Fox Gives Series Order to Ancient Egypt Drama HIEROGLYPH

FOX has given a 13-episode series order to HIEROGLYPH, a fantastical action-adventure show produced by 20th Century FOX Television and Chernin Entertainment, and executive-produced by Peter Chernin (NEW GIRL, "Rise of the Planet of the Apes"), Katherine Pope (NEW GIRL) and Travis Beacham ("Pacific Rim," "Clash of the Titans"), who wrote the pilot script. Miguel Sapochnik ("Repo Men," "Fringe") will serve as an executive producer on the project and will direct the premiere episode. Production is scheduled to begin in early 2014.

Set in ancient Egypt, where fantasy and reality intertwined, HIEROGLYPH follows a notorious thief who is plucked from prison to serve the Pharoah, navigating palace intrigue, seductive concubines, criminal underbellies and even a few divine sorcerers.

"We wanted to do a show about deceit, sex, intrigue in the court and fantastical goings-on - no better place to set that than ancient Egypt," said Kevin Reilly, Chairman of Entertainment for FOX. "Travis Beacham has an inventive mind, and he has wrapped this all together in this intoxicating new drama."

Based on his original story idea, Travis Beacham co-wrote the screenplay with director Guillermo Del Toro for this past summer's sci-fi hit "Pacific Rim," which has grossed more than $400 million worldwide since its release in July. Beacham also co-wrote the screenplay for the hit 2010 re-imagining of the classic mythic adventure "Clash of the Titans," directed by Louis Leterrier. Beacham is currently writing the sequel to "Pacific Rim" for Legendary. He has penned screenplays for the feature films "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: Captain Nemo" and a remake of the sci-fi classic, "The Black Hole."

Chernin Entertainment produces television programs and feature films. Its current television slate includes FOX's NEW GIRL. The company's first feature film, "Rise of Planet of the Apes," was released in August 2011 and has grossed more than $480 million at the worldwide box office. Chernin Entertainment is currently producing the sequel, "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes," as well as the sequel to its successful summer comedy, "The Heat."

A 21st Century FOX company, Twentieth Century FOX Television is one of the industry's most prolific suppliers of Primetime television programming and entertainment content, including the blockbuster and Emmy Award- and Golden Globe Award-winning "Modern Family," the pop culture phenomenon and Golden Globe Award-winning GLEE, the celebrated anthology series "American Horror Story," the hit comedies New Girl and "How I Met Your Mother" and the longest running Primetime scripted series in the history of television, THE SIMPSONS. The studio recently resurrected its Emmy Award-winning cult hit "Arrested Development," and its cable production division, FOX 21, is responsible for the Emmy Award- and Golden Globe Award-winning "Homeland." The studio's newest drama, SLEEPY HOLLOW, has garnered critical acclaim, high ratings and was the first freshman show of the season to earn a renewal.

HIEROGLYPH is produced by 20th Century FOX Television and Chernin Entertainment. The series is created, written and executive-produced by Travis Beacham. Peter Chernin and Katherine Pope, as well as Miguel Sapochnik, who will direct the premiere episode, also serve as executive producers.

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