BERLIN -- ABC has picked up "Impact," a four-hour sci-fi mini-series about humanity's efforts to survive after the moon is hit by a meteor and enters into a collision course with Earth.
NBC Universal's Sci Fi Channel took second-window rights to the mini, while Sony Pictures Home Entertainment acquired video rights.
The $14 million mini is produced by Germany's Tandem Communications, Hollywood-based Jaffe/Braunstein Entertainment and Canada's Muse Entertainment Enterprises.
It's the latest international collaboration for Munich-based Tandem as it continues to broaden its scope in the development, financing, production and worldwide distribution of event TV projects.
Directed by Michael J. Rohl ("Smallville," "Supernatural"), "Impact" stars David James Elliott ("JAG"), Natasha Henstridge ("Eli Stone"), Steven Culp ("Desperate Housewives") and James Cromwell ("W.").
Tandem managing director Rola Bauer wants to extend the company's relationship with U.S. broadcasters, eager to stretch their dollars, by promoting Tandem's expertise in structuring international co-productions on TV event movies at a considerably lower cost than Stateside productions.
Tandem, which is handling international sales, also inked deals for "Impact" with commercial channels ProSieben in Germany and TF1 in France as well as Japanese pubcaster NHK.
The German shingle has continued to expand into international productions in recent years, partnering with U.S. filmmakers on a slew of international minis and event movies, including TNT's CIA thriller "The Company," produced with Ridley Scott and John Calley; CBS' "Robert Ludlum's the Hades Factor," with Sanitsky Co. and Ludlum Entertainment; futuristic actioner "Lost City Raiders," starring Ian Somerhalder, and fantasy epic "Ring of the Nibelungs" from "The Baader Meinhof Complex" helmer Uli Edel, both for the Sci Fi Channel.
Contact Ed Meza at
ed.meza@mannaa.de