Space Acquires Highly-Anticipated Galactic Thriller THE EXPANSE

“THE EXPANSE is the show we’ve been wanting since BATTLESTAR GALACTICA” – i09.com

TORONTO (August 27, 2015) – Space announced today that it has acquired big-buzz space mystery drama THE EXPANSE, produced and financed by Alcon Television Group and distributed by Legendary Television Distribution, a business unit of Legendary Entertainment. Airing exclusively in Canada on Space, the 10-episode, one-hour series blasts off with a two-night premiere event Monday, Dec. 14 and Tuesday, Dec. 15 at 10 p.m. ET, before moving into its regular Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET timeslot beginning Dec. 22. Based on the international best-selling book series of the same name, THE EXPANSE takes place 200 years in the future after humankind has colonized the solar system. THE EXPANSE stars Thomas Jane (HUNG) as a hardened detective who must join together with a rogue ship’s captain (Steven Strait, MAGIC CITY) for what begins as the case of a missing young woman, and evolves into a race across the solar system to expose the greatest conspiracy in human history. Emmy® winner and Oscar^®-nominated Shohreh Aghdashloo (House of Sand and Fog) also stars as a smart and cunning politician who has risen through the ranks of Earth’s governing body. “This highly sought-after series is the perfect addition to Space’s line-up of must-see genre programs,” said Tracey Pearce, Head, Specialty and Pay, Bell Media. “We look forward to introducing this riveting sci-fi adventure series to our engaged audience, and working together with Alcon and Legendary, to make THE EXPANSE a hit.” “THE EXPANSE is a futurist drama in the tradition of great science fiction dramas like STAR TREK and BATTLESTAR GALACTICA,” said Michael Grindon, President, Worldwide Distribution, Legendary Television & Digital Media.  “Space is the ideal platform for THE EXPANSE. Alcon and Legendary are really excited to work with Space to make the series a huge hit in Canada.” Rounding out the principal cast of THE EXPANSE are Dominique Tipper (Vampire Academy), Cas Anvar (OLYMPUS), Wes Chatham (The Hunger Games: Mockingjay), and Florence Faivre (THE FOLLOWING). Guest stars in Season 1 include Jonathan Banks (BETTER CALL SAUL, BREAKING BAD), Paulo Costanzo (ROYAL PAINS), and Jay Hernandez (Suicide Squad). Academy Award^®-nominated screenwriting duo Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby (Alfonso Cuaron’s Children of Men, Iron Man) serve as writers and executive producers alongside fellow executive producer and showrunner Naren Shankar (CSI, FARSCAPE). Sharon Hall, Alcon Entertainment Co-Founders and Co-CEOs Andrew Kosove and Broderick Johnson (The Blind Side), and Sean Daniel and Jason Brown (producers of The Mummy franchise) also serve as executive producers.  Award-winning director Terry McDonough (BREAKING BAD, SUITS, BETTER CALL SAUL) directed the first two episodes of the series. THE EXPANSE is based on the popular New York Times best-selling book series collectively known as The Expanse, written by Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck (under the pen name James S. A. Corey). Abraham and Franck are show producers. ** Media Note ** Download photography for THE EXPANSE at bellmedia.ca/pr/tv/space/