Bell Media Secures Specialty Pick-Ups PHILIP K. DICK'S ELECTRIC DREAMS, KRYPTON, and LIFE SENTENCE at L.A. Screenings

– PHILIP K. DICK'S ELECTRIC DREAMS, KRYPTON, and LIFE SENTENCE join collection of highly anticipated dramas and unscripted series for Bell Media Specialty Channels in 2017/2018 –

TORONTO, June 2, 2017 /CNW/ - Bell Media announced today the acquisition of three marquee dramas for its Space and Bravo channels for 2017/2018 broadcast year: highly anticipated anthology series PHILIP K. DICK'S ELECTRIC DREAMS (Bravo) which includes Hollywood heavy-hitters Bryan Cranston, Anna Paquin, and Steve Buscemi among its stars; Superman prequel story KRYPTON (Space) starring Cameron Cuffe; and family drama LIFE SENTENCE starring Lucy Hale (Bravo).

The three series join Bell Media's lineup of exclusive upcoming specialty programming including big buzz series STAR TREK: DISCOVERY starring Sonequa Martin-Green (Space); the upcoming post-THE DAILY SHOW WITH TREVOR NOAH series, starring current DAILY SHOW correspondent, Jordan Klepper (Comedy); the next chapter in the Kardashian opus, LIFE OF KYLIE (E!), premiering Thursday, July 6 at 10 p.m. ET; and unscripted series SIESTA KEY coming to MTV later this year.

Bell Media also confirmed today the pick-up of post STAR TREK: DISCOVERY companion after-show, TALKING TREK for Space.

"These three series are an example of the kind of hallmark exclusive programming that has helped define our industry-leading entertainment specialty channels" said Mike Cosentino, Senior Vice-President, Content and Programming. "Our diverse schedules, including our collection of hit original series, are true destinations for viewers, and provide tremendous choice for our clients."

PHILIP K. DICK'S ELECTRIC DREAMS (Fall, 10 x :60, Bravo)
PHILIP K. DICK'S ELECTRIC DREAMS is a 10-episode sci-fi anthology series featuring pointed, thrilling stand-alone episodes each inspired by Philip K. Dick's renowned shorts stories as adapted by leading British and American writers including Ronald D. Moore, Michael Dinner (JUSTIFIED), Tony Grisoni (Red Riding, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas), Jack Thorne (NATIONAL TREASURE, SKINS, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child), Matthew Graham (Life on Mars, DOCTOR WHO), David Farr (THE NIGHT MANAGER), Dee Rees (Mudbound), and Travis Beacham (Pacific Rim). Talent featured in the series include Steve Buscemi, Richard Madden, Anna Paquin, Terrence Howard (EMPIRE), Greg Kinnear, Timothy Spall, Sidse Babett Knudsen, Mirelle Enos (World War Z), Anne Reid (CORONATION STREET), Tuppence Middleton (The Imitation Game), Holliday Grainger (THE BORGIAS), Janelle Monáe (Hidden Figures) and Juno Temple (VINYL).  Moore and Maril Davis of Tall Ship Productions and Michael Dinner of Rooney McP Productions are executive producing alongside Bryan Cranston and James Degus of Moonshot Entertainment, Isa Dick Hackett, Kalen Egan and Christopher Tricarico of Electric Shepherd Productions, David Kanter and Matt DeRoss of Anonymous Content Entertainment, Lila Rawlings and Marigo Kehoe of Left Bank Pictures, Don Kurt and Kate DiMento in association with Sony Pictures Television.

LIFE SENTENCE (2018, 13 x :60, Bravo)
LIFE SENTENCE follows Lucy Hale (PRETTY LITTLE LIARS) as Stella, a girl who has spent the last eight years living like she was dying (because she was). Just like the "manic pixie dream girl" heroines in her favorite sappy cancer movies, Stella traveled the world, faced her darkest fears and found true love on a whirlwind trip to Paris. But when Stella finds out that her cancer has been cured, she is suddenly forced to face the long-term consequences of the "live in the moment" decisions she made, including marrying a total stranger. And if that's not enough, she also finds out that her "perfect family" isn't so perfect after all. Turns out, because she was dying, everyone in her life hid their problems from her. But, now that she's well, all bets are off. Stella is shocked to learn that her parents, Dylan Walsh (NIP/TUCK) as Peter and Gillian Vigman (The Hangover) as Ida, have fallen out of love, partly because Peter spent their retirement helping Stella make the most of her final days, and partly because Ida has fallen in love with her best friend Claudia Rocafort (BURN NOTICE) as (Stella's godmother), Poppy. Also, it turns out Stella may be responsible for the fact that her sister, Brooke Lyone (THE AFFAIR) as Elizabeth, gave up her own dreams to take care of Stella and start a family with her husband Carlos PenaVega (BIG TIME RUSH) as Diego, just to give her parents something positive to focus on. Then there's Stella's often overlooked brother, Jayson Blair (WHIPLASH) as Aiden, who's pushing 30 and still lives above the garage, sells Adderall to soccer moms and uses Stella's cancer to guilt them into sleeping with him. And, of course, there's her husband Elliot Knight as (ONCE UPON A TIME) Wes, a handsome Londoner who she agreed to spend the rest of her life with, thinking that would only be six to eight months, tops. Now that their forever just got a whole lot longer than they were expecting, Wes begins to worry that he can't continue to pretend to be her perfect husband for the rest of his life. With a real future suddenly in front of her, Stella's cinematic life snaps into reality, and instead of living like she's dying, she will have to learn to live like she's living, and help her family and friends do the same. This multi-generational, coming-of-age story proves that we all end up living somewhere between our dreams and reality… and maybe that's okay. From Doozer Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television and CBS Television Studios, with executive producers Erin Cardillo (FULLER HOUSE) Richard Keith (FULLER HOUSE), Bill Lawrence (SCRUBS), Jeff Ingold (GROUND FLOOR), Oliver Goldstick (PRETTY LITTLE LIARS) and Lee Toland Krieger (RIVERDALE).

