CBS Goes Straight to Series with Frank Spotnitz Drama Ransom

LOS ANGELES/TORONTO: CBS has joined France’s TF1 and Global in Canada in greenlighting the 13-episode suspenseful drama Ransom, from executive producer Frank Spotnitz.

The drama comes from Entertainment One (eOne), Big Light Productions and producers Sienna Films and Wildcats Productions. eOne controls worldwide rights to the series, excluding French-speaking territories. Created by David Vainola (Diamonds, Combat Hospital) and Spotnitz, Ransom is inspired by the professional experiences of crisis negotiator Laurent Combalbert.

Luke Roberts (Black Sails, Game of Thrones) stars as Eric Beaumont, a crisis and hostage negotiator whose team is brought in to save lives when no one else can. The series begins with Eric taking on Maxine Carlson, a new member of the team eager to prove herself. But a dangerous secret from Maxine’s past may pose a threat that even the great Eric Beaumont is unable to resolve.

“We are delighted to partner with CBS, TF1 and Global to bring Ransom to screens around the world,” said John Morayniss, the CEO of eOne Television. “We are especially grateful to the Wildcats team, who brought the IP on which the show is inspired, Sienna Films (with whom we have a longstanding and successful relationship) and Frank Spotnitz (whose talent and vast experience will ensure delivery of a top-notch show).”

“The world of crisis negotiation is incredibly compelling, as demonstrated by the fascinating real-life cases Laurent Combalbert has negotiated,” said Spotnitz. “Laurent has inspired a brilliant and complex character, and you can’t help but be moved seeing all the lives he’s saved around the world.”

“As CBS continues to program year-round, we are always looking for series that can fit seamlessly within our schedule and connect with our viewers,” said Glenn Geller, the president of CBS Entertainment. “Ransom brings a compelling new approach to a character-driven crime drama with a sense of urgency and closure in each episode.”

“We are thrilled to announce this new TV series with our talented partners,” said Sophie Leveaux, artistic director and TF1’s head of international development, acquisitions and international drama development. “At TF1 we always want to offer compelling programming to our viewers and Ransom will be a great asset for our schedule.”

“It’s exciting to reunite with the talented teams at Sienna and eOne, and to expand our relationship with international broadcast partners TF1 and CBS on this powerful drama series,” said Maria Hale, the senior VP of global entertainmentand content acquisition at Corus. “From the moment we read the first script we were hooked by the gripping story line and we’re thrilled to work with Frank Spotnitz to bring it to life. We are proud to have co-developed Ransom, led by the charismatic Luke Roberts, and look forward to sharing the series with Canadian audiences.”