BBC America has commissioned the ten-part Orphan Black , an original sci-fi series about a clone.
A co-production with Canadian network Space, the series will air as part of BBC America’s Supernatural Saturdays line-up, home of Being Human and Doctor Who .
Orphan Black is set to begin filming in Toronto this autumn and is co-created by Graeme Manson ( Flashpoint ) and John Fawcett ( Spartacus ). After witnessing the suicide of a woman who looks exactly like her, the series’ protagonist, Sarah, assumes the stranger’s identity. Expecting to solve all her problems by cleaning out the dead woman's savings, Sarah is instead thrust headlong into a kaleidoscopic mystery as she realises the dizzying truth – she and the dead woman are clones.
As Sarah searches for answers, she discovers the chilling fact that there are more people like her out there; genetically identical individuals who were planted in unsuspecting birth parents and nurtured in completely different circumstances. With no idea who created the clones, she’ll need to discover the reason in a hurry as an assassin is killing them one by one.
Corrie Coe from Bell Media comments: “Orphan Black has the perfect blend of excitement, mystery and action. We’re delighted that what was initially developed at The Canadian Film Centre by Graeme Manson has found a home on Space and BBC America, and we look forward to working with all our partners to bring this exciting new project to life."
BBC Worldwide America’s Perry Simon added: "[ Orphan Black ] promises to be a genre game changer. Move over zombies – send in the clones!"
