Syfy Greenlights New Scripted Original

NEW YORK: Universal Cable Productions is to produce an 11-episode original scripted series for Syfy, tentatively titled Alphas, with BermanBraun Television.

The action-adventure series comes from writers Zak Penn (X-Men: The Last Stand, The Avengers, The Incredible Hulk) and Michael Karnow. Executive producers are Gail Berman, Lloyd Braun and Gene Stein for BermanBraun and Zak Penn.

The show follows a team or ordinary citizens whose brain anomalies give them extraordinary mental and physical abilities. These gifted individuals must balance their quirky personalities and disparate backgrounds with their not-always-visible powers as they work to solve crimes and catch the enemy.

Production is set to begin in Toronto early next year, with a summer 2011 debut planned. The cast includes David Strathairn (Temple Grandin; Good Night, and Good Luck), Warren Christie (October Road), Malik Yoba (New York Undercover), Laura Mennell (Watchmen), Ryan Cartwright (Bones) and Azita Ghanizada (Castle).

“With each step in the development and production of Alphas, we knew we were onto something very exciting,” said Mark Stern, the executive VP of original content for Syfy and co-head of original content for Universal Cable Productions. “Under Gail and Lloyd’s leadership, Zak and Michael created a smart, fast-paced script that attracted an amazing director in Jack Bender and an incredible cast. We couldn’t be happier to see this first-rate project come to fruition as a Syfy series.”