As you know, because we’ve been reminding you incessantly, the Doctor Who 50th Anniversary special, Doctor Who: The Day of the Doctor, airs November 23, simulcast around the world. Not surprisingly, BBC America will be playing an encore of the special that evening here in the U.S. What you may not know is that will be followed by their latest Supernatural Saturday series, Atlantis.
We have a cool trailer and a press release with all the details, followed by a synopsis of Episode 1:
Trailer: Atlantis
New Fantasy Series Atlantis Follows Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Special in BBC AMERICA’S Biggest Supernatural Saturday Ever
From the creators of Merlin and BAFTA award-winning series Misfits
New York – October 24, 2013 – BBC AMERICA’s Supernatural Saturday brings the iconic lost city to life in new 13-part fantasy-adventure series, Atlantis. When Jason (Jack Donnelly, Dancing on the Edge) sets out to find his father, he could never imagine his journey would lead to a strange, yet impossibly familiar land full of dangerous creatures, legendary heroes and palaces so vast it was said they were built by giants – the ancient fabled city of Atlantis. In a milestone television event, Atlantis premieres Saturday, November 23, 9:00pm ET/PT following the encore broadcast of Doctor Who’s 50th Anniversary Special, The Day of the Doctor, as part of BBC AMERICA’s biggest Supernatural Saturday ever.
A young man trying to unearth his roots and find his missing father, Jason’s search unexpectedly leads him to this strange mythical realm – and whether he likes it or not, he isn’t leaving anytime soon. He must now familiarize himself with their customs, earn a living, forge alliances and fight-off otherworldly foes. Jason quickly learns that beneath the surface of what appears to be a magical place, is a dark and simmering past filled with secrets and deceit to which he now seems inexplicably bound. And when he becomes embroiled in a perilous game of politics and power, Jason will need all the help he can get.
Befriended by an overweight, overly-confident Hercules (Mark Addy, Game of Thrones) and the studious young Pythagoras (Robert Emms, War Horse), Jason embarks on an adventure, which sees him brush shoulders with a sweet girl named Medusa (Jemima Rooper, Hex), come face to face with the fearsome Minotaur, do battle with the dead and catch the eye and heart of the beautiful Ariadne (Aiysha Hart, About Time), the princess of Atlantis whose family and royal standing restricts who she may love. Accordingly, Jason discovers the treachery of Atlantis’ rulers, including Queen Pasiphaë (Sarah Parish, Hatfields & McCoys), a rumored manipulator of the dark arts who has her own plans for Ariadne. Jason finds guidance and protection with the revered Oracle (Juliet Stevenson, The Hour), who has never felt the burden of responsibility more than when Jason arrives in Atlantis. He learns from the soothsayer that it’s no mistake he happens upon the shores of the famed city – it is fate. In realizing his destiny, Jason and his allies will voyage through a vast store of myths and legends, re-imagined for a new generation.
Creator, writer, and executive producer Howard Overman (Misfits), on the series: “It is both a privilege and a delight to have the opportunity to take audiences on a journey into the fantastical world of Atlantis. Drawing on the Greek Myths for inspiration, we aim to tell classic, action adventure stories in unexpected and exciting ways.”
The new 13-part series was filmed in Wales and Morocco. Executive producers are Johnny Capps, Julian Murphy, and Howard Overman for Urban Myth Films and Bethan Jones for BBC Cymru Wales.
Episode One
Season One | Episode 1 | Original Airdate: November 23rd, 2013 | 9:00PM
Jason goes searching for his father and ends up on the shores of an ancient land full of mythical creatures and legendary heroes: the lost city of Atlantis. But it seems the newcomer has arrived at the worst possible time, and becomes caught in a deadly ritual from which no one has ever escaped.
Atlantis, starring Jack Donnelly, Mark Addy, Robert Emms, Jemima Rooper, Aiysha Hart, Sarah Parish, and Juliet Stevenson, premieres November 23 at 9/8c on BBC America.
