Starts ITV4, early-October
Based on the astoundingly popular – and surprisingly high quality – webisodes of the same name, Sanctuary is being touted as the first sci-fi series in which all the backdrops are virtual, not unlike the movies Sin City or 300. It’s produced by Stargate SG-1 stalwart Amanda Tapping, who also takes the lead role of Dr Helen Magnus.
Helen’s pretty unique being both 157 years old and immortal, putting her in a good position to unlock the secrets of human evolution. This she does with the aid of reluctant sidekick psychiatrist Will Zimmermand (Robin Dunne) and daughter Ashley (Emilie Ullerup). With the gothic world they live in home to demons and monsters, our heroes live in an underground sanctuary which also houses the lab they use to experiment on some of the bizarre creatures they’ve captured. Through experimentation and supernatural research, Helen hopes to complete her late father’s work and understand the development of humankind.
If this doesn’t sound high concept enough for you, did we mention Helen’s in a rather awkward romantic relationship with Jack the Ripper?
Both Dr. Horrible and the Sanctuary webisodes prove online TV can be intelligent, high-quality stuff – and with it’s innovative use of green-screen filming techniques (usually seen in Hollywood blockbusters), the semi-Victorian world Sanctuary inhabits looks amazing. With a fair few Stargate alumni working backstage, and coming from the channel that brought us the retooled Battlestar Galactica, the series will also appeal to anyone missing the demon-hunting thrills of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. We’ve high hopes for the series and reckon it could offer some refreshingly old-school supernatural thrills in a brilliantly realised fantasy world. Think of it as a gothic take on Fringe, and you should be pretty excited.
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