Amazon Greenlights ‘Britannia’ Series

Amazon and international entertainment company Sky have teamed to develop a new scripted drama Britannia, Amazon said Wednesday. 

The series, set in 43 A.D. as the Roman Imperial Army seeks to crush the Celtic heart of the mysterious land of Britannia, is scheduled to premiere on Sky 1 in the UK and Ireland, and on Prime Video in the U.S. in 2017, said Amazon.

Britannia is produced by Rick McCallum (Star Wars) and executive produced by Vertigo Films’ James Richardson (Monsters, Bronson) with Pippa Harris and Nicolas Brown from Neal Street Productions (Penny Dreadful, Call the Midwife) and Anne Thomopolous (Rome, Band of Brothers).

“We’re thrilled to be collaborating with Sky on this series entirely produced overseas,” said Roy Price, Vice President, Digital Video and Amazon Studios. “Our customers will experience a cinematic world with bold characters anchored in a ruthless period of history.”

R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.