KRYPTON (2018, 13 x :60, Space)
Set two generations before the destruction of the legendary Man of Steel's home planet, KRYPTON follows Superman's grandfather (Cameron Cuffe, THE HALYCON, Florence Foster Jenkins) whose House of El was ostracized and shamed — as he fights to redeem his family's honor and save his beloved world from chaos. Based on DC characters, KRYPTON is from Warner Horizon Scripted Television and is executive produced by David S. Goyer (Man of Steel, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, The Dark Knight trilogy) through his Phantom Four banner. Damian Kindler (SLEEPY HOLLOW) will serve as executive producer and showrunner. In addition to Cuffe, KRYPTON stars Georgina Campbell (BROADCHURCH), Elliot Cowan (Da Vinci's Demons), Ann Ogbomo (World War Z), Rasmus Hardiker (Your Highness), Wallis Day (WILL), Aaron Pierre (Tennison) with Ian McElhinney (GAME OF THRONES). The pilot teleplay was written by Goyer and Kindler, from a story by Ian Goldberg (ONCE UPON A TIME, TERMINATOR: THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES) & Goyer, with Colm McCarthy (PEAKY BLINDERS) serving as director and co-executive producer. KRYPTON is based on characters created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, published by DC.

About Bell Media Specialty Channels

Bell Media's English entertainment specialty channels reach more than 22 million each week, and have 6 of the Top 10 entertainment specialty series among the key 25-54 demo. Bell Media also has the #1 most watched new series on entertainment specialty television, THE HANDMAID'S TALE.  Each week, 76% of English Canadian entertainment specialty viewers watch Bell Media brands. Success stories include:

• Bravo is becoming a go-to station for female millennials, with three of the Top 20 entertainment specialty programs including THE HANDMAID'S TALE, which is the most watched, new entertainment specialty series this broadcast year to date.
• Discovery is the most-watched entertainment specialty channel in primetime among total viewers, A25-54 and 18-49, and have four of the Top 10 series on entertainment specialty TV with A25-54, (CANADA'S WORST DRIVER, HEAVY RESCUE: 401, GOLD RUSH AND HIGHWAY THRU HELL).
• Space is the most-watched entertainment specialty channel for M18-34 and home to five of the Top 20 shows on entertainment specialty. (DOCTOR WHO, THE LIBRARIANS, SUPERNATURAL, DARK MATTER, CLASS). CLASS currently ranks as the #3 new specialty entertainment series, among adults 18-49 and Men 25-54, behind THE HANDMAID'S TALE and HEAVY RESCUE: 401.
• Comedy ranks among the Top 10 entertainment specialty channels with total viewers and all key adult demos. Contributing to its success story, FULL FRONTAL hosted by Canadian Samantha Bee, which has seen a 20% increase among total viewers, compared to Season 1.
• Since Bell Media acquired Gusto last year, the channel has more than tripled its audience among total viewers and A25-54.

Source: Numeris

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Bell Media creates content and builds brands that entertain, inform, engage, and inspire audiences through the platforms of their choice. Bell Media is Canada's leading content creation company with premier assets in television, radio, out-of-home advertising, and digital media. Bell Media owns 30 local television stations led by CTV, Canada's highest-rated television network; 30 specialty channels, including TSN and RDS, and four pay TV services, including The Movie Network and Super Écran. Bell Media is also Canada's largest radio broadcaster, with 215 music channels including 105 licensed radio stations in 54 markets across the country, all part of the iHeartRadio brand and streaming service. Bell Media owns Astral Out of Home with a network of more than 30,000 advertising faces in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Québec, and Nova Scotia. Bell Media also operates more than 200 websites; delivers TV Everywhere with its CraveTV and GO video streaming services; operates multi-channel network Much Digital Studios; produces live theatrical shows via its partnership with Iconic Entertainment Studios; and owns Dome Productions Inc., a multi-platform production company. Bell Media is part of BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada's largest communications company. For more on Bell Media, please visit www.bellmedia.ca.

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