Lena Headey’s ‘Beacon 23’ Series Moves to MGM+
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Beacon 23 has a new home.
The drama starring Lena Headey will bow in November on MGM+, with the premium cable network formerly known as Epix landing the series after it was originally poised to air on Spectrum and, later, AMC.
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The eight-episode series based on Hugh Howey’s book of the same name will launch Nov. 12 at 9 p.m. with its first two episodes. From creator Zak Penn (Ready Player One), Beacon 23 takes place in the farthest reaches of the Milky Way and follows a government agent (Headey, Game of Thrones) and a former military man (Stephan James) who become trapped in one of many AI-controlled beacons. Penn and Glen Mazzara (The Walking Dead) served as showrunners and exec produce the Boat Rocker Studios-produced drama alongside David Fortier, Ivan Schneeberg, James Middleton, Nick Nantell, Tina Thor, Katie O’Connell Marsh, Elisa Ellis, Liz Varner, Ira Steven Behr, Daniel Percival, Joy Blake, Headey and James.
“Beacon 23 is a series in the best tradition of thought-provoking genre storytelling,” said Michael Wright, head of MGM+. “With the incredible vision of Zak Penn and Glen Mazzara, riveting performances by Lena Headey and Stephan James, and an exciting world-building design, Beacon 23 is essential viewing for fans of premium science-fiction drama.”
Beacon 23 was originally developed as a Spectrum Original series as part of Charter Communications’ effort to entice cable subscribers with scripted originals. Charter folded its Spectrum Originals unit after its central exec, Katherine Pope, departed to take over as president of Sony Pictures Television. With the exit from scripted, what remained of Spectrum’s original roster was left to find a new home. Beacon 23 is the second Spectrum series to land at MGM+. The now Amazon-controlled cabler also picked up the Damian Lewis and Guy Pearce series A Spy Among Friends.
“We’re delighted to bring Beacon 23 to MGM+ and introduce viewers to a world in the dark recesses of space where nothing is quite what it seems,” said Fortier and Schneeberg, co-executive chairmen of Boat Rocker Media and co-chairmen of Boat Rocker Studios. “Beacon 23 is a rare psychological thriller whose rich characters and gripping storylines take you to some pretty unexpected places. We’re grateful to our creative partners for helping bring this epic story to life.”
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