’Clash of the Titans’ and ‘24’ star Alexander Siddig has joined the cast of ITV’s ‘Primeval’ which is currently shooting in Ireland.
Alexander will now join IFTA nominated Irish actor Ciarán McMenamin (Any Time Now, Hunger) and Irish actress Ruth Kearney (Shark City, Hard Boiled Eggs) alongside the show’s established staff members Hannah Spearritt (Seed of Chucky), Ben Miller (Johnny English), Andrew Lee-Potts (1408), and Ben Mansfield (Mr. Nobody).
The new series returns to the ARC after the government loses faith in Lester’s (Ben Miller) ability to run such a dangerous and expensive operation on his own. The anomaly operation is now a public/private partnership, part-owned by the government, and partly by charismatic scientist Philip Burton, played by Siddig.
With Connor, Abby and Danny trapped in the past at the end of series three, the ARC has found new recruits to take their place: Matt (Ciarán McMenamin), new field leader, is more than just an ex-soldier; he’s an zoologist, with an uncanny ability to understand animals. A private man, Matt carefully guards the secrets of his past - and the real reason he has joined the ARC team. Unconventional Jess (Ruth Kearney) now runs operations from the ARC Control Centre – highly efficient and organised, her work ethic is second to none, though she is human enough to nurse an unrequited crush on Captain Becker (Ben Mansfield).
Shooting of the new series began on March 22nd in Dublin and Wicklow and will continue until November 2010. The new series is directed by Mark Everest (Torchwood) and Cilla Ware (Double Act). Production design is by Michael Ralph (Silent Witness) with costumes designed by Irish designer Gaby Rooney (Wardrobe Assistant, My Boy Jack). Irish DOP is Donal Gilligan (Omagh, Dead Bodies) and CFC will continue their collaboration on special effects with Richard Cox editing the series in-house.
’Primeval’ will return to television screens for two new series from 2011, as a result of a ground-breaking deal between ITV, multichannel broadcaster, UKTV, and producers Impossible Pictures.
