. “I think it seemed a bit weird for him, but he fit back in, and the father-son dynamic went right back. It was good to see him, good to work with him again. I know he missed people, and I think the novelty of coming back was something he was pleased to do.”
As relatively young actors when the series began, James and the rest of the core MERLIN cast were perfectly balanced with the veteran presence of the savvy and sage Head and Richard Wilson, who plays Gaius. James said the two seasoned actors were always present and available to James and his castmates.
“Tony didn’t have quite enough time during filming the episode to emanate any pearls of wisdom, but that’s the beauty of Tony and Richard – they would never force their words of wisdom on you,” recalls James. “Everybody’s got advice, everybody’s got opinions, and I think it’s a very respectable trait to only use them in necessary moments. Anthony and Richard are very experienced, especially from a professional, industry point of view, and they half-said things that helped me rather than going blindly into that abyss.
“I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gone into a situation and thought, ‘Ah, this is what Anthony and Richard were talking about.’ They are great resources, and I appreciate them both.”
MERLIN fans will rekindle their own relationship with Anthony Head when “The Death Song of Uther Pendragon” debuts Friday, Jan. 18, at 10 p.m. ET/PT, only on Syfy.
All four previous seasons of MERLIN are now available on DVD, on iTunes and on Netflix. Be sure to follow the latest news on MERLIN at the Official Merlin page on Facebook.
From FremantleMedia Enterprises
Jan. 22, 2013
Morgana’s Deceptions Ensnare Princess Mithian
on This Friday’s Episode of MERLIN
Janet Montgomery reprises role for “Another’s Sorrow,”
an all-new episode premiering Jan. 25 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on Syfy
Arthur’s one-time fiancée Princess Mithian comes in search of the King’s help on this week’s episode of MERLIN, but only Merlin and Gwen seem to see the earmarks of a trap in “Another’s Sorrow,” which premieres Friday, Jan. 25, at 10 p.m. ET/PT Friday on Syfy.
Reprising her Season Four role as Princess Mithian is Janet Montgomery, most recently the star of Made in Jersey. Montgomery’s film credits include the award-winning Black Swan and Our Idiot Brother, and she has had recurring roles on the popular television series Entourage and Human Target.
In “Another’s Sorrow,” Morgana and King Odin make a sinister pact to lure Arthur to his death, using Princess Mithian as the perfect bait. To ensure the task is completed, Morgana conjures a deception so powerful that the whole of Camelot is taken in – even Merlin himself. But as the storm clouds gather, will the young warlock see through the lies, or will Morgana at long last fulfill her dreams of revenge?
MERLIN fans have become accustomed to lead actor Colin Morgan’s transformations to his elder version, Emrys. This Friday night, it’s Katie McGrath’s turn in a prosthetic mask as Morgana disguises herself to move freely about Camelot.
“Everybody says ‘You got to do prosthetics’ like it’s the most amazing thing – but I have to admit that I was massively allergic, and it was very painful,” McGrath recalls. “Colin is so good at it, and they’ve done it for so many years with Colin, that I think they just expected they’d put it on me and it would all be fine.
“Instead, I got very sick and it really was not pleasant. Then, everybody was wonderful about it, making sure I wasn’t in the prosthetic for too long and that I got resting periods.”
McGrath said that, as she never quite understood the degree of difficulty to act behind a false face, she developed even greater respect for her friend Morgan’s acting ability.
“What you don’t realize is that acting in a prosthetic really does sap your energy,” McGrath said. “You’re exhausted by it. You’re constantly aware of something on your face. Colin was really good about telling me how it works and how the subtle movements on your face don’t translate, so you almost have to over-do everything because you’re moving your face and then that’s moving something on top. Small movements don’t work, so it’s a completely different way of acting.”
And what did McGrath think of her appearance?
“I actually resembled my grandmother,” she said with a laugh, “which was really weird.”
MERLIN fans will be able to see the Morgana transformation for themselves when “Another’s Sorrow” debuts Friday, Jan. 25, at 10 p.m. ET/PT, only on Syfy.
All four previous seasons of MERLIN are now available on DVD, on iTunes and on Netflix. Be sure to follow the latest news on MERLIN at the Official Merlin page on Facebook.
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