Missing Producers Stress Global Nature of New ABC Drama

CANNES: Gina Matthews and Grant Scharbo are intent on making "television for the world" with their new ABC Studios drama Missing, which Disney Media Distribution has licensed into more than 80 territories.

The show had its world premiere screening at MIPCOM yesterday with stars Ashley Judd, Cliff Curtis and Adriano Giannini; exec producers Gina Matthews and Grant Scharbo; and writer and exec producer Greg Poirier in attendance. Addressing the press in Cannes this morning, Scharbo noted: "When setting this up originally, when we pitched the show to ABC, [the goal] was to make television for the world. We wanted to give American audiences a glimpse into locations they don’t often see on American television. At the same time we wanted to give global audiences a big American show in their own backyard."

Matthews added, "Whether you’re American or French or Italian or Japanese, it is a very accessible, relatable idea. We have such an amazing international cast. [We wanted to] make it as international and global as it could possibly be."

Asked about the challenges of filing in locations across Europe, Scharbo responded, "We were shooting in Istanbul and there were moments when we’d be interrupted by the call to prayer. it was a incredibly moving experience. When time is money we’re always in a rush, but no one seemed to mind just sitting and waiting for that to finish."

The thriller filmed this summer in Prague, Dubrovnik and Istanbul and has already sold to more than 80 territories. Fox Channels in Italy, Russia and Ukraine, AXN Spain and Portugal, Mediaset Spain, RTÉ Ireland, AXN Central and Eastern Europe, Digiturk Turkey, SBS TV in Sweden, TVNorge Norway and SBS Denmark have picked up Missing. OSN has licensed the series to air in countries across the Middle East, while in Asia it has been picked up for pan-regional coverage by Fox International Channels (Asia) and has also been sold to Youku.com and Tudou.com in China, NextTV in Taiwan and mioTV in Singapore.

Missing is the story of a woman (Ashley Judd) who travels to Europe to track down her son (Nick Eversman) following his disappearance while studying abroad. It is produced by ABC Studios and will launch on ABC in the U.S. midseason in 2012.

Ben Pyne, the president of global distribution of Disney Media Networks, said, “With its stellar cast, action-packed drama and a universal story of how far a mother will go to protect her own, Missing is a thrilling series that looks set to have viewers on the edge of their seats. Shot in a number of international locations, we’re excited that deals have been completed which enable the series to be aired in the countries in which it was filmed, and many more.”