Starz Picks Up Supernatural Spy Thriller The Rook

Lionsgate and Liberty Global have aligned for the supernatural spy thriller The Rook, which has been picked up by Starz.

The Rook is executive produced by Twilight Saga creator Stephenie Meyer, with Stephen Garrett serving as showrunning executive producer. The series will air on Starz in the U.S. beginning next year. At the same time, Liberty Global will feature the series exclusively on-demand across its footprint in Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean. Lionsgate will distribute the thriller worldwide.

Adapted and co-produced by playwrights and screenwriters Sam Holcroft (Rules for Living) and Al Muriel (Precious & Rich), The Rook is based on the novel by Daniel O’Malley. It is about a young woman pursued by shadowy paranormal adversaries while grappling with extraordinary abilities of her own.

“A high-end series aimed right at the sweet spot of our audience, The Rook is a great addition to a STARZ slate loaded with the most exciting new and returning series offered by any platform anywhere,” said Starz’s president and CEO, Chris Albrecht. “We are thrilled to add the talents of Stephen Garrett and Stephenie Meyer to our creative family and forge our partnership with the Lionsgate Television Group and Liberty Global. The Rook is instantly addictive from the very first scene and introduces what we believe will be one of the most fascinating and thrilling female protagonists on television.”

“Stephenie is one of the world’s great creative talents, and Stephen has an incredible track record in bringing remarkable stories to the screen,” said Lionsgate Television Group’s chairman, Kevin Beggs, and president of worldwide television and digital distribution, Jim Packer. “The Rook is a major premium property driven by an amazing creative team, and it’s not only a terrific addition to the Starz platform but the perfect series to launch a content alliance with our friends at Liberty Global.”

“The Rook is another important step in Liberty Global’s premium scripted content strategy,” said Liberty Global’s chief programming officer, Bruce Mann. “Shot in the U.K., this project is a perfect fit for Virgin Media as well as our other European markets. The series, which we look forward to making available exclusively to millions of Liberty Global subscribers worldwide, is an amazing supernatural thriller which we are excited to have in the hands of an elite creative showrunner like Stephen Garrett. We’re also delighted to be partnering with our good friends at Lionsgate and Starz.”

“Everything starts with great writing,” said Garrett. “To be conspiring on The Rook in partnership with Stephenie based on a book that is as dazzling as it is surprising and working with the talented team of Sam and Al, is the perfect springboard for thrilling television. The teams at Lionsgate, Starz and Liberty Global are great champions of creativity, and we’re looking forward to partnering with them.”