Showtime Goes Sci-Fi with "Syns"

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From The Hollywood Reporter...

"Showtime is developing a character-driven sci-fi-themed drama with "Jericho" consulting producer John McNamara and "Supernatural" supervising producer/writer Sera Gamble.

"Syns" (formerly "Dolls' Hospital") centers on a world in which humanlike synthetic organisms, known as Syns, are used for various purposes. Showtime has bought U.S. rights to the project, which originally was developed at the BBC.

Stephen Volk created the British version; Gamble and McNamara are credited as co-creator/exec producers on the U.S. version. Gamble also is writing the script. Clerkenwell Films is producing with Pangea, the scripted arm of RDF USA.

Chris Coelen, CEO of RDF USA, said the project will have "light sci-fi elements, but it's really meant to be rooted in the real world."

Coelen also will exec produce with RDF USA/Pangea's Karrie Wolfe, Pangea's Brian Lenard and Clerkenwell's Murray Ferguson. This is Pangea's second project for Showtime following 2007's "Meadowlands."

UTA-repped Gamble also is adapting the manga series "Miki Falls" for Paramount. Endeavor-repped McNamara also exec produced Fox's "Fastlane."