BBC lands Spielberg's 'Taken'

Sci-fi epic cost $41 mil. to produce

By DEBRA JOHNSON

Spielberg

LONDON –- The BBC has snapped up the exclusive rights to Steven Spielberg's sci-fi miniseries "Taken" from DreamWorks for a reported £2 million ($3.5 million), following a bidding war with Channel 4.

The 10-part drama budgeted at $41 million tells the extra-terrestrial stories of three families over 50 years and is executive produced by Spielberg. The series is skedded to air on BBC2 and BBC Choice in January.

Commenting on the deal, Hal Richardson, head of DreamWorks Television Distribution, said: "We are extremely pleased that the BBC has licensed our latest and most ambitious television project, continuing their commitment to bring quality entertainment to the U.K. audience."

Spielberg added: "I am also pleased to know that the BBC, which has long been part of my life, has expanded their relationship with its commitment to 'Taken.'"

The pubcaster was rumoured to have paid $10.8 million to co-produce Spielberg's last TV project "Band of Brothers," which also aired on BBC2.