BBC America is bringing yet another science fiction series to the U.S., and this time it has nothing to do with Doctor Who and it's spin-offs . The good Doctor's revival is becoming a cultural sensation in the UK and also the US believe it or not. The new show making it's own path in the Sci Fi realm. The show is Primeval and while it also involves traveling through time and space,...

it takes on a very different take on the concept than the Russell T. Davies shows that have preceded it.

Created by Tim Haines and Adrian Hodges, the series intends to bring a new spectrum to SciFi, and to change the way people look at British SciFi. BBC America presented the show at the latest Television Critics Association in Beverly Hills.

The series stars Douglas Henshall as "Professor Nick Cutter," an "evolutionary zoologist" who leads a team attempting to control prehistoric creatures that come through a rift in time and space. Cutter is also searching for his wife, who he believed was dead but actually may have traveled through a time and space "anomaly." But don't expect the off the wall antics Doctor Who. Haines says that the rifts in space and time are really the only element of the series that is science fiction. The science in the rest of the show is quite real, whether it's the biology of the creatures themselves, or the absence of any "all purpose fix-it" devices like The Doctor's sonic screwdriver.

Haines was a producer on the well received Walking with Dinosaurs special, which used state of the art CGI effects to recreate a realistic portrayal of the prehistoric era. He wanted to bring some of that same realism and detail – as well as the quality of the effects – to a science fiction series. " But realism is less a concern this time around than excitement, Haines says, "The effects are there to create that character and then make merry havoc."

Adrian Hodges, who is an accomplished writer in both film and television, cites Buffy the Vampire Slayer as a big influence. He's concerned with making the SciFi elements absolutely convincing, and that the characters take the threats seriously. While he acknowledges the importance of top notch effects, Hodges says, "The effects have to count. Nobody is really impressed just with effects anymore…even on television."

Although Primeval is beginning its third season in the UK, BBC America will be importing the first two seasons for a total of 13 episodes. The creators explained that the major storyline of these episodes are Cutter's search for his wife – and the secrets that are revealed therein and a new development halfway through. Hodges and Haines explain that Cutter and his team will learn that the "anomalies" aren't just a door to the past, but the future as well. This will introduce the group to a whole new kind of creature. With a solid cast and high end special effects, Primeval looks to be a solid new UK offering to science fiction TV.

At this time it's not clear if this will be apart of BBC America's Saturday Night line up, which shows Doctor Who, Torchwood and Robin Hood.

Last update : 09-07-2008

Keywords : News, TV, Primeval, BBC America, BBC, SciFi, science fiction, Tim Haines, Adrian Hodges, Professor Nick Cutter,

